Why do you think you are suitable to work with young people?

 

Generations are changing quickly. It is not easy for us, the “old squad” to get close to the hearts of the children, to build relationship with them, to understand them, simply to work with them effectively.

School principals, as well as other people who lead the interviews, are aware of the situation–they find themselves in the same boat. They try to understand what you consider important when working with young people, and how you want to win their hearts.

Assistant principal in a jacket and tie standing in the middle of the classroom. Students are watching him.

Humility always works

Every good assistant principal will respect the children and their opinion. The worst thing you could do in an interview would be saying that you prefer authoritative leadership.

“I am an assistant principal, and children have to listen to me.” Such an approach does not work anymore, unless you teach in Africa or in the Far East, where children still have an immense amount of respect for their teachers.

In the rest of the world, however, young people are sensitive and regretfully often self-centered. It is impossible to apply an authoritative leadership in this case. Oppositely, you should think about their desires and problems, trying to connect with them on a personal level. The answers below should help you to understand how you can do it (and how you can answer the question in your interview).

 

Sample answers

I try to be a good listener at first place. I try to understand each person in the school, and find an individual approach to their problems. Humble, and trying to be friendly with each child, they can feel my understanding and honest interest.

I still feel very young to be honest. I like sports, modern music, I like to go out with friends. Obviously all of that I do in my free time. My activities do help me to be close to young people, since we share the same hobbies. If I get this role, I plan to actively participate in activities organized for them, in order to be “one of them”, at least in their eyes.

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