How Do I Know If Instructional Design is the Right Career for Me?

Instructional design is a dynamic and rewarding career, but how do you know if it’s the right fit for you?

Before diving in, it’s essential to understand what instructional designers do, the various career paths available, and how your skills and interests align with the field. Let’s explore what instructional design work looks like and how you can determine if it’s the right career move for you.

What Does an Instructional Designer Do?

At its core, instructional design focuses on creating effective learning experiences. Depending on the industry and role, an instructional designer might:

Conduct learner and performance needs assessments
Develop training programs, courses, and eLearning modules
Design interactive and engaging content using learning technologies
Apply learning theories to instructional materials
Work with subject matter experts (SMEs) to create accurate, effective training
Evaluate and iterate on learning solutions based on feedback and data

Where Can Instructional Designers Work?

Instructional designers work across multiple industries and sectors, including:

Corporate Training & Development – Designing training programs for employees in business settings.
Higher Education – Creating online courses and curriculum for colleges and universities.
K-12 Education – Developing digital learning experiences and curriculum resources.
Healthcare & Medical Training – Designing instructional programs for medical professionals and patients.
Government & Nonprofits – Developing learning initiatives for public service training.
Technology & Software Companies – Creating training for customers, employees, and new users of software applications.

Beyond content development, instructional designers can specialize in areas like learning technology, user experience (UX) design, assessment design, and leadership roles in learning and development (L&D). Over time, many professionals move into management positions, such as Learning Experience Manager, Director of Learning & Development, or even Chief Learning Officer.

An Exercise to Help You Decide

One of the best ways to determine if instructional design is right for you is to explore the job market and see if the available roles excite you. Follow this exercise:

Visit Teamed’s Job Board. Look through our instructional design and learning experience roles.
Find five jobs that excite you. If you can identify at least five positions that you’d love to have, instructional design might be a great career fit.
Analyze the job descriptions. Pay attention to:
- Responsibilities: What kind of work will you be doing daily?
- Skills required: Do you have these skills, or would you need to develop them?
- Credentials needed: Do these roles require a degree, certification, or portfolio?
Visit Teamed’s Career Board. Use this resource to explore degrees, certifications, and upskilling opportunities to help you build the necessary expertise.

What’s Your Best Path into Instructional Design?

If you’re excited about what you see and want to transition into instructional design, there are multiple paths you can take:

Path 1: Get a Degree in Instructional Design. If you’re starting fresh or want a structured academic experience, a formal degree program can help you build the foundational knowledge and skills.
Path 2: Earn a Non-Degree Credential. If you already have a degree (especially a master’s), adding an instructional design certification can be a cost-effective way to enter the field.
Path 3: Learn Through Courses & Portfolio Building. Some professionals upskill through specialized courses, build a strong portfolio, and gain experience through contract work, internships, or volunteer projects.

You can learn more about these options via Do I need a degree in instructional design.

Ready to Explore?

If instructional design sounds like an exciting career path for you, take the next step! Start by browsing jobs on the Teamed Job Board and planning your upskilling journey with the Teamed Career Board.

Instructional design is a flexible, growing field with endless opportunities. If you find yourself drawn to the work and the career paths available, it may just be the perfect fit for you!