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A useful answer to “Why are you leaving teaching?” briefly explains your direction, connects your experience to the vacancy and shows why this particular role interests you. You can be honest without sharing every difficult experience or delivering a speech about the education system.
The aim is not to invent a more acceptable reason. It is to choose the parts of your genuine story that help an employer understand your application.
Build an answer in three parts
- Foundation: identify relevant experience you developed through teaching.
- Direction: explain the work you want to do more of.
- Connection: connect that interest to a specific responsibility in the advertised role.
For example, if you enjoy planning and coordinating, focus on that work and provide a real example. Avoid a vague claim that you can “do anything” because teachers have transferable skills.
Adaptable wording for different situations
These are sample answers to adapt, not accounts of real applicants. Use only statements that are true for you.
You want to focus on workplace learning
“Teaching has helped me develop strong skills in explaining complex information and designing practical learning activities. I would now like to apply those skills with adult learners in a workplace setting. This role interests me because it combines facilitation with improving the onboarding experience.”
You want to move towards coordination
“Alongside teaching, I have enjoyed the planning and follow-up involved in [your genuine example]. I want to develop that part of my work further. The coordination responsibilities in this role are a strong match for the direction I am exploring.”
You are seeking a more suitable working arrangement
“I am looking for a role that fits my longer-term priorities and lets me use my strengths in [relevant skill]. I have been researching this field carefully, and the work described here particularly interests me because [specific reason].”
Do not promise that a new industry will be less stressful or assume an advertised arrangement is guaranteed. Ask concrete questions about workload, hours and expectations.
Prepare evidence for the follow-up question
An interviewer may ask, “Can you give us an example?” Prepare a real situation, explain your responsibility, describe your actions and state the result accurately. The Australian Public Service Commission recommends relevant examples and the STAR structure in its application guidance. The same structure can be a useful organising tool beyond APS applications, although each employer’s process differs.
If an outcome was qualitative, explain what changed without inventing a percentage. If work was collaborative, make your contribution clear. A precise account of a modest achievement is stronger than an impressive claim you cannot explain.
What if your reason is burnout or a difficult workplace?
You can decide which personal details you want to discuss. For this question, concentrate on the work you are seeking and what you have learned about your needs. You do not have to turn the answer into a detailed account of colleagues, students or sensitive events.
If the discussion involves a specific disclosure requirement, adjustment request or legal question, get advice appropriate to your circumstances. This guide is about preparing your career-change explanation, not deciding individual employment obligations.
Answering “Will you go back to teaching?”
Avoid making a promise about the rest of your life. Explain the preparation you have undertaken and why you are applying now. A possible structure is: “I have researched this direction through [genuine activity], and I am applying because [specific fit]. I am ready to invest in learning this role and contributing to the team.”
A work sample, relevant conversation or completed course can support the explanation if you have actually done it. Intentional preparation matters more than dramatic language about closing a chapter forever.
Practise without memorising a script
Write three bullet points, say your answer aloud and check whether it sounds like you. Keep the initial answer brief enough to leave room for questions. Ask a trusted person whether they can hear both your reason for moving and your interest in the employer.
The University of Queensland’s interview guidance is another useful resource for preparation. Research the organisation as carefully as you rehearse your own story.
Before the interview
- Identify two responsibilities in the advertisement that genuinely interest you.
- Prepare two relevant examples from your work.
- Remove confidential details and unsupported claims.
- Prepare questions about the everyday work and support available.
- Check that your answer agrees with your resume and cover letter.
If you would like individual support, explore the resume and interview support directory. For a clearer view of a potential role before applying, try an informational interview.
Image: AI-generated editorial illustration. Sources are linked throughout this guide.