How to Answer: Can you describe a mistake you have made before and how you addressed it?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Principal job interview.
3. Can you describe a mistake you have made before and how you addressed it?
How to Answer
We've all made mistakes at work. Take a moment to think about a time you made the wrong decision, what the consequence was because of it, and how you self-corrected or learned from the experience. It would be best to share a minor mistake or a mistake that was made due to lack of experience versus a mistake that caused a lot of trouble.
Written by Audra Kresinske on July 11th, 2021
Answer Example
"A few years ago, I was teaching at a new school, and I didn't have all the answers about parent/teacher conferences. I mistakenly told a few parents in my class some misinformation. I should have waited to relay the information until I knew all the details, but I wanted to get the information to them as quickly as I could. When I realized my mistake, I quickly emailed all of the students' parents in my class, informed them of my error, and let them know of the updated information. I am now more hesitant to relay information unless I am sure of all the details."
Written by Audra Kresinske on July 11th, 2021