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Sarah's Journey in The Career Accelerator Programme

Craving a change? Know that you have more to offer and just need that first break to get to the next step? 

As teachers enrol in The Career Accelerator Programme right now - I'm sharing the story of Sarah who invested in the Programme when it first launched in early 2023. Reflecting on the clients who have enrolled to date - they all have one thing in common - they are HUNGRY for a new role and they know that they have got what it takes.  Does this sound like you too? 

Sarah's Story

Sarah had


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Mar 14, 2024 08:12am
By Orla Dempsey
Under #careerchange, #DeputyPrincipal, #careercoaching, #Leadership, #Interview Preparation, #Growth mindset, #Lookingatourschools, #TeacherEmpowerment, #JobHuntingStrategies & #InterviewSuccessGuide
3 min read
PrincipalInterview

Questions to Ask at the End of a Principal Interview in Ireland

A successful principal interview not only involves answering questions with confidence but also asking meaningful questions at the end of the interview. This demonstrates your interest in the role, your research on the school, and your eagerness to engage with the interviewers. In this blog post, we will discuss some thought-provoking questions that you can ask at the end of a principal interview to leave a lasting impression on the hiring committee, including some additional questions to help y


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May 2, 2023 06:20pm
By Orla Dempsey
Under #Career, #Interview, #Interview questions, #DeputyPrincipal, #principal, #AP, #AP positions, #careercoaching, #Career Change, #Growth mindset & #Leadership
2 min read
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6 unknown ways you're making a difference in school

1. As a student, I'm so happy that you listen to my news.
2. As a parent, I'm so relieved that you're noticing that my child has dyslexic tendencies. I really struggled in school.
3. As a principal, I'm grateful that you hand in your cuntas mĂ­osĂșil in time. I hate going looking for them
4. As a student, though I can't articulate it properly - my movement break really helps me listen better through the day.
5. As an AP post holder, I really appreciate that you're helping me with this project. Thin


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Feb 6, 2023 08:00am
By Orla Dempsey
Under #SAF, #STARtechnique, #careerchange, #Teacher, #primarymockinterview, #DeputyPrincipal, #primarymockinterviewpreparation, #careercoaching, #jobapplications, #Uncertainty, #Career Change, #Opportunity, #News, #Career, #postprimaryteacher, #teachers, #teacher, #Job Applications, #Leadership, #MĂșinteoirMeĂĄnscoile, #MĂșinteoir, #How to SAF, #Post Primary, #AP positions, #CV Writing & #Winning SAF
1 min read
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AP2 roles - are they worth it?

After reading lots of teachers talk about teacher burnout - I’m sharing my thoughts on applying for AP2 roles.

When making changes to your life - always weigh up the pros and cons. Know what you have to give and plan in advance what you are WILLING TO GIVE.

My energy is a positive and loving one here - I’ve made decisions in the past and regretted them in the end - but coaching has greatly helped me to understand my decision-making processes and treat myself and others with greater compassion. It’


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Jan 10, 2023 08:00am
By Orla Dempsey
Under #jobapplications, #careercoaching, #Teacher, #careerchange, #SAF, #education, #AP2, #AP1, #jobs, #opportunity, #Career Change, #whatcanido, #saf, #teachers, #teacher, #Job Applications, #Primary, #leadership, #Leadership & #principal
4 min read
Evidence of LAOS

What Are The Most Challenging LAOS Topics?

The main concerns in interviews that my clients have are...

  • How to answer the conflict question.
  • How to answer the challenging situation question.
  • The fact that they feel that their competition ‘is high’ for the role
  • How to answer the ‘vision’ question.

School principals can avail of coaching to help them plan their vision, to help them strengthen team dynamics, to help them reflect on how they responded to incidents of conflict or discuss challenging situations. Isn’t that cool?

Most 


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Dec 26, 2022 08:00am
By Orla Dempsey
Under #jobapplications, #careercoaching, #primarymockinterviewpreparation, #DeputyPrincipal, #primarymockinterview, #Interview questions, #careerchange, #STARtechnique, #SAF, #primaryschoolteacher, #AP1, #AP2, #Opportunity, #AP positions, #postprimaryteacher, #News, #Career, #Teaching, #leadership, #Mock Interview Preparation Primary, #sellingyourself, #AssistantPrincipal, #Interview, #education, #Teacher, #teachers, #saf, #cv, #principal, #Interview Preparation & #Leadership
2 min read
How do I deal with an unsustainable work load with my AP1?

How do I deal with an unsustainable work load with my AP1?

Today we are talking about teaching sustainably. I had a query lately that I feel it's important to share and offer my thoughts on the matter. Here's the query from a follower. 

Hi Orla, I’ve recently secured an AP1 post and there are so many duties that need to be covered. I don’t know how I’ll get through them all. I know I can do it but it seems like such a mountain of things to cover. What should I do? 

Firstly, congratulations on getting the role! How did you celebrate? In life, we ofte


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Nov 30, 2022 07:00am
By Orla Dempsey
Under #AP1, #AP2, #careercoaching, #Uncertainty, #Primary and Post Primary Interviews, #Leadership, #TeacherIreland, #MĂșinteoirBunscoile, #MĂșinteoirMeĂĄnscoile, #permanentjob, Learning & Leadership
2 min read
How do you answer the question on the vision for the role/vision for the school?

How do you answer the question on the vision for the role/vision for the school?

This question is one I get again and again from clients and they need to put their thinking caps on! 

How do you answer the question on the vision for the role/vision for the school?

One thing that I noticed when I began leadership coaching is that teachers sometimes were sometimes frustrated and they could sometimes use this question as a chance to vent. For this question, I always recommend that the energy is positive. This question IS NOT a chance to rant and tell them what you believe is g


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Nov 22, 2022 10:04am
By Orla Dempsey
Under #Career Change, #Uncertainty, #Opportunity, #AP1, #AP2, #primaryschoolteacher, #Leadership, Learning, #whatcanido, #News, Leadership, #Quality Education, #Mock Interviews for Primary, #primarymockinterview, #DeputyPrincipal, #Interview questions, #primarymockinterviewpreparation, #careercoaching, #jobapplications, #teachers, #Interview, #leadership, #Mock Interview Preparation Primary, #Confidence, #principal & #CPD
3 min read
Creating a Guiding Vision for Your School - The Core Values Approach

Creating a Guiding Vision for Your School - The Core Values Approach

I regularly ask questions my 1-1 interview leadership coaching clients about the guiding vision of their school. Their replies are always really interesting.

From a coaching perspective, developing an awareness of your core values is really important.

My top 3 core values are commitment, growth and variety. When I make decisions about events, situations, investments etc. - each decision will revolve around my need for variety, commitment and growth. If I don’t experience these things then I feel s


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Mar 31, 2022 08:00am
By Orla Dempsey
Under #News, #jobapplications, #primarymockinterviewpreparation, #DeputyPrincipal, #primarymockinterview, #STARtechnique, #primaryschoolteacher, #AP1, #AP2, #Uncertainty, #AssistantPrincipal, #Primary, #Leadership, #postprimaryteacher, #principal, #Growth mindset, #Quality Education, #Teaching & Learning
2 min read
Further questions from recent leadership interviews

Interview questions for Principal Jobs in Ireland

Are you searching for potential questions for leadership positions? If you’re reading this - I’m betting that you are!

Working 1-1 with 100s of teachers each year - puts me in a great position to hear what the latest questions are that are being asked. I hope you find them useful!

  • Intro: What have been three achievements in your teaching career to date?

  • What was a teaching and learning initiative that you introduced?

  • How do you self-evaluate?

  • What makes you ready to take on 


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Mar 29, 2022 03:13pm
By Orla Dempsey
Under #News, #Teaching, Learning, #EdTech, #Primary, #Lookingatourschools, #Education, #Leadership, #Post Primary, #principal, #TeacherIreland, #Teacher, #Interview, #Interview Preparation, #AP, #AP1 & #AP2
2 min read
Your Inside Guide to Looking at Our Schools – A support document for aspiring and existing school leaders

Your Inside Guide to Looking at Our Schools – A support document for aspiring and existing school leaders

Picking up this document – whether to self-reflect or when applying for a new role in management is a good idea to allow you to align with your current teaching practices. Working on your career vs working in your career – there’s a difference! Looking at our schools is a great document to allow for self-reflection.

There are a number of elements outlined in this document that you should consider when working on your career.

1. Reflection

Reflection is key to teaching and this framework serves as a


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Aug 16, 2021 08:00am
By Mary Dillon
Under #Leadership, #Career, #CPD, #Confidence, #Teacher, #Job Applications, #leadership, #primarymockinterview, #teachers, #careercoaching, #jobapplications & #permanentjob
6 min read

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