“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” The beauty of art is that it allows everyone to make mistakes and that it is not subjective. So you got called in for an interview as an art teacher; kudos! As an art teacher, your job will be to educate your students about the history of art and how to create it. You’ll help your student master how to paint, draw or create sculptures.
Pretty decent, don’t you think? It is okay if you feel anxious while walking in the interview. I’m here to help you identify common questions the interviewer will ask and how to answer them. Let’s get started!
1. Why Are You Interested In This Role?
This might be the principal question to get asked the moment you stroll into the meeting room. As a rule, what the interviewer needs to know from your answer if you have researched about the job.
Art is not a mirror towards reality, but it is a hammer that shapes it. I’m interested in this role as I’ll have the chance to help my students know how to shape their reality. I delight in transforming kids into outstanding people. And this job gives me the chance to mold the kids.
2. What Are The Roles Of An Art Teacher?
When the interviewer poses this question, they are trying to check if you know your obligations. Ensure that your answer reflects the responsibilities highlighted on the resume.
The role of an art teacher is to offer tuition and constructive criticism. I understand that I’ll have to plan lessons on art while following the learning goals. As a teacher, my role requires me to assign assignments and grade them. My role will also need me to nature the student’s painting and drawing techniques. I’ll always record every student’s progress as it will help me know where they need help the most. As an art teacher, I understand I’m obligated to attend parent-teacher meetings.
3. What Are The Qualities That An Art Teacher Need To Have To Be Successful?
While addressing this question, you should focus on a quality that has helped construct your professional achievement.
One quality that has been of help in my career is being patient. Art gives room to make mistakes. With this, it takes time to help a struggling kid be better in art. So the minute I mastered the art of being patient, I saw wonders in my career. Some of the kids I have had the chance to teach loved that I gave them the grace to make mistakes and learn from them. I understand that being good at something takes time. This is why I try to be patient with them.
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4. What Major Challenges Did You Face During Your Last Role? How Did You Manage Them?
The interviewer is attempting to look at your capacity to solve issues. Ensure that you give out an illustration of an experience you encountered. While working at school X, I had the chance to teach a somewhat disruptive student. The first time I taught the class, I thought that the student was not interested.
So the next class, I tried to make the class more engaging and fun. This did not help. So I chose to talk to her after class, but she did not open up. I sought to ask for help from the counselor in the school, and she told me that the student had lost a close relative. And her behavior was a way to mask the pain.
So the next day after class, I talked to her; I did not disclose that I knew what she was going through. Instead, I let her open up as now I was more understanding. After our little talk, she stopped with her disruptive nature.
5. Describe Your Daily Routine As An Art Teacher
The interviewer needs to get a decent understanding of how well you deal with the group. While addressing this question, ensure you stroll through your common exercises. As it will help you stand out. Before I clock out, I often plan the objectives for the following day. Doing this helps me know what should be on my first to-do list once I’m in school.
I try my best to get to school before the students. This gives me the chance to ensure that everything is clean. Once I’m done with this, I’ll check to see if I have any meetings that day. If the classes end early, I take the free time to read materials shared by renowned artists. There are times I use the time to talk with my fellow teachers.
6. Describe Briefly About Your Experience?
The interviewer may ask this question as they want to know how your experience might help better the school. Use this chance to show that you are fit for the position.
I have had the chance to work with different schools for the last ten years. During this time, I learned how to motivate my students to love art. I also improved my skills on how well to be patient with my students. Learning art takes time, and being patient with them will help. I also took the initiative to take a psychology course which has been of help while connecting with my students.
7. What Kind Of Mindset And Strategy Is Required For This Role?
While addressing this question, remember to specify a technique that has helped gear your achievement in teaching.
Art requires you to be in touch with your creative side. A mindset I use and equally encourage my students to use is thinking outside the box. Art allows everyone to shape their reality. A strategy I use as an art teacher is being patient with my students. It would not be helpful if I showed them I’m frustrated with their progress. Allowing them to grow at their pace often helps my students to love art more.
8. What Is The Biggest Challenge That You Foresee In This Job?
While answering the question, you shouldn’t downplay any company or school. The interviewer may ask this question to assess how well you deal with problems.
Every profession tends to have its challenges; teaching is no different. A challenge I foresee in this job is convincing my students that art is essential. With this, I’ll try and show them, role models, they can look up to who have been successful in art. I’ll also come up with exciting techniques to help them love the subject.
9. How Do You Stay Motivated In Your Work?
The Interviewer is looking for insights on what makes you drive you to success. Also, they wish to check if your motivators align with their school.
Every time I see the kids so happy when they have designed a good painting or sculpture, it motivates me. Their smiles are the best rewards for me. And this is why I try my best to come up with different strategies that will help them successfully design the best art.
10. Describe A Time When You Failed In This Role And The Lessons Your Learnt?
A few candidates may get frightened to respond to this question as it might come out as a trap. In actuality, it isn’t. What the employer is attempting to survey is how well you respond to your failures.
While working the school X, art was not a compulsory subject. As I was teaching my class, I allowed my emotions to get the best of me. There was this student whose progress was a bit slow, and I got frustrated about it. I lashed out at him, which was unprofessional of me. That day the student chose to drop the subject, and the principal called me in. I told him what happened, and this case almost led to me losing my job. I took up a course that helped me be patient with my students. I had to learn that everyone has their learning speed. And that showing frustrations towards my students never solves anything.
11. Why Do You Feel You Are Most Suited For This Role?
While answering this question, take this opportunity to sell yourself and mention the qualities the company is looking for.
My ten-year work experience, love for teaching, and firm belief in working hard make me the best candidate for this job. I believe I have the qualities that will help me better your school.
12. Share With Us Your Greatest Achievement?
This is a typical question most interviewers will, in general, pose. While giving out your response, please use a real-life story as it will help your case.
My most outstanding achievement would be when I joined School X. The school would hold annual competitions. Our school would compete against several schools. Before I had joined the school, they had not won any awards. But that year, they won most of the prizes. I also got recognized as the best art teacher during the competition.
13. What Does Success Mean To You?
This kind of question helps the interviewer know the type of employee you are. It allows the interviewer to understand how hard you are willing to go to meet your goals. Some employers ask this question to assess what you deem necessary.
Success for me is going above and beyond. While I was working at school Y, my role was to teach art. I noticed that some of my students had personal problems that had an impact on their grades. At the time, the school did not have a counselor. I have a diploma in psychology which was helpful while helping the kids. The principal appreciated my efforts as I helped a couple of them. The positive feedback I got was overwhelming.
14. How Did You Learn About Our Opening?
Most employers do not want to hire a candidate who only wants a job. What they want is to hire someone who wants to work with their company. So when answering this question, show them that you want to work with them.
I understand that your school holds competitions that focus on students doing art. I was checking your website to see when the competition will be as I love watching them. And I saw that you have an open position. I was so happy to see this as I love the good work your school is doing to help other students love art.
15. Why Do You Want This Job?
The interviewer may ask this question for them to assess how your role fits in your career path. Also, this question will help them know why their company appeals to you.
As I was going through your website, I read that your school seeks to expand the art department. It is excellent to associate yourself with growth. And this is why I’d love to work with you. I want to see the art department grow. And with my skills, I hope that I’ll bring success to the department.
16. Do You Use Technology In Your Art Classroom? If So, How Do You Use It?
Nowadays, most people often rely on technology to make their life easier. This is no different with teaching. If you do not use any technology, ensure that you brush up with some of the technology used in art classes.
Yes, I make use of technology in my classes. One way I use it is using flipped videos. The video plays, which often is a recording I have done giving out instructions. Then I lay back and assess what the kids are doing as they follow my instructions. By doing this, it gives me the chance to have undivided attention while guiding my students.
17. Highlight How You Accommodate Students With Special Needs In Your Art Class?
Schools tend to have different students; some of them usually have special needs. When the interviewer asks this, they want to see how well you’ll meet the special needs students. Ensure that you think through your answer as it may help you secure the position.
I have had the chance to work with special needs students before. Art classes often include portrait lessons. Most students often have a difficult time during such lessons. It often does not matter if they are special needs or not. If the student is in special need, I’ll have to modify the lesson while using technology. I’ll take a photo of the student and then transfer it onto a transparency. I’ll then request the student to trace their photo on the transparency with a marker. If there are clay projects, I’d tell the students to use mold or extruders as they are more manageable.
18. Which Teaching Methods Do You Use?
Different schools prefer when their teachers use a particular teaching method. While answering this question, it is okay for you to mention your preferred method. However, do not forget to mention that you are open to adjusting to the school’s method.
My favorite teaching methods are the student-centered approach and the high-tech approach. Nowadays, so many people use technology in different areas of their lives. And this is no different for me. I love using technology as it helps me give my students all my attention. The student-centered approach allows the student to see me as a facilitator.
In my year of experience, I’ve learned that letting the students see you as an authority is never the best. It hardly offers a great learning environment.
19. Briefly Explain How You Manage Your Class?
The interviewer may ask this question as they want to assess how you manage and teach the class. They may ask this question to see how you ensure discipline in a classroom.
I often try to be patient with my students. I hardly take in their misconduct personally. I often try to rationally assess what the problem is about and how I can help. With the students I have taught, my first class would always be about setting limitations. This way, it helps us have an agreement on what the student should or not do.
I often ensure that I affirm the rules on a positive note. Example If you wish to add to a conversation, please raise your hand. This works perfectly instead of writing “no side talk during class.” I usually make the class engaging and fun. This way, the students will not be inattentive as this could make them be disruptive.
20. How Do You Talk To Parents?
As a teacher, there are different times when you may need to talk to the student’s parent. When the interviewer asks this, they wish to know how well you communicate when there is an issue.
A method that I have used in my career while talking to parents is being proactive. Some teachers only reach out to parents when their kids have a problem. I never used this method. What I did is I would reach out once in a while and tell the parents the great progress their kids are making. This helped me form a relationship with them.
And when their kids had an issue, it was easy for them to listen to me. There are times when parents would lash out at me. With experience, I learned that there is no need to take it personally. Also, I’d include the parents and ask them for advice whenever one of my students would start trouble.
Conclusion
Teaching is a calling that I respect. Being responsible for someone’s future is a responsibility not all can handle. I hope these answers will help you get the job. Good luck!
