After teaching for 20 years in the UK, I now help Schools, Universities, and Entrepreneurs to create and deliver transformational online learning. Why Do You Want to Leave Your Current Teaching Position? If they dont respond helpfully to this, theyre probably not going to be great as employers when it comes to your well-being. If that was the reason you had for leaving your job, answer the interview question as follows: Lets imagine youre THE perfect sales guy: But the job you recently started doesnt take advantage of your skills. Whether they offered a better salary, benefits, or just a good working arrangement, you can use this as a reason for answering the why did you leave your job interview question. When a job is misrepresented or changes midstream, you may find yourself doing routine tasks and uninspiring work. Suddenly, your job becomes mundane or frustrating when it is supposed to feel fulfilling. The company you worked for went out of business. Their reaction was phenomenal and since then I have spoken to the lady who interviewed me as she often works out of our local office and she has commented a few times that that answer could not have been more perfect. Company restructure, acquisition, or merger. Is this your case? If you start rambling, you could get into a telling too much situation and possibly start to bring up information that could detract from an otherwise excellent candidacy. After an experience of redundancy, it is understandable that you might be motivated to look for employment in a different area - even if there are other teaching jobs available. It shows what . If you pursue new skills in your spare time after leaving, this can make it easier to return to full-time employment later on. You were let go. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. In March 2018, the Department for Education published Factors affecting teacher retention: qualitative investigation. One of the biggest concerns that educators looking to leave the profession have .. is having a good reason for leaving teaching to explain to prospective new employers. 7 Ways To Answer "Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?" Sample Answer 1 I felt that my previous job was not the best I could be doing and wanted to be involved in something meaningful. Instead, youre sitting in the back seat, warming up leads for other sales staff (instead of doing what you do best). Did you have a job where you hated your boss? If you had a personal emergency and had to quit work for a while, its totally acceptable. And, feel like they dont have the skills to try something new. Why did you decide to apply for this position? If you are still unsure of what to do instead of teaching, check out this post where I explain the huge number of opportunities available for teachers outside the classroom. Professional Growth Opportunity This is a common and valid reason for making a move and usually includes: a more senior position increased responsibilities more challenging tasks and duties You can point out how you have mastered your current position and now seek fresh challenges which your current company is not able to provide. Acceptable Personal Reasons for Leaving a Job 1. You dont have to be the same person you were 5/10/15 years ago. If your experience and references in the previous job which you are leaving, are not likely to paint you in a good light .. then your search for a new challenge elsewhere might be seen negatively instead. Teacher burnout and work-life balance are the main reasons cited as to why teachers quit. Giving reasons for leaving helps to determine what job satisfaction and happiness at work looks like to you. Being tactful will help you leave your job gracefully and remain on good terms with your soon-to-be-former employer. I never thought I would leave my classroom job, but when I read your advertisement I knew immediately that I had to apply for it ", " When I read the job / person specification I realised just how enjoyable I would find the work - and how well my skills would fit into it ". We have plenty of top interview questions that teachers and school administrators face in the dreaded job interview. If the recruiter has a knowledge of the modern school system, either because they know other teachers or have a child in school themselves, you might strike a chord with the person reading your application - as they will be aware of these changes in the modern classroom. Your email address will not be published. It can be very effective to justify a change of career direction with your desire to help people with the skills you have. It's important to remember that a change of careers is much more normal than it might feel .. and that you will have gained valuable transferable skills in your classroom job. Professional Growth Opportunity This is a common and valid reason for making a move and usually includes: a more senior position increased responsibilities more challenging tasks and duties This is a rational reason for leaving your job. An illness inthefamilyrequired that I give up my job to become a primary caregiver. There are both right and wrong ways to respond to a question about why you are leaving your current position. The long process of searching job boards, going on interviews and the emotional rollercoaster of rejections and silence can deter anyone from leaving a bad job. I am ready and eager for a. With that said, here are some potential reasons I wouldn't hire a candidate: * I didn't like my supervisor/principal. Examining the pros and cons of leaving your current job and accepting the new one can help you determine whether the potential benefits outweigh the possible risks. Now, there are three things recruiters are looking to find out with this question: First, they want to know if you were fired (and if so, why?). 20 Best Paying Jobs for MBA Graduates; 21 Vital Tips That Can Boost Your CV As An International Student; 25 Less Stressful Jobs for Retired Teachers (Also work life balance is the obvious one)., I just said that it was time for a change and I wanted new challenges and opportunities., New opportunity whilst highlighting whatever transferable skill you had in teaching., You could talk about wanting a new and different challenge. In this post I want to give you 7 good reasons for leaving a teaching job for your resume or CV .. to give you the confidence to apply for jobs outside the classroom. Here are five examples of reasons for leaving a job that a hiring manager would view positively: 1. Learn more about our resume services here. You did not get the promotion that was promised to you. Changing careers or jobs in this way - even if the qualification you gained was a small one - is a highly effective way of overcoming the objection of employers that 'you have no relevant experience' - which is a concern many teachers about leaving the profession. Tap the button below to learn more. It is never easy looking for work or switching careers. We dont blame you - lifes too short to work with unpleasant coworkers! There is nothing to stop an employer who discovers an inaccuracy (or lie) about previous employment, from cancelling the contract they have offered you. Im looking for a shift to a position that better matches my educational background. In a 2019 survey, 43% of workers admitted to quitting a job because of a manager and 14% have even left multiple companies because of conflicts with a boss. For many teachers, the process of applying for work outside the classroom can feel quite alien. How you performed in your last company is a good indicator of how youll perform in the next. Your goal is to get an interview for the position - where you can demonstrate the skills you have - and how employable you are. Personal or family illnesses can be a legitimate reason to leave a job. Be completely ready to effectively verbal when asked. When applying for a new position, it is important to focus on the wonderful job you used to do, and the impact you made with your creative skills .. before being disappointed at recent changes. Youre Looking for a Different Work Arrangement, #5. Second, keep in mind that the recruiter will ask this question again in the interview. You can pitch your application as a planned move from teaching into a new area, which you have invested time (and possibly money) into - proving your commitment to your new direction. Don't stretch the conversation longer as it may direct employers' attention towards your job hopping rather than your skills and knowledge. But when you start working there, you come to realize that not everything is as youd imagined. Keep it positive when youre resigning and when youre discussing your resignation with prospective employers. Bad Job Description Thecapitalistcitizen.com Jobs View All Jobs Reasons for leaving a job - LifeworQ Have you been asked this interview question? Regardless of the reason youre moving on, be careful about how you describe your reason for leaving, and be sure its a positive one. Stop yourself from doing this by practicing the answer you will give. Should you be careful about what you say? You went into teaching because you have a good heart. I got the job., I worried about this when I was interviewing. Reasons for Leaving a Job. Finally, one thing that teachers often struggle with is the idea that teaching is supposed to be their forever career. As we grow, our interests and desires can change. Going through this kind of change can be emotionally difficult - and you have a good opportunity to show how positively you react to change in your application. You Got a Better Deal From Another Company #4. What are you looking for from a new position? Often these are collected after employment has begun. But when the time came, you didn't get promoted. This justification for changing career comes across best in a job application, if you can demonstrate your ability to rise to challenges in your previous employment. Your CV is your personal branding document. : if you quit your last job because it didnt allow you to grow as a digital marketer, the recruiter understands that this is your #1 priority right now. The position wasnt a match for my career goals. 1. Examples of reasons for leaving your current or previous company: You want to switch careers. Are you gearing up for a big interview and wondering what kinds of questions you will encounter? These are generally quite acceptable reasons for leaving your current job, and any future employers are likely going to be quite understanding. If you know, you will likely have to explain a firing, contract non-renewal, or layoff, have a short answer well-practiced. You may be surprised at how strong you really are. It's a red flag to a hiring manager if the reason you give for leaving doesn't match the answer your past employers give when they check your references. 2. Career Advancement Obtaining a higher-level job or leadership role can often be accomplished more quickly by changing companies. Anyone moving out of this perceived safe environment obviously has motivation and confidence for doing so. Undoubtedly, the acceptable reasons for leaving a job have changed over the years. We often join the profession with no thought of ever leaving it. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. You have more skills than you think, you just need to find the right situations. This is usually stated clearly at the beginning of the letter along with . Relocation. If you start rambling, you could get into a situation where you share more information than is needed and may start to bring negative information to the table. This reason for leaving the classroom is based on the idea that as an impact focused person, you have realised the chance to make an impact elsewhere with the skills you have. You dont need to provide the details: In some cases, a job wasnt a good fit for your professional or personal circumstances: Even if they are true, there are some reasons you shouldn't use to explain why you are looking for a different job. Everyone has bills to pay, and finding a position with more stability is a perfectly acceptable reason to find something new. It's short, which is good. Teachers are education. Changes at my company have proven to be difficult to navigate, and my teams overall morale and productivity have declined,so I think its time to explore new options. But, if you are stuck in a no-win situation and you dont see any way out, then you need to do whats right for you and trudge through to find the perfect match. The first opportunity you have to do this, is preparing a skills based resume / CV which highlights the wide range of things you can do - and the advantages of employing an ex-teacher. 10 Good Reasons for Leaving a Job Some good reasons for leaving a job include company downturn, acquisition, merger or restructuring as well as the desire for change be it advancement, industry, environment, leadership or compensation. Youre going to get asked why you want to leave a job in 3 different contexts: Heres how to explain each of these 3 situations: No, you dont have to specify why you quit a job in a resume. You have the power to change the trajectory of your journey where every day is a new adventure. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Your boss may want to know why you are resigning, and future employers will want to know why you moved on. Futurelearn or OpenLearn). How to Tell Your Current Employer Why Youre Quitting, How to Explain Why You Want to Quit Your Job. In many jobs, the impact the employee seeks to make is on their own circumstances - a higher salary, different working conditions etc .. and there is nothing wrong with this - most people working a job are motivated this way! " Let the interviewer know you were not fired for poor performance. You need to balance this justification for moving careers out, with a really great reason for applying to the new position too - and do everything you can to give your application a positive feel. If you were released from your position due to a more serious issue, you would need to respond carefully. To use this reason well, start to link the transferable skills you have gained in the classroom to the impact you can make in the new role. All Rights Reserved. You dont want to lie on an application or a new job, but at the same time - telling the whole truth about the mess education is in, is unlikely to leave the recruiter with a positive impression of you .. no matter how true what you say might be. Family Reasons for Leaving a Job There are times that people have to leave a job in order to take care of family situations. In this post I want to give you 7 good reasons for leaving a teaching job for your resume or CV .. to give you the confidence to apply for jobs outside the classroom. If you find it challenging to feel impactful in your work and dont enjoy working through the challenges with students to make them better people, then the spark that once motivated you every day has fizzled out. Required fields are marked. Answer (1 of 7): Personally, I prize honesty above all else. Resume, CV and Cover Letter Writing Expert, Why Do Interviewers Ask Why Did You Leave Your Job?, #1. Or you could simply hate your job or your boss(but don't say that). That's why you need to know your exact reason ahead of time. Ive found a lot of people know someone or are an ex teacher themselves and completely understand., Career change, develop new skills, personal development., I said that I felt I had stopped learning, and had hit a ceiling in terms of progression. Maybe one day you just woke up and decided that you want to be a C++ programmer (as opposed to being a web developer). You Don't Get Along With Your New Boss or Supervisor #6. If youve been thinking to yourself, I want to quit teaching, you may be completely done. Interviewers want to find out why you are moving on from your past position. 5. Using this approach you can easily show your commitment to the new area you are applying into, by the qualification you gained and the time you spent getting it. So, your answers need to be congruent. You dont have to do this on your own.With the help of an HR expert with over 10 years of experience and a team of former teachers, Ive created a guide to support you in the early stages of your transition out of the classroom. Sharing these reasons for your departure would not reflect well on you because they may raise questions in a hiring managers mind: It's not a good idea to bad-mouth your past jobs, bosses, colleagues, or companiesor to share too much personal information. Regardless of why you left your job, dont speak badly about your previous employer. It may be time to look into a career change for teachers. Farewell Letter Examples To Say Goodbye to Colleagues, How To Write a Resignation Letter (With Samples), Goodbye Email to Co-Workers Examples and Writing Tips, How To Request a Leave of Absence From Work, Resignation Letter Example for a New Job Opportunity, Resignation Letter Samples With Thank You, Job Openings, Hires, and Total Separations by Industry, Seasonally Adjusted. Others may leave due to dissatisfaction with their current position, whether it be the school itself, the students, or . Read our, What To List as a Reason for Leaving on a Job Application, Sample Resignation Letter for Quitting Your Job, Interview Question: "Why Are You Looking for a New Job? If you are in this position and motivated by making an impact elsewhere - look at using reason 5 instead. Copyright 2023 NotWaitingForSuperman, all rights reserved. Life Out of Balance A lack of work-life balance that is negatively impacting your family and social life is a big problem can lead to negative consequences. You can use this answer if you are coming into the teaching profession from another field. The supervisor is micromanaging you at every step, and the company culture is just well, not it. So there you are, in the interview, and the hiring manager asks innocently enough . 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