Leaving the Classroom: A Transitioning Teacher Podcast

A Day in the Life of a Corporate Contract Instructional Designer with Lee Carlson 

In this episode, I talk to Lee Carlson. Lee is a former high school teacher in New York City and member of IDOL courses Academy. She now works as an instructional designer as a contractor for a large tech company. She discusses how she transitioned from teaching to her current role.

Listen to the episode here:

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Enjoy the podcast transcription:

Kristi Oliva
Welcome to leaving the classroom. This is a podcast for teachers who are ready to transition out of the classroom and into a new career. Each week, I'll share stories about what I've learned moving from education to the corporate world. I'll answer the most common questions and share my best tips to help you get started. If you are considering leaving the classroom, this show is for you.

Hello, everyone. Welcome to leaving the classroom. I'm Kristi Oliva, and I'm so glad you are here. Today we are talking to Lee Carlson, who is a corporate contract instructional designer. And she's going to talk a little bit about the day in the life of a corporate contract instructional designer. Lee is a member of IDOL courses Academy. And so thank you so much for joining us, Lee, welcome.

Lee Carlson
Hey, thank you for having me. I'm actually super excited about this. Because I feel like these are the types of questions that I had when I was going in.

Kristi Oliva
Well, let's start there then. Like, how did you get involved in IDOL courses? How did you find out about it? What did you do before you found IDOL courses? Give us the backstory.

Lee Carlson
So yeah, I mean, for 15 years, I was a high school teacher in New York City. I was at like an alternative high school. I was already doing eLearning and like blended learning, and asynchronous learning and all that stuff. So I had a lot of experience already with teaching adults. That I was very, very lucky with. So I, you know, used a lot of that. And I was like, okay, you know, what the hell am I going to do next? Like, I can't keep doing this, you know. I think after the pandemic, there were a lot of changes. And I was just like, is this the life I really want to be leading? And so I started looking online at things. I actually found a different program that I joined first, and then everybody on that program was like. I was like, did anyone else in this program see IDOL? It kind of looks like a little culty or something? Like I'm not sure if it's like, is it real? Is it actually as good as it is? And so some other people were like, No, I actually took it, it's phenomenal. You should try, it is totally worth it. And like for me, the big selling point on IDOL was that it helped me build a portfolio. Like I feel like that was huge in my interview process is that like I actually had a portfolio of work to show to go along with what I was saying. So that's how I did it, it is a little culty. And the only reason I say that is just because, you know, as much as I have moved away from IDOL, I still find myself going back to find resources, talking to the people who I initially connected with, going back for interview support, or like work like on the job support. So it's kind of one of those things where I was pleasantly pleasantly surprised. And it was really empowering.

Kristi Oliva
So when did you join IDOL? And how long did it take you to land your position?

Lee Carlson
So this is actually to my wife's chagrin. It was really quick process for me. I was kind of like, you know, in August before the school year. I was like, Babe, I'm ready to move back to your home state. And she was like, I thought that wasn't gonna happen until retirement. I was like, nope, it's happening now. And so I was going to end the school year, and then I got back in school. And I was like, I just can't do this. It's just not, I don't have the capacity that these kids need. You know, like, when you recognize you're like, nope, I can't give them what's good for them. I can't support the other adults in my building in the way that they need. You know, so it was just I recognized it was time and think it was like October of 23. I forget which cohort it was. But by the time December came around, I'd already been interviewing. And the day before Christmas vacation, I got a well, two days before Christmas vacation, I got a message from a corporate recruiter to have a phone call that day. The next day, I got an interview and I think like the following day, I got an offer. Oh, it was wild. My wife was like horrified, because I had already like quit my job. And at the same time she was excited. She was like, okay, I guess we're doing this. And I think that you know, for me, it was I don't have kids, we have cats. And so for me it was like okay, I know I need to do this for me, but like also talking with my wife through the process was also something that was big for me because that was new to you know, I worked in the same job for 15 years. So I've never really had to have a discussion about like, hey, our lives are gonna change and it's gonna be completely different. Yeah, so that was actually something that I was like. I was very thankful that my wife was supportive. But it was, it was still emotionally like anytime there's a transition with people you love.

Kristi Oliva
That's a big transition! 15 years is a long time. That's a lifetime for the kids that we were teaching, right? That's their whole lifetime. And we're making a major life choice at that time, because 15 years was how long I taught to and so it is, you're just like, oh, my gosh, I'm really doing this. It's completely different. I know, there's no typical day for an ID. But can you tell us maybe what some of your daily tasks are? What do you do each day?

Lee Carlson
Yeah, and, so you know, we had talked about this a little bit before. You know, because I work for a company that contracts us out, I have one contract that I'm working on currently. And so really, it's about like, I have two other ID's kind of on my level. I would say like, horizontally, there are three of us on the same kind of team, but only two of us actually work together daily. And so usually I'll check in with the other ID that I'm working with, and just be like, Hey, where are you on this project? You know, when I think about what skills I've carried over from IDOL, because I'm in a corporate setting and working for this, that I'm outsourced or like contracted out, I never know what language to use. But there's a lot of pressure around time constraints. And so I'm really used to the iterative process and like getting time to get feedback and being collaborative. And in this, I really had to kind of shift and start saying, okay, I have to trust myself, which was a huge, huge change. I had to trust myself to say, okay, like, I know that I'm putting together this slide deck. And I have edited it and looked at it four times, and it is doing the thing that I wanted to do. I have analyzed the data. I have looked at the learning management system and made sure it's in the appropriate spot. Sometimes we do use an Elearning platform. So like the two platforms I use are Evolve and Intellum, which I had no idea before I started. And by using 360, Rise and Storyline and Captivate beforehand, I felt like it was a really easy jump to the other like eLearning systems. And because I've used learning management systems in the past, like it felt like it was easy to kind of catch up. Right? Like, none of them were too different from that. So yeah, and then I don't love, oh, I'm gonna wind that back. Like, I feel like I'm getting like hot over here. Just because it's like, you know, I haven't really thought about all these things I've just gone and gotten started. And I think that like, I have done a lot in my six months. So like, since January, I've been in this position, and it's May, so almost six months. And there's been a lot, there's been, you know, I've used Canva a ton, a lot of like, creating images. A lot of working with new video tools that I haven't used in the past. A lot of AI. AI is huge right now, in the work that I'm doing. All of the companies are trying to figure out like, how are we using AI? And then I think as far as ID's, how are we using AI to kind of make our job a little bit easier for us? And better because honestly, I could take all day to write out three learning objectives, or I could put it in an AI and it's done in five minutes. And I can get started with the design. Yeah, and so those are, you know, not that I don't edit or, you know, go back and change. But I feel like those are the kind of decisions. And then like, I meet with my corporate side, and then the company side too. Like, in my head, the corporate side is Cognizant, the company I actually work for. And then we also do meetings with the media side. So that's the company the app source too, we're working for.

Kristi Oliva
Yeah so tell us a teeny bit about that. Because I think we kind of jumped over that in our conversation because we had talked a little bit before we started recording. You got hired by a company and then they contract you out to another company to do work for them. Is that how it works?

Lee Carlson
Yeah, so when I interviewed for this company, Cognizant, I had no idea what they were saying about how the company worked. I was just like, in my nonprofit mind, right? Because I've worked with nonprofits before. I've worked and you know, in the schools. It just didn't make sense what she was telling me and she's like, yeah, you're gonna have a salary but you're working on a contract. And I'm like, but contracts usually come with like a time limit. She's like, yeah, but that's not what you're worrying about. And so the way that I understand it now, is that they hire ID's. And they say, okay, look, we're gonna bring in the best of what we think is the best. And we're going to help companies meet their goals. So like, if a big tech company is looking for engineers, right? And they can't find it, they might contract with Cognizant, right? Because it's more of like a tech company. So a lot of the ID work I do is around tech, it's around like more process oriented stuff. And honestly, when I interviewed with them, I was and again, I was telling you this beforehand. Like, I remember saying, you know, six figures is like the golden egg, or like the Willy Wonka ticket, and you'll never get it. And my range that I gave them was like 90 to 100, or like 80 to 100. And they were like, we're gonna give you 100. Apply for this other job. So instead of applying for an associate, it was like senior associate or something. And they just were like, do it. And I was like, so happy at that moment, because I was getting out of my old career that it was just like, they just gave me what my top asking was plus some because of the location I'm in. So I didn't know that either that when you're working remotely, they like bump your salary based on location. It's always up, right? But I was just like, cool. Yes, I'm not going to negotiate this. But I wonder. I always think about, like, I probably could have negotiated more. But I also knew it was like, the end of the year. It was the end of their budget. It was, and what ID is coming in at six figures? Like that was my thinking, I didn't want to like.

Kristi Oliva
Yeah, I didn't negotiate my first job either. But like, I was just so thrilled with it. That I just I look back, and I'm like, yeah, I probably could have gotten a little bit more. But I was so thrilled with it that, why? If you're happy, then you know.

Lee Carlson
They had benefits. They were like, yes, we will move you. Because originally, in the original call. So I had a call with a recruiter from the company, not just some, you know, a lot of times you get those LinkedIn invites just from like random recruiters. And it wasn't that, it was an actual recruiter from the company. So I had a call with her, and she was like we are absolutely not paying moving costs. Then I had the interview with the hiring manager, and she's like, oh no no, we will bring you over, we'll pay for it. I was just like, they paid for everything. And so that in itself was like, I mean, probably I have no idea how much that stuff cost, but I'm like atleast.

Kristi Oliva
1000s of dollars.

Lee Carlson
They moved my car. They had somebody come and pack for me.

Kristi Oliva
Wow. Okay, so you're really selling this, Lee. So if somebody wanted to find a job like yours, like, where did you look? How did you find this job?

Lee Carlson
Honestly, I had spoken with so many people about my LinkedIn, and how to like make sure that my resume, my LinkedIn, and like my open to work, were all like right. And I know that there are people out there who like pay to get their LinkedIn done. But I actually just like, talked with all the IDOL people. I absolutely talked with all the IDOL people. And I just had a really, I mean, it's not perfect. But it was enough that I've had multiple recruiters since then contact me. From companies. So I feel like that has been my biggest draw. I've got more that way than actually putting out my resume and applying for jobs, which it feels weird. But I mean, I guess that's the way that things are moving.

Kristi Oliva
It's different for us as teachers, we don't know what that's like. Because for some reason, they don't like seek out teachers. But yeah, I mean, most of my jobs came that way too. Where I didn't directly apply. They just came to me. So Lee, as a former teacher, what do you think are the top three skills that you brought over with you that you use every day that have served you so well, coming from teaching?

Lee Carlson
I think collaboration has come with me, I think that that is something that people are like, it's a really underused skill in a lot of places. And to have it has been really helpful for me. Especially being new in a position where I'm trying not to look too new because of my interviewing, right? I didn't use student. I didn't use, you know, whatever. So collaboration. And I would just say like, not necessarily hard work, but like stick-to-itiveness. I don't you know, whatever the version of that is just because there are so many new things. But again, there's like nothing new under the sun. Right? You can work out any thing when it comes to the job, right? Because as teachers, we had to, there were so many obstacles and so many things to figure out. And I think we can do that. One thing maybe like I didn't bring with me, but that I think is really important for me to like develop, is around that confidence piece. And that like trusting that, like, I know that I'm good enough. And that like my work is good enough, even if it's like the best for now, right? Because I think as a teacher, I always had in the back of my mind, well, I can always do better, there's always something more I could have done. And I think as an ID, there's so much of a time constraint. And there's so much of like a production value, right? Like you need to produce things. So being able to say like, this is my best for now. Right? Or like, this is my best that in that time is also like, really important of a skill for me that like to develop, just because I feel like that is. Yeah, it's just like my negative talk in the back of my head. But I think a lot of the companies that are tech companies specifically are doing a lot of the contracting. And I know that there are a bunch of other companies out there that are doing it. I mean, you said you had worked one. The company, the apartment complex, I moved in, I saw another guy who was like, in a different company that did it. So yeah, I wonder about like going to their site and just like seeing what's available, and like reaching out to the recruiters directly.

Kristi Oliva
Yep. I mean, the recruiters at Macken so Macken where for the listeners is how I got contracted out to Google, and they were just so kind. And they were so you know, wanting to hear my experience. They were always asking how I was doing. So I think yeah, if you go and just seek them out and find those companies that do this, they will definitely have a conversation with you. I think they're different than other recruiters honestly.

Lee Carlson
Yeah. And the idea that, like, my job is going to end like the current contract is ending soon. But I still have a job. I'm still getting paid, I still have benefits, is reassuring, in a lot of ways coming from education. There's that like, steadiness that I was like, okay, that I'm not going to be bumped out in six months. And I do have a line of conversation with the people who hired me, and it is a big international company, and that was change. But yeah, it's it's been really interesting. And I feel like, yeah, I'm excited about it. I'm, I'm excited to continue my ID journey.

Kristi Oliva
I'm so happy for you, Lee. And so, I'm sure a lot of people are gonna want to find out more about you know, what you do and how to get involved in your company, especially after you've sold it so hard. I mean, you've done such a good job everybody's gonna want to join. So what's the best way to get in touch with you if they have other questions for you?

Lee Carlson
LinkedIn is probably the best way. L E E Carlson with a C I'm sure you'll have it somewhere in some show notes.

Kristi Oliva
Yeah. Awesome, well thank you so much for joining us, Lee and sharing your story. I'm really excited for people to hear about this because I think people get nervous, especially teachers about hearing that word contract, and they don't know what to do with it. But really, this is really reassuring for the fact that in some ways it can be even more secure. Like you have a really good thing going for you over there.

Lee Carlson
Yeah, thank you so much, Kristi. This has been awesome to think about and talk about. So thanks.

Kristi Oliva
Yeah, no problem. All right. Well, do you want to leave the classroom and become an instructional designer like Lee? I bet you do. She just sold it. At IDOL courses Academy we help you build your professional portfolio, revise your resume, prepare for interviews, and give you valuable feedback on what you design.

Sign up for IDOL courses Academy using my code CLASSROOM100 and get $100 off enrollment today. It's time to take control and make the career change that will change your life. It changed mine. See you next time.

Send your stories or your questions to [email protected] or share them with me on Instagram  @leavingtheclassroom.