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“I Don’t Have Time” - Why That Might Be the Very Reason You Need a Coach

Let’s be real—life as a teacher is full on. Between the demands of school, family, initiatives, and everything else stacked on your plate, it probably feels like there’s barely enough time to breathe, let alone focus on your career.

So when you hear someone say, “Maybe you should get a coach,” it’s easy to think, “Yeah right. When exactly would I fit that in?”

I get it. Completely.

But here’s the thing no one tells you


You don’t have to take time to develop your career.

But if you do? It w


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Mar 28, 2025 07:54am
By Orla Dempsey
Under #AP, #AP2, #AP1, #applications, FAQs, #career, #careercoaching, #cpd, #CPD, #DeputyPrincipal, #Education & #Interview
3 min read
Blog+ Podcast Quotes by Guest Speakers (2)

Backing Yourself for Success in The New Year

Welcome to 2025! I’ve been thinking a lot about how this year can be a turning point—not just for me, but for all of us who are ready to step into leadership with confidence and purpose. The idea of “backing yourself” has been at the forefront of my mind.

This isn’t just a phrase; it’s a mindset. It’s about believing in yourself, showing up with intention, and taking action, even when the path feels uncertain. Let me share a little about how I’m approaching this year, and maybe you’ll find someth


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Jan 10, 2025 08:00am
By Orla Dempsey
Under #Confidence, #careerchange, #AssistantPrincipal, #Interview, #Interview Preparation, #Growth mindset & #DeputyPrincipal
5 min read
Blog+ Podcast Quotes by Guest Speakers (1)

LAOS - Leadership Interview Questions Based on the 4 Domains

Here are 40 sample questions based on the Looking at Our Schools (LAOS) framework tailored for the Irish school setting:

Domain 1: Leading Learning and Teaching

  1. How would you ensure the effective implementation of SĂ­olta and Aistear in the school?

  2. How would you monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and learning across all classrooms?

  3. How do you ensure continuity and progression in literacy and numeracy?

  4. Can you describe a time you implemented a whole-school initiative to improve student learni


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Dec 23, 2024 12:22pm
By Orla Dempsey
Under #AP, #AP2, #AP1, #Career, #Interview questions, #Interview, #DeputyPrincipal, #Primary and Post Primary Interviews & #Principal
4 min read
Blog+ Podcast Quotes by Guest Speakers

Key Leadership Interview Questions and How I Mentor Clients to Answer Them

1. Tell me about a time you faced a challenging situation. 

This is one of the most common leadership questions, and it’s designed to assess how well my clients can navigate tough situations on their own or while leading a team. 

How I Approach This in the Mock Interview:

  • I start by helping my clients identify a meaningful challenge they’ve faced. Together, we focus on how they approached the problem, engaged their team, and ensured a positive outcome.

  • Then, I guide them to use the STAR method (Situ


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Dec 23, 2024 11:17am
By Orla Dempsey
Under #AP, #AP2, #Interview, #Interview Preparation, #Interview questions & #Education
8 min read
3

Insights into the Necessary Job Seeking Skills - Peter and Gwenda Johnson

This blog post is inspired by my most recent episode of The Growth in Educational Leadership Podcast. I spoke to Peter and Gwenda Johnson - a fantastic duo with tonnes of recruitment and job-seeking advice. Gwenda is a retired Primary School Principal and spent 9 years leading St Joseph’s - A Special School For Children with Visual Impairment.

Read on to uncover the stand-out points in our discussion.

You can listen to the podcast 👉 here.

  1. The Importance of Tailoring Applications Both Peter and Gwe


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Sep 24, 2024 03:49pm
By Orla Dempsey
Under #AP, #applications, #Career, #careercoaching, #Interview & #Interview Preparation
4 min read
Podcast (3)

Brand New Method to Understand The Four Domains to Simplify Your Interview Answers

Lately, I’ve been finding myself discussing the impact that teachers have in their role. Helping them to see things from an external perspective has been a real game changer in helping them articulate their skills and the difference they have made.

This blog explains why you should reflect on your impact as a school leader and gives you common statements I hear. See if you can think about the impact that these teachers may have had as a result!

Self-Awareness

Self-reflecting on the impact that you'


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Aug 13, 2024 08:00am
By Orla Dempsey
Under #AP1, #AP2, #applications, #CPD, #DeputyPrincipal, #Growth mindset, #How to SAF, #Interview Preparation, #Interview questions, InspiringSchools & #Interview
5 min read
Blog Covers

10 Confidence Tips for STAR Leadership Interviews

Stories are very powerful. I first became interested in people's stories when I became a coach. And I realised that the stories that we told ourselves have direct results in the kinds of opportunities that we have and the kind of results that we get. So there's a huge mindset associated with storytelling, the STAR technique, and the empowering beliefs that we have about ourselves.  The STAR technique is a framework that you can use to frame your answers and your stories in interviews in an empow


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Aug 6, 2024 08:00am
By Orla Dempsey
Under #AP, #Career, #careercoaching, #Interview Preparation, #Interview, #DeputyPrincipal, #Growth mindset & #cpd
8 min read
Copy of Chris - Images For Website (Instagram Post (Square))

FAQs About The Four Domains Simplified Course for School Leaders

Are you curious about the Four Domains Simplified Course?

I know that you may have questions that you'd like answered. đŸ€© So I thought I would address some of the questions that I’ve been getting about it. Here are the top questions I'm being asked. 

1. Is ‘The Four Domains Simplified’ better than ‘Help I’ve an Interview in a Week’?

In ‘Help I’ve an Interview in a Week’, I teach Looking at Our Schools through the lens of a variety of interview questions – each starting with the phrase ‘How do 


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Aug 18, 2023 06:03pm
By Orla Dempsey
Under #AP, #AP1, #AP2, #applications, #AssistantPrincipal, #AP positions, #DeputyPrincipal, #careercoaching, #Interview, #Interview questions, #Interview Preparation, #primaryschoolteacher, #Teaching & #Lookingatourschools
9 min read
interviewtechniquestoimpress

Three Techniques to Impress Your Interviewer

Hello, future interview superstars! Let's dive into three beneficial techniques to help you ace those interview questions with confidence and finesse.

1. The PAWS Technique

First impressions count, and often, the first question is: "Tell us a little about yourself." It's surprisingly tricky, isn't it? Here's where the 'PAWS' technique comes in handy.

'P' stands for Profile. Start with a captivating sentence about your interest in teaching or a quick intro about yourself.

'A' is for Academic.


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Jun 12, 2023 08:00am
By Orla Dempsey
Under #Interview, #tipsforinterview, #STARtechnique, #STAR, #interviewer, #techniquestoimpress, #pawstechnique, #storytelling & #interviewvocabulary
3 min read
startechnique

Mastering Your Interview Response with the STAR Technique

Hey there, job seekers! Let's chat about nailing those tricky interview questions with a secret weapon - the STAR technique. It's a universal framework that helps you strut your stuff and demonstrate your expertise.

Understanding the STAR Technique

Interviews can sometimes feel like a maze, but the STAR technique is your trusty compass. This universal framework stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. It's designed to help you demonstrate your competencies clearly and concisely.

Situation & 


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Jun 5, 2023 08:00am
By Orla Dempsey
Under #Interview, #STARtechnique, #STAR, #tipsforinterview, tipsforinterview, #sellingyourself & #teacher'sguide
3 min read

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