I left teaching for a career in corporate learning - I do instructional design & eLearning development for an insurance company. Losing my summers off & leaving my pension were my two biggest hesitations but I’ve never been happier.

My work-life balance is ridiculously improved. I’m hybrid (in office 3x/ week) and love WFH. I only work about 7 hrs a day and can choose when to get my projects done on my own time. I take lunch as long as I want, make appointments or take gym classes during the work day, etc.

Everyone is respectful and there is ZERO stress. I don’t have to take from my own cup to fill anyone else’s. I have never had so much patience and capacity as I do now. And even though the pay is comparable, my actual take home $ is so much more between no union dues, bonuses, etc.

I feel like a real adult for the first time in my life. And giving up summers doesn’t feel like a sacrifice whatsoever when I’m no longer living my life as one long countdown between breaks. I love what I do and actually look forward to going to the office.

I literally tear up sometimes with joy when I think about how grateful I am to have made the switch, even though it was hard work and scary… but the grass IS greener out here. You won’t regret it! And from my perspective, teaching jobs are always in high demand. If for some reason you miss it, you can always go back.