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The personal story is a powerful way to connect with the panel. I have found in my experience that interview panels desperately want to connect with interview candidates and a personal story establishes rapport and connection that can last well beyond the end of the interview.
Thank you for these videos! I've had two AP interviews in the past week and I bombed both of them. I froze. I have been a school counselor for the past 5 years and I could not convey my leadership skills properly. I will use your strategies in my next interview.
Thank you for being a part of our community and I’m glad you like the content. If you don’t mind tell me more about your interviews. Why do you feel you froze? Was it a challenging question? Was it nerves inside of the interview room? I’m interested because I have had other members of the community share similar experiences and I’m thinking about other topics and ideas that can support you as you move forward.
Great stuff. The first two are new for me and I am going to begin to weave them into my interviews. The last strategies helped me get to the final round of two principal searches. Any tips for standing out when applying? Back in 2004, I sent a bag of microwaveable popcorn 🍿and a DVD video portfolio with my resume and bam 💥 that led to an interview and the job. In 2024, it’s a challenge to stand out on the Applicant Tracking Systems. Any suggestions? I was going to send a similar type of package to a few superintendents in the districts aligned with my values but worried it will make me look desperate.
Thanks for the feedback! I think you are an out of the box thinker and very thoughtful/strategic in your approach to the complex world of school principal interviews. As a superintendent, I agree it is a bit of a different now versus where we were in 2004…however, with that being said, I think your personable and strategic approach is still the right way to tackle this process. For example, you want to weave personal stories or pithy quotes into your interviews. How about leveraging all three strategies in the video into a 90 day entry plan document that you could leave with the interview panel. It could have the pithy quote on the cover page, the personal story as an intro/lead in, and then you demonstrate all of your insider knowledge with the strategic actions you would do during your first 90 days on the job. And to maximize impact that 90 plan is your personal prep guide for the interview. You weave all that information into the live interview as well. Hopefully this give some additional things to think about. Let me know what you think. 👍🏾
Absolutely and thanks for the question! When I think about the personal story I put it in the context of memories or experiences that shaped or formed the reasons for being in the job interview or wanting that job. So examples might be: 1. A story about a time when you saw a leader (teacher, counselor, principal) take the time or make the effort to make your life of fhe life of a student better. 2. A story of a leader going above and beyond possibly with great sacrifice to take care of a student, staff member or family. 3. A personal experience when you were growing up that shapes you perspective and passion for leading in education. 4. A story about why education matters to you and how you envision making the school you lead better for your scholars, staff, and community. These are few examples that come to mind but I want to thank you for inspiring a new episode idea for me. 😊. Let me know if these help and let me know of you have any more questions. I’m happy to help.
🔥 Elevate your interview game! Grab our FREE guide, "Ace Your Next Leadership Interview," now!
👇 Download Here 👇pages.principaledleader.com/aceyournextinterview
Personal Story resonated with me
The personal story is a powerful way to connect with the panel. I have found in my experience that interview panels desperately want to connect with interview candidates and a personal story establishes rapport and connection that can last well beyond the end of the interview.
Just discovered your videos - some of the most high-value content I've yet come across on this topic. Thank you, sir!
Thank you so much for the feedback. It tells me to keep giving valuable information for the community.
Thank you for these videos! I've had two AP interviews in the past week and I bombed both of them. I froze. I have been a school counselor for the past 5 years and I could not convey my leadership skills properly. I will use your strategies in my next interview.
Thank you for being a part of our community and I’m glad you like the content. If you don’t mind tell me more about your interviews. Why do you feel you froze? Was it a challenging question? Was it nerves inside of the interview room? I’m interested because I have had other members of the community share similar experiences and I’m thinking about other topics and ideas that can support you as you move forward.
Great stuff. The first two are new for me and I am going to begin to weave them into my interviews. The last strategies helped me get to the final round of two principal searches. Any tips for standing out when applying? Back in 2004, I sent a bag of microwaveable popcorn 🍿and a DVD video portfolio with my resume and bam 💥 that led to an interview and the job. In 2024, it’s a challenge to stand out on the Applicant Tracking Systems. Any suggestions? I was going to send a similar type of package to a few superintendents in the districts aligned with my values but worried it will make me look desperate.
Thanks for the feedback! I think you are an out of the box thinker and very thoughtful/strategic in your approach to the complex world of school principal interviews. As a superintendent, I agree it is a bit of a different now versus where we were in 2004…however, with that being said, I think your personable and strategic approach is still the right way to tackle this process. For example, you want to weave personal stories or pithy quotes into your interviews. How about leveraging all three strategies in the video into a 90 day entry plan document that you could leave with the interview panel. It could have the pithy quote on the cover page, the personal story as an intro/lead in, and then you demonstrate all of your insider knowledge with the strategic actions you would do during your first 90 days on the job. And to maximize impact that 90 plan is your personal prep guide for the interview. You weave all that information into the live interview as well. Hopefully this give some additional things to think about. Let me know what you think. 👍🏾
I can’t really think of a good personal story that wouldn’t feel contrived in the moment. What are some examples you would share?
Absolutely and thanks for the question! When I think about the personal story I put it in the context of memories or experiences that shaped or formed the reasons for being in the job interview or wanting that job. So examples might be:
1. A story about a time when you saw a leader (teacher, counselor, principal) take the time or make the effort to make your life of fhe life of a student better.
2. A story of a leader going above and beyond possibly with great sacrifice to take care of a student, staff member or family.
3. A personal experience when you were growing up that shapes you perspective and passion for leading in education.
4. A story about why education matters to you and how you envision making the school you lead better for your scholars, staff, and community.
These are few examples that come to mind but I want to thank you for inspiring a new episode idea for me. 😊. Let me know if these help and let me know of you have any more questions. I’m happy to help.