Is a career in Ed Tech right for you? The industry offers a unique opportunity to make an impact, develop valuable career skills, and shape the future of education.
In this blog, we take a look at six reasons why professionals from a broad variety of backgrounds should consider a career in Ed Tech.
Why Ed Tech? A Unique and Impactful Industry
Ed Tech, short for education technology, includes products and services ranging from gamified learning apps, to in-classroom hardware, to comprehensive online platforms for fully remote degree programs. The industry includes employers ranging from early-stage startups to large global enterprises.
With such diversity, not every Ed Tech company will offer the same working environment, and it's important to consider what sort of position is right for your personal skills and priorities. But we can identify some common benefits that apply to positions throughout the Ed Tech industry.
Reason 1: Impactful Work with a Social Mission
Professionals are giving more and more weight to social impact when weighing their career choices. Harvard Business Review reports that 9 out of 10 people are willing to earn less to do more meaningful work. The Ed Tech industry offers a path to pursuing impactful work while earning competitive compensation and developing in-demand skills.
In this context, the Ed Tech industry can be an extraordinary opportunity for professionals coming from a diverse set of backgrounds. For those with a technology background, Ed Tech offers the opportunity to harness their skills in pursuit of a more focused social mission. For teachers and educational administrators, Ed Tech offers an opportunity to take a more strategic, high-level role in driving change.
Reason 2: An Opportunity to Shape the Future of Education
Ed Tech is a diverse industry, full of programmers, policy experts, former teachers, former educational administrators, UI/UX designers, marketers, and sales professionals, to name just a few.
Working in Ed Tech is an opportunity to break out of traditional professional silos, expand your network, and work alongside interesting colleagues with shared passions. Many professionals from adjacent industries like health tech, gaming, fintech, and more, have successfully pivoted to become a valued part of the Ed Tech ecosystem.
Reason 3: Collaboration with Like-Minded Colleagues from Diverse Professional Backgrounds
Ed Tech is a diverse industry, full of programmers, policy experts, former teachers, former educational administrators, UI/UX designers, marketers, and sales professionals, to name just a few.
Working in Ed Tech is an opportunity to break out of traditional professional silos, expand your network, and work alongside interesting colleagues with shared passions. Many professionals from adjacent industries like health tech, gaming, fintech, and more, have successfully pivoted to become a valued part of the Ed Tech ecosystem.
Reason 4: A Dynamic, Innovative Industry Ideal for Professional Development
New technologies, approaches, and trends are emerging all the time in the Ed Tech industry, which is precisely why it's a great place to develop a career that encourages continuous learning, offers flexible future career paths, and is closely tied to emerging technologies like AI.
In terms of career development, Ed Tech is a great way to build flexible skills that are valued across many different industries, from tech, to nonprofits, to public policy.
Reason 5: Remote Opportunities with Global Reach
More and more employers across a number of industries are offering options for working remotely, and Ed Tech is no exception. While every role is different, and some positions will require in-person work, a desire for remote opportunities is not an obstacle to finding a fulfilling Ed Tech position.
Remote work has also removed traditional barriers to job opportunities that cross international borders. Ed Tech is a truly global industry, and many companies market services and solutions for international education, language learning, and other areas where an international background may provide additional value.
Reason 6: Strong Long-Term Growth Prospects That Can Weather Economic Dips
“The value of the global Ed Tech market in 2021 was $106.46 billion, and it’s just the beginning. From 2022 to 2030, this market is expected to grow annually by 16.5% and is expected to expand 2.5 times from 2019 to 2025, up to $404 billion in 2025.” - Forbes Report on the Future of EdTech
Of course, no industry is immune to broader economic conditions, but the Ed Tech industry has already proven that it has not only outstanding growth potential but the ability to weather economic storms. We take a deeper look at Ed Tech companies hiring despite the “investment cliff” in tech in our blog here.
Longer term, the need for new technological solutions in education is not going anywhere, and the Ed Tech industry can be a great place to build a stable career without worrying about the latest gyrations of the stock market.
Learn More About Ed Tech Careers
Of course, no industry is immune to broader economic conditions, but the Ed Tech industry has already proven that it has not only outstanding growth potential but the ability to weather economic storms. We take a deeper look at Ed Tech companies hiring despite the “investment cliff” in tech in our blog here.
Longer term, the need for new technological solutions in education is not going anywhere, and the Ed Tech industry can be a great place to build a stable career without worrying about the latest gyrations of the stock market.
