I have been coaching school leaders and aspiring leaders in preparation for their interviews for more than 15 years. My clients frequently ask me how to answer questions that they struggle with during an interview. Here’s a sampling of a few of those questions, my strategies as to how to answer, and my suggested answers:

1.  “What would your direct supervisor say about you if I called her?” (You think you might not get a positive recommendation from…

Coaching school leaders goes way beyond revising your resume and preparing for job interviews. Are you prepared to successfully transition into your new position? Are you struggling, even as an experienced leader, with coping with on-going problems? Who do you turn to in order to get strategic advice regarding on-the -job problems and crises?  Do you need guidance in planning the steps for your future career development? Getting objective and confidential sage…

Grab the committee’s attention by starting your answers in a thoughtful interesting way. Here is a sampling of a variety of strategies you could use to begin your answers:

1. State the Guiding Principles—I suggest that you develop a set of 10 to15 Guiding Principles (beliefs and values) that you hold that guide your practices. Start your answer by clearly and concisely stating one or two principles that will guide your response.

Example Q: “How…

Usually the second step in the interviewing process is the committee interview. Be prepared to encounter a 30-minute interview in which eight to ten interviewers are seated around the table. It’s important to grasp which stakeholder group each member is representing. Usually participants introduce themselves and will tell you: “Jane Smith, President of the PTA,” for example. If their roles are not evident and they seem friendly, it’s okay to ask, “And what is your…