What's the most common mistake people make on education leadership applications?
Listing duties instead of accomplishments. Your resume shouldn't read like a job description — it should read like an argument for why you're the best candidate. "Supervised 30 teachers" tells a hiring committee nothing they couldn't guess from your title. "Redesigned the walkthrough system, increasing classroom visits from 2 per week to 3 per day, resulting in measurably improved feedback conversations" tells them what you actually did and what happened because of it.
The same principle applies to cover letters. Most candidates treat the cover letter as a formality — a polite introduction that restates the resume. In reality, your cover letter is a persuasive essay. Its job is to make the case that you deserve an interview. Every paragraph should advance that argument.
More on Admin Job Search
How early should I start preparing for an education leadership job search?
Months before you plan to apply — ideally a full year.
How many applications should I expect to submit before getting an interview?
Use the 20% rule as your diagnostic.
How should I prepare for education leadership interviews?
Practice on camera.
What role do references play in the admin hiring process?
More than most candidates realize — and most candidates manage them badly.
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Answered by Justin Baeder, PhD, Director of The Principal Center and author of three books on instructional leadership.