If you want to get a position as a vice principal, you should prepare by studying some common interview questions for the role. In this article, we discuss 47 popular vice principal interview questions, including some with sample answers to help you get an idea of what a strong response looks like and get you ready for your next interview.
- What’s the greatest challenge you have overcome in your career so far? …
- Can you describe a time when you successfully organized an event? …
- Describe a time when you got into an argument with a colleague. …
- If you become the vice principal, which obstacles do you anticipate?
Vice Principal Interview Question 1 of 10
What achievement are you most proud of in your vice principal career so far?
Interviewers ask this question to get a sense of what you are capable of and what you are passionate about. Choose an example that you truly are proud of, instead of trying to think of something the interviewer would want to hear.
Example: “About two years ago, our schools budget decreased, which meant we needed to make cuts. At first, we thought we had no choice but to cut the after-school tutoring program. I convinced the principal to give me a week to look over the budget and find another way to make cuts so that we could keep the tutoring program. I succeeded in finding a few areas of waste which, once eliminated, kept us within our budget and allowed us to keep the tutoring program. This program has resulted in a 20-point improvement in test scores, which, in turn, has meant our school qualifies for more grants.”
General questions
Most interviewers will begin with general questions to get a sense of your background, your career goals and what motivated you to apply for the position. Here are a few examples of general questions they might ask you:
What makes you the best candidate to be our next vice principal?
In asking this question, an interviewer usually wants to see how you see yourself fitting into this role. Show that youve done your research on this school and its community, and that youre confident your particular set of skills are best suited to addressing their challenges and goals. Lead with your strongest qualification and then elaborate on that with one or two other details that make you a desirable hire.
Example: “I have three years of experience working as a vice principal in an underserved community where I encountered a lot of challenges, particularly as it came to finding ways to stretch a limited budget as far as it could go to make sure all children got the support and attention they needed.
Before I became a vice principal, I was a substitute teacher for five years, which required the ability to teach a variety of grade levels and subjects at a moments notice. As a parent, former teacher and current vice principal, I have seen the education system from all angles. I would use this unique perspective to find equitable solutions to the problems your school is currently facing and to help strengthen cooperation between your parents, teachers and administrators.”
Vice principal interview questions with sample answers
As you practice answering the interview questions listed above, make sure your answers are thoughtful, relevant and to the point. Take a look at the sample answers below to see how you should be framing your responses:
FAQ
What makes a great vice principal?
A candidate for this career should display leadership qualities, determination, confidence, and strong decision-making abilities. Because their job entails a range of duties, assistant principals must possess excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
What questions should I ask my VP in an interview?
- What brought you to this company/role? …
- What does a typical day look like? …
- What are some of the biggest challenges within the department currently? …
- What sort of person would be successful in this role? …
- How would I be evaluated in this role?
What questions should I ask at the end of an assistant principal interview?
What questions should I ask in a principal interview?
- Why do you want to be principal of this school? …
- What has been your greatest contribution to the schools you have worked in? …
- What would be your top priorities in this position? …
- How do you motivate and encourage staff? …
- Outline the role that parents should play in the school?
