Assistant College Principal Interview Question:

Tell me why should we hire you over all the other applicants who have similar educational backgrounds and experience?

Submitted by: Muhammad

This is a difficult question as you cannot rely on your education and experience to sell yourself. What hiring panels are looking for when they ask this question is whatever you feel is most important to share with them. They're looking for candidates who avoid canned responses. They are seeking to learn how you see yourself and what you value about yourself.

You should focus on your best qualities, such as your work ethic: Did you work your way through college? Or were you the first in your family to earn a university degree?; your background in other areas: finance, fund-raising, charity work, adult education, training student teachers, ability to speak a second language, grant writing; maybe you have a license in special education, and so forth. Interviewers like to hear about your tenacity or “stick to it” attitude even when things get difficult.

Interviewers also want to hear about responsibility, integrity, kindness and a love for children, as well as a desire to make a difference in their lives. But don't just focus on your love for children. That is not enough to set you apart from the other candidates. The panel wants to detect a sense of professionalism and wants to hear what is in your heart. Make sure you express a real passion for improving education and helping students maximize their potentials.
Submitted by: Muhammad