Dear J.T. & Dale: I’ve been an elementary-school teacher for 10 years. Due to budget cuts, I’m losing my job. Teaching is incredibly stressful, and I am ready to move on to something new. I am hardworking and enjoy organizing and planning. I need a job where I will be busy — I can’t stand trying to “look busy.” Any suggestions? — Julie

J.T.: I love how you are able to connect your need to keep busy with your strengths of organizing and planning. These are the types of connections you’ll need to convince a hiring manager of your abilities. The more you can translate success in teaching to other careers, the better.

Dale: There’s no doubt that teachers have skills that can translate to business — after all, what is selling but teaching? What is marketing or management but education? However, expect resistance from some businesspeople. Just last week I was talking with a teacher who had applied for a sales job and was told, “I never hire teachers — they stop working at three o’clock.” I know, I know … ridiculous. Still, many managers will be skeptical of an applicant who seems, on paper, like just another burned-out teacher. That’s why it’s critical that you take the initiative to find jobs you want to do and evolve toward them.

J.T.: I’d suggest a Web site called I-resign.com to help you think through walking away from teaching. They have a section called “Thinking About Quitting” with advice on how to make a decision, plus they have an online community where people can post questions. Do a bit of self-discovery (aka, teaching yourself), and you will find the right next step.

Dale: Your goal will be to avoid the common mistake of saying to employers, “Here’s what I’m good at — where would I fit in?” Sounds logical, but that simply isn’t how employers think. Rather, they want to hear something like, “I have a gift for planning, and I’ve been doing event planning on the side and now I’m ready to do it full time.” Do it right, and hiring you won’t seem like a risk, but like a logical next step.

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Jeanine “J.T.” Tanner O’Donnell is a professional development specialist and founder of CAREEREALISM.com. Dale Dauten’s latest book is “(Great) Employees Only: How Gifted Bosses Hire and De-Hire Their Way to Success” (John Wiley & Sons). Please visit them at jtanddale.com, where you can send questions via e-mail, or write to them in care of King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10019.

© 2009 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.