Thinking About Leaving Corporate for Primary Teaching (Sydney) – Looking for Honest Advice
Hi everyone,
I’m a 29M and have been working in finance in Sydney for the past 5 years. Lately, I’ve been seriously considering a career change into primary teaching and would love to hear some honest perspectives from current teachers, especially anyone who has made a similar transition.
Corporate has given me a lot of opportunities, but I’ve found that the stress and pressure haven’t really aligned with what I want long term, and I’m looking for something that feels more meaningful and people-focused.
One thing that’s drawing me towards teaching is that I’ve always enjoyed working with kids. Before going into corporate, I worked for a tutoring company and also did private tutoring for a number of years. I genuinely enjoyed helping students learn, building their confidence, and being a positive role model for them. Those experiences are some of the most fulfilling work I’ve done.
I’m currently considering doing a Master of Teaching (Primary) at UNSW, but I want to make sure I have realistic expectations before committing to such a big career change. I know tutoring and classroom teaching are very different, so I’d love some honest insights from people in the profession.
For primary teachers in Sydney:
- What is the day-to-day reality of the job?
-What are the biggest challenges or downsides that people don’t talk about enough?
-How much work do you realistically take home?
-How stressful is classroom behaviour management?
-If you’ve worked in both corporate and teaching, how do the stresses compare?
- Do you still find the work rewarding despite the challenges?
-If you could go back, would you still choose teaching?
- What’s your most favourite thing about your job?
I’m not looking for anyone to sugarcoat things—I genuinely want to understand both the good and the bad so I can make an informed decision.
Thanks in advance for any advice!