What do you do if you're asked to describe yourself in an educational leadership interview?

It can be frustrating when a senior leadership interview starts with a vague general question such as "tell us about yourself." I always take this as an opportunity to set the tone for the conversation and illustrate what makes me an effective and energized leader. My suggestion is, do not repeat what's on your resume or cover letter. Instead, build a narrative -- briefly -- around how and why you lead. Use structured, engaging storytelling that makes people want to lean in and hear more. What have you accomplished in the industry or adjacent roles that would illuminate the reasons you're the best candidate for the job? Sprinkle specific examples into your story that touch on the major needs (pain points) described in the job posting.

Authenticity is key - it is worth spending time before an interview situation to do two key pieces of research and reflection. The first is to find a set of questions based on the leadership position and to answer these as rigorously and thoroughly as possible - exploring your own philosophy and vision for education. The second is the contextual exploration and research into the school. Get to know the environment, the lie of the land that you hope to be moving into and at an early point in the interview, really clarify what it is about that landscape that attracts you to the position.

Passionate educator and leader, committed to fostering inclusive and innovative learning environments. My approach combines strategic planning with a collaborative spirit, aiming to inspire both staff and students towards excellence and continuous improvement

Education is a people business. You always talk about students you have helped learn, colleagues you have helped to mentor, and people's problems you have helped solve.

Thanks to an early beginning working on Computer based programming with PLATO, I became —?as I like to think of myself, as an educational innovator in the integrated use of technology and learning theory. I am grateful for all the wonderful faculty who inspired me to do this work.

Telling my story and sharing intersectional positionally for me is important. Centering the fact I am also walking with knowledge of not just western but also ancestral ways and that my leadership and world view are shaped by this knowledge and values.

In a leadership interview, I respond by being vulnerable and relatable, sharing personal experiences that shaped my leadership style. While I provide a brief overview of my resume, I emphasize the values that drive me, particularly equity and anti-racism. I believe in creating inclusive environments where everyone's voice is heard and valued. My lived experiences, including encountering and overcoming instances of discrimination, have fueled my commitment to equity and informed my approach to leadership. They've taught me the importance of empathy, listening, and continuously challenging biases, both within myself and within the organizations I lead.

Start with purpose, and move with passion. There must have been something that drove you to education and something that keeps you there. What is your "why" and can you articulate it in a way that is palatable to everyone listening to you? There is no substitute for someone who loves what they do and eloquently expresses that "why" to the people around them.

This is an opportunity to share your “why” and your journey so far. Your achievements and skills are on your resume/CV. And those are things that can be taught/cultivated in any other equally talented candidate. Simply reiterating that list isn’t likely enough to make you memorable. What is it that sets you apart? Pick a trait that you’re especially proud of and relate it back to an instance in your career. Explain the situation, share what you did (you specifically, not your team), what you learned from the experience, and how you’ll apply it in the future.

One thing I found helpful is to maintain a balanced account of my background, and stating the turning points of my life. The human race is so interconnected, that telling my story has a way of resounding with somebody else such that they begin to learn something important that can be applied to their own lives

I will articulate my vision for education and how I embody that vision in my leadership approach. I would convey my passion for educational leadership to inspire and empower others to create positive change. I emphasize my commitment to student-centred learning, where every child is valued, supported, and challenged to reach their full potential. I would discuss how I prioritize collaboration and communication with all stakeholders to create a shared vision and goals. For example, I would talk about how I have led initiatives to integrate technology into the classroom, enhancing learning opportunities for students and teachers. I would also highlight my belief in fostering a positive school culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

I will like to talk about my multi-faceted growth in skills and understanding to be an effective school leader on the basis of what I have learnt from students ,fellow educators and parents as I have striven to fulfil their expectations from me and the school .I am proud to say that I have been shaped by my students particularly as much as as I succeeded in shaping them. I would enjoy sharing experiences ,opportunities,words,actions ,thoughts that live on actively within me and colour my vision in terms of success attained or missed.

My vision for the institution is grounded in my experiences as a pedagogical practitioner, not solely on personal beliefs. I believe in taking a stand based on what has and hasn't worked in the classroom. This approach drives innovation and excellence, aligning with the school's mission and strategic goals. By leveraging past experiences, I'm equipped to lead the institution toward a bright and successful future, ensuring it remains forward-thinking and impactful in education.

Not only should your vision be compelling but it has to be congruent with who you are. If your vision somehow clashes with institution's strategic plan or direction, don't hide it but succinctly share it with them at the start.

When describing yourself as an educational leader, authenticity is key. If your vision doesn't match the schools foundational elements, it may not be the right fit. It's important to be patient and wait for a position that aligns with your core values and beliefs. Trying to change established community values without major changes isn't feasible. Articulating your vision as an educational leader, is crucial to provide the interview team with your "why" and purpose. Your vision is reflected in the school's mission, day-to-day operations, and efforts to create a positive and safe environment. Emphasize collaboration among home, school, and community to ensure success for all stakeholders.

Lifetime impact is what education is ultimately about. All the classes, assignments and grades in the different subjects, and all the standardized testing doesn't mean anything, if it doesn't actually help the students have a better life. Great educational leaders make this their guiding principle in all actions they take.

Your reputation are your results so make sure you focus on that. Educators can struggle with focusing on themselves, but a coach once told me, "It's not bragging if it's true." You don't have to be the epicenter of each story. You can highlight team contributions and how you orchestrated those results. But if you present as too humble the risk is that you won't inspire any confidence that you are the right leader for the job.

When discussing my qualifications and experiences, I always tie them back to the impact on student learning and success. Quantifying achievements and highlighting how I've fostered an environment for academic excellence and personal growth is key. Great leaders are humble and credit their team, yet it's important to show influence without showing off. Collaborative teamwork and leveraging each team member's strengths are crucial for finding the best solutions and outcomes. As a leader, I promote supportive voices and believe that combining individual strengths leads to unstoppable solutions and the best way to serve. We all have a “super power” and once we identify it, amazing things happen.

In my opinion, the greatest achievement is to lead educators who understand how positive a positive contribution can be made to the long-term lives of those who learn by using courses. If what is taught does not contribute to the character development of the learners, your leadership has no value. The most valuable contribution made is the contribution to character and personality development. It is the most valuable service to lead this.

Be prepared to highlight 3-5 of your top leadership strengths and most importantly have concrete and powerful examples/stories from your experiences in the field to share. As you share, blend confidence and humility in the way that you convey this information.

In my experience, resilience, empathy, innovation, and collaboration are the cornerstones of effective educational leadership.Resilience has empowered me to navigate challenges and lead school communities through change.Empathy has been crucial in understanding the diverse needs of students,teachers, &parents,fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.My commitment to innovation has driven me to implement progressive educational technologies and methodologies,enhancing learning outcomes.Furthermore,my focus on collaboration has promoted teamwork among staff,encouraging a culture of shared success and continuous improvement. These traits, combined with my passion for education, have been instrumental in shaping my leadership approach.

I think one of the most powerful approaches is to tell stories and provide examples for every leadership quality that you highlight in an interview. Anyone can say they "go the extra mile" or embrace a "servant leadership" approach, but if you give detailed examples that set you apart by showing the depth of this qualities within you, you're going to make a great impression in that interview!

Everyone is going to say the same stuff: hard worker, resilient, empathetic, bla bla bla. Be different. Stick out. Create non-obivous and counterintuitive phrases (that I call sticky core values) that you can then illustrate with story. For brevity, I won't share the stories here, but share some of my sticky core values so you get an idea. Hopefully, they spark curiosity and intrigue from the reader: When YOU get better … Everyone wins Ideas are great, but not the greatest. Create results, not a resume. Are we measuring what matters? You can never go wrong treating people right.

Discussing your experience is important but that includes your identity-based perspectives too. Tell your story and how it relates to your values, and how that connects to the organization’s mission and goals.

I'm passionate about the train-the-trainer module and value the networking opportunities it provides during professional development. Engaging with peers allows me to tap into collective wisdom, fostering a culture of shared learning. I prioritize continuous learning, staying updated on trends and best practices. I instill a growth mindset in staff and students, emphasizing embracing challenges for improvement. This commitment ensures readiness to lead through the evolving educational landscape.

My own recent commitment to growth via HDR and professional evolution has been eye-opening and exhilarating but did not come without challenges. Much of this was mindset-based and involved overcoming personal fears to achieve success. As educational leaders, it is essential to remain committed to the awareness of the vulnerability of our students as they navigate their way through their learning journey. By regularly engaging in our own professional development in areas that may challenge us or force us to rethink our approaches to our practice, we curate an ongoing growth mindset, we stay humble and most importantly, we stay connected to the part of us that desires to learn, just like our students.

A major chunk of continuous learning comes from informal sources. We often adequately brag about formal learning like certificates, diplomas, on job-trainings etc. but seldom do we showcase our prowess to learn from informal sources.

A key aspect of continuous learning is reflective practices and feedback. Both of these skills require ongoing attention. Reflection MUST be followed up by insight then a plan of action. Feedback must be given from not only your managers but also your colleagues and staff.

As soon as an interviewer asks me where I see myself in 5 years, I know I should go elsewhere. It's the last resort question of an apprentice HR incumbent, copied and pasted from an aged internet resource site. Perhaps relevant 20 years ago.

Really reflect on what you're able to contribute to a job/school, and what you need--as a person and as a professional--to be at your best. A good interview should be mutually beneficial--they leave knowing more about you, and you leave knowing more about them (and whether it's a place you could flourish). Getting a job when you've exaggerated skills to fit the job posting, told interviewers what you think they want to hear, or compromised on what you really need in an employment relationship in an unhealthy way is rarely a win. Similarly, NOT getting the job at a place where people don't recognize your value, or where you won't be able to grow and thrive, can be an unrecognized gift. Aim for win-win, but do it from a place of authenticity.

I would hope the person interviewing would not ask such a vague question as 'Can you describe yourself?'. I understand a question like this can be intriguing, as it allows the interviewee to choose the direction of their response. Some questions and prompts I've personally used to interview candidates for school leadership roles might include: - Tell me a little about your personal leadership approaches. - Describe yourself as a colleague and friend. - What have others said about you as a leader? - How do you envision quality learning and teaching? Some tips: -Beware of rubbish leaders who will ask rubbish questions. -Context shapes the questions. -Every interviewer is looking for someone, and that someone might not be you or vice versa.

Understand that when asked to tell about yourself that the school or business wants to know how your story helps them. They are listening for their own benefit. Use that to your advantage. While the story about your upbringing or success is great, an even bigger sell would be to talk about the lessons you’ve learned that make you best suited for the role you’re applying for. Convince them of your assets and how they help.

Apresente-se e explique seu interesse na posi??o, destaque suas qualifica??es e experiência relevantes e compartilhe sua paix?o pela educa??o e seu compromisso com o sucesso dos alunos.

Using storytelling in an educational leadership interview can be a compelling way to connect with the screening committee. By sharing narratives that highlight visionary leadership, collaborative approaches, and effective communication, I can showcase my leadership qualities while allowing the committee to relate to my experiences and values on a personal level.