How To Transfer from Teaching into Learning and Development

Learning and Development (L&D) is essentially corporate speak for what we do every day as teachers — so don’t be scared by the lingo. At its core, Learning and Development is about helping people gain new skills, knowledge, and confidence to perform better in their roles. Sound familiar? That’s exactly what teachers do — just with a different audience.

As teachers, we design lessons, assess progress, and adapt our teaching to meet the needs of our learners. In the corporate world, L&D professionals do the same — but instead of students, their “learners” are employees, and instead of classrooms, the “curriculum” might be onboarding training, leadership development, or professional growth programs. Unsure which industry would suit you? Take a look at my other posts:

Top 5 Jobs for Teachers to Transition Into

How to Transfer from Teaching Into Instructional Design

Will I Miss The Holidays? Insights from Ex-Teachers Who Have Successfully Transitioned

L&D Terminology

Here are some common L&D terms and language to get acquainted with:

How do I know whether I should transfer into L&D?

You might love L&D if you:

✅ Enjoy working with people directly — running sessions, coaching, or presenting

✅ Like the big-picture side of learning (planning, coordinating, aligning training with company goals)

✅ Are organised and people-oriented

✅ Have experience leading PD sessions or mentoring staff

✅ Prefer variety — managing projects, events, and relationships

Common job titles:

• Learning & Development Advisor / Specialist

• Training Coordinator / Facilitator

• Learning Partner / Program Manager

• Capability Development Specialist

How To Get Started in L&D:

1. Research profiles on LinkedIn

Start by searching for “Learning and Development Specialist,” “Instructional Designer,” or “Training Coordinator” on LinkedIn. Look at people’s profiles who made the switch from teaching — note their job titles, how they describe their experience, and what keywords they use. This will help you understand the language and pathways others have taken. The blog post below covers this in more detail:

How To Utilise LinkedIn For Your Job Search

2. Identify your transferable skills

List everything you already do as a teacher that aligns with L&D — designing lessons (instructional design), delivering classes (facilitation), assessing learning (evaluation), managing behaviour (stakeholder engagement), mentoring new staff (coaching). Translate your teaching experience into corporate terms using your L&D lingo cheat sheet.

3. Update your CV and LinkedIn profile

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  • Rework your teaching CV to sound more corporate.

  • Use L&D-focused verbs like designed, facilitated, evaluated, collaborated, coached, implemented.

  • Add a short professional summary that positions you as someone passionate about adult learning, growth, and professional development — not just teaching.

  • Make sure your LinkedIn headline highlights transferable skills (e.g., Educator Transitioning to Learning & Development | Instructional Design | Facilitation | Employee Growth).

    
    

  4. Get familiar with L&D tools and trends

  You don’t need a new degree — just start exploring!

  • Try free courses on Coursera.

  • LinkedIn Learning, or YouTube about Instructional Design, Adult Learning Theory, or Learning Management Systems (LMS).

  • Learn basic tools like Canva, Articulate Rise/Storyline, Google Slides, or Loom — all great for eLearning and corporate training.