I jumped to the Ed Rep and then used that as a springboard into other things. People don't want to hear it but it's very hard to get a resume past the computers to convince a HR department you are more than a teacher. I don't say that as a negative. I loved teaching. But what we think translates to the business world doesn't always.

Yes, we band directors deal with planning, budgeting, forecasting, personnel management and many other things. The average elementary teacher manages 10 year olds. We are not the same. And when looking at the business world those HR folks don't really know that a small percentage of the teaching folks DO understand business when most of them don't. It's not their fault.

Sales is the most likely route, (I think), but when you are 50 with no pharma experience how do you convince someone you can do the job. You know music. Find a path out of the classroom that uses that experience. Spend a few years doing the "business things". Using sales force and other CRM. Do budgets and financials and P&L analysis. Then build a resume to hide your teaching and focus on those things. And if none of that meant anything to you, that's why business folks aren't interested. There is a whole other world out there, (and I am thrilled I found it) but it took 2 steps to get away from teaching.

And the biggest thing is who you know. Jump to career 2 knowing you are starting over and taking a pay cut. Once you do that, you start a new vertical path. Those that want to walk from teaching laterally to the same salary are living in a dreamworld. You have no experience in the new field so understand you likely will take a pay cut because believe it or not, most band directors in Texas are paid very well. Oh, and you will work 50 weeks a year so be prepared for that. There is no summer vacation in the real world. Best of luck. I loved teaching. I love what I do now even more!