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. In case you were fired or let go from your last company, make sure to tell the recruiter up-front. Using this as your reason for leaving the classroom often makes your application stand out - as you can leverage the impact you have already made in your teaching job. Nobody wants to be around a Negative Nelly, so dont let the job ruin your positive spirit. If you can make the link between the skills you have and those required to do the job - your genuine interest in the opportunity available, is a good justification for a change of careers. Are you thinking of leaving teaching? Its hard to find meaning in a career you dont enjoy. Teacher burnout and work-life balance are the main reasons cited as to why teachers quit. In this article, we talk about why you might find it daunting to leave after only a short period in your role and offer some guidance on the best way to go about leaving a job after six months. And its a fallacy to think youll be able to make it work. If you are in this position and motivated by making an impact elsewhere - look at using reason 5 instead. Why did you decide to apply for this position? Its important to carefully think through your decision before you tell your boss. "I moved away from the [old city] to be closer to family" or "My office . Keep in mind; you can make a brief explanation dont elaborate too much. Being tactful will help you leave your job gracefully and remain on good terms with your soon-to-be-former employer. Good luck , Work life balance usually covers it, people know the demands of teaching are high. I decided to go back to school for my masters degree. By using this justification on your resume or CV, you communicate immediately how interested you are in the specific job you are applying for. But when the time came, you didn't get promoted. This is not a healthy way to live. Join our community of over 100,000 current and former educators to receive the advice, encouragement, and judgment-free support you need to start moving forward in your career. More responsibility and better career growth. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. The position you have available includes responsibilities in line with how Id like to develop my teaching skills. Leaving a Job 1. As such, they ask a lot of questions related to your past experiences, one of which is why did you leave your last job?. You have the power to change the trajectory of your journey where every day is a new adventure. 1. Challenge focused people can be highly motivated and very effective at learning new things - both of these are desirable qualities in a new employee. I have seen it before, and unhappiness spreads like a virus. You could be leaving your current position for professional reasons (a better job, career growth, ora flexible schedule, for example) or forpersonal reasons(leaving the workforce, family circumstances, or going back to school, for example). What's a good reason for leaving a job? Disability for a short period. And since replacing an employee takes time, effort, and money, it only makes sense for the recruiter to want to be sure that youre not going to quit on them, too. Negativity travels faster than positivity, and we may not realize we are contributing to a toxic culture. Heres what you can answer the interviewer: Like people, companies tend to change over time. I am ready and eager for a. Be completely ready to effectively verbal when asked. If the job itself is way outside your area of expertise and experience, you might appear to be enthusiastically unqualified, rather than a genuinely employable applicant. Your CV is your personal branding document. Youre Looking for a Different Work Arrangement, #5. But, when you are in a toxic work situation, it forces you to lose passion in a career you love. Applications often state subject to satisfactory references. Job Description Indeed.com. Good and acceptable reasons for leaving jobs on an application. Redundancy is a form of dismissal and is fair in most cases. You might have recently completed a training course or additional qualification which has given you relevant new experience or skills. "My values no longer align with the company's mission." "I'd like additional compensation." "The company I worked for went out of business." "I feel undervalued in my current role." "I'm looking for a new . For example, I have gone on to work in mental health so I talked about things like supporting with MH in the classroom, wanting to go back to my roots in my undergraduate degree, wanting to work on a 1:1 basis to see that individual impact more than a large group setting, etc. We are social beings and we need a good social network to be happy. Close a major sale? Its much harder to undo a resignation if you change your mind than it is to make a decision to stay. If you feel stuck, unchallenged, or bored, its time to act now before fall into career quicksand. Maybe your company got acquired, and the buyer decided to downsize. There were limited growth opportunities at my former company. There are several points to consider a leave of absence from work, including the following: Jury service. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Explain to the interviewers why you were asked to leave but try to paint it in as positive a light as possible. Preparing for this question is as simple as taking these three simple steps: 1. Family circumstances may also be a factor. If trying to adapt to your boss' managerial style doesn't improve your working situation, it may be time to leave. Everyone has bills to pay, and finding a position with more stability is a perfectly acceptable reason to find something new. When I went into teaching like they say, I was hoping to change the world one child at a time. 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?). You Were (Unjustly) Passed Over a Promotion #3. COBRA is a federal law that may allow you to continue your employee health insurance for a limited time; however, you will be responsible for paying the full cost along with any administrative fees. The company you worked for went out of business. In March 2018, the Department for Education published Factors affecting teacher retention: qualitative investigation. Explain your reason and be honest: Whatever your reason might be, explain . Completing a separate application for each specific job you apply for gives you the best chance of getting selected for an interview - even if you might appear not to be the perfect candidate. You want to change the direction of the profession. When the weekend winds down and those Sunday Night Blues start to creep in and you cant bear the thought of another week, then you arent enjoying your job the way you are supposed to. Always. I had to leave my position because of family circumstances. Bad Reasons for Leaving a Job. If this is a legitimate excuse for you or you can work this reason in, your boss is very unlikely to hold your resignation against you. Your new supervisor tends to get angry too easily, micromanages all your work, and is generally not too pleasant to work with. Prospective employers are likely to be much more understanding than you think - particularly if your reason for leaving teaching is a good one. 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. The hiring manager may wonder why you've stalled out. Undoubtedly, the acceptable reasons for leaving a job have changed over the years. 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. Applying for or completing a training course prior to making an application, is also an excellent way to demonstrate relevant experience in a new area .. and make being selected for interview many times more likely. 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. Thats what I put and I got the job., I was 100% honest and said I wanted a better work/life balance. Let the interviewer know you were not fired for poor performance. So, whenever that gnawing guilt monster threatens to keep you from packing up your cubicle, remember these six reasons to quit and then gather your courage. 18. Others may leave due to dissatisfaction with their current position, whether it be the school itself, the students, or . If you were released from your position due to a more serious issue, you would need to respond carefully. In any case, its OK to let the interviewer know about it. Specifically, they learn if the candidate got fired, what motivates them, and if their reason for quitting also applies to the company theyre interviewing for. This reason for leaving is similar to 2 above, but is useful in situations where the job you are applying for isnt in a caring profession .. or is one which lacks the opportunity to make an impact based justification. 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. 2. When asked this question on the interview, keep the following tips in mind: And finally, this interview question isnt end-all-be-all. Leaving a position to attain a degree, especially if you're switching industries, is a common reason and shows that you're invested in your career goals. Resume, CV and Cover Letter Writing Expert, Why Do Interviewers Ask Why Did You Leave Your Job?, #1. Giving reasons for leaving helps to determine what job satisfaction and happiness at work looks like to you. First, make sure you are consistent with your work history. Another sign that leaving teaching may be the right choice is if youre unable to leave emotions and stress of school at school. Not only are you responsible for the social and academic development of large numbers of children, but you also must be blessed with an outgoing personality, large amounts of patience and stellar communication skills. Answer Why Your Were Released from a Job If you were released from your job due to a school closing, downsizing, or layoff, explain your situation. You wanted to switch to a different industry. It can be very effective to justify a change of career direction with your desire to help people with the skills you have. 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. These cookies do not store any personal information. After several years in my last teaching position, Im looking for a school to contribute and grow in a team-oriented and collaborative environment like this campus. There's really no "right" list of reasons for leaving a job. Second, they want to understand why you quit your last job in case the reason you quit is something that applies to the company youre applying for, too. Use your teacher superpowers to do this - your forensic eye for detail will help you break down the job / person spec .. and your creativity will help you match this with the skills you have. Personal or family illnesses can be a legitimate reason to leave a job. Teacher burnout and work-life balance are the main reasons cited as to why teachers quit. Acceptable Reasons for Leaving a Job The Capitalist Citizen Just Now Web Focus on why your skills will be of more value to your new employer. Here are some common reasons a person may leave a job: Career advancement. 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. You're burnt out. If this isnt a good reason for leaving a job, we dont know what is. Company Dynamics Changed (In a Bad Way), #9. Good answer: "My team recently downsized and the scope of my responsibilities narrowed. You may be surprised at how strong you really are. You Were (Unjustly) Passed Over a Promotion, #3. While some of these jobs are a career deviation, many are temporary and can lead back into the classroom at some point. Why do you want to leave your current teaching position? I feel asif Ive developed as much as I can in my current role, and Iam now seeking new opportunities for career growth. 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. Butone thing to keep in mind is that the reason you give a prospective employer shouldmatch what your previous employers would say if they are contacted for more information about you. We all want to have meaningful careers, and teaching is a great way to add meaning to your life. Educational Consultant Jobs: Transitioning Out of the Classroom, Battling Teacher Guilt About Leaving the Classroom. (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. 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. 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. Before You Decide To Resign The decision to leave a job should be made carefully. Whenyou get asked this question "Why are you leaving your job?" in your jobinterview it is essential to answer confidently - a solid explanationhelps you to do this.Your poten. Comment below. Being tactful will help you leave your job gracefully and remain on good terms with your soon-to-be-former employer. Sabbatical. 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. You may also be asked this in interview. Here are examples of what to say when there are organizational changes: Sometimes, a better opportunity simply comes along or youre pivoting your life in a different direction. 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! " You clash with the company's ethics. So, if the role youre applying for is about digital marketing, youll probably enjoy it and be a good fit. Millions of people quit their jobs each month, and there are plenty of legitimate reasons for doing so. You may be eligible for Family and Medical Leave during the illness. For example, even just a few decades ago, leaving a job would most probably mean that a person is. You have more skills than you think, you just need to find the right situations. Have you been asked this interview question? And, considering how expensive replacing an employee is, who can blame recruiters for wanting to hire the right candidate? If you fail to do this, you risk sounding like you are applying to a different area for negative reasons - and would likely not enjoy the new job either. If this resonates with you, please share it After teaching for 20 years in the UK, I now help Schools, Universities, and Entrepreneurs to create and deliver transformational online learning. If you find yourself being short with loved ones as a result, your patience with work may be running thin. Here is a post on an example educational program from Latin America . Often these are collected after employment has begun. I am inspired to seek a new career challenge and an opportunity to use my technical skills and experience in a different capacity than I have in the past. A little break from the daily classroom . "I enjoyed my role as a legal assistant but felt I would find more challenging opportunities if I completed the educational requirements for a paralegal. My company downsized, which meantthatbecause of my lack of seniorityI was one of the employees whosecontractsthey terminated. This is a rational reason for leaving your job. 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. For many teachers, the process of applying for work outside the classroom can feel quite alien. However, finding the right role and company are important for both employer and employee. Leave from the military. If there is no more excitement about Monday morning, then your heart is no longer in it. Teachers are also often unsure how to present the career change they are making positively. Career change (new industry) Better compensation. 6. Make sure to prepare for the most common job interview questions: Finally, the last case where you have to give a reason for leaving a company is when youre about to quit, and your employer wants to understand what led you to this decision. You can mention in your application how driven you are by the impact you have made for so many years in the classroom. You seek more of a challenge in your work No one has to motivate you to hit the ground running in the morning. Its fine to say that: Work is important, but it isn't the only important thing in life. These are generally quite acceptable reasons for leaving your current job, and any future employers are likely going to be quite understanding. It is never easy looking for work or switching careers. You were promised one thing and another outcome happened. The Company is in Economic Difficulties. 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. Lack Of Recognition - Did you just land the big account? 5 Good Reasons for Leaving a Job 1. What do you know about this company/organization? 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? I might say I aspire to be an airline pilot, but my fear of flying and obvious lack of experience would be painfully obvious to the recruiter reading my resume / CV. It is important that the response you give to thisjob interview question is truthful, relevant to the position, and shows value to the school district. So there you are, in the interview, and the hiring manager asks innocently enough . You dont have to be the same person you were 5/10/15 years ago. 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 This is an unavoidable reason for leaving any job, and as such it is easily understood by prospective employers. But you don't want to get caught off guard in an interview when they ask you why you're quitting your job. Rumours of redundancy might have been going around, or the nature of your work requires shifts that aren't always guaranteed. So, if thats why you switched jobs, answer the interview question like this: You find an ad for the PERFECT job - its challenging, interesting, has competitive pay, amazing benefits, and the like. Often these kinds of life changes are accompanied by a change in priorities too - which easily justifies the application to work somewhere new. When you dont care anymore, it shows. Personal time off. Here's a list of some goodand some badreasons for leaving your job. Career Advancement Obtaining a higher-level job or leadership role can often be accomplished more quickly by changing companies. The golden rule if you want to remove a job from your CV. Teaching, for me was about the children and I lost the love when I felt the children became simply a cog in a much bigger wheel.. This is a big sign that leaving teaching may be the right choice. 1. If you were released from your job due to a school closing, downsizing, or layoff, explain your situation. This is a perfect reason for leaving the classroom for applications to caring or impact based jobs or professions - as the recruiter will be looking for someone who is motivated by the chance to make a difference in the job. Your values no longer align with the company mission. Be careful if you are tempted to exaggerate (or fabricate) a reason of this type however - this can become quickly obvious at interview, when a recruiter might ask about the change you are going through. I said it was work life balance and mental health. All Rights Reserved. Stop yourself from doing this by practicing the answer you will give. 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 Family or health issues are common reasons people leave their jobs. So, you may be wondering, whats a good reason for leaving a job? what career ouside the classroom is right for you? If you have to change priorities in your life because things change - this is a perfect justification for leaving a classroom job or starting to look at a new career. Example #1: Seeking Further Learning Opportunities After working at ABC Company for many years, I had outgrown my position. 2. Thats HUMAN NATURE. Let the interviewer know you were not fired for poor performance. The decision to leave a job should be made carefully. Before you start a job search, it's a good idea to figure out what you're going to say so that your reason is consistent with your job applications and with your responses in interviews. Top 11 Reasons for Leaving a Job #1. 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. You are looking for new challenges in the workplace. Your company makes such a valuable contribution to XXX and I would love to be a part of making a difference to XXX ", " I value my ability to make a positive impact with the skills I have, and I am really interested in doing this in the role of XXX ". The following are responses shared with Thinking of Leaving Teaching? If you want to move into a new career area, start considering the study you can do in advance of physically making the move - there are many online courses of study available, a lot of it available completely free (e.g. For example, if you were overqualified for your last position, you may be overqualified for this one too. 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.