Teaching is a noble career. But getting this job is not the walk in a park affair. It requires you to dust off and give some good polishing to your resumes. Then like with other jobs, apply, apply, and apply. It is not as easy as most people have made it out to be.
Whether it is the first time, or you have been there before, there is a lot to think about when searching and applying for this job. Tailoring your resume, updating your portfolios, preparing how to answer interview questions are the things that will greatly occupy your mind.
This article is complete with great advice that will help you through your job searching. We’ve tried as much as possible to answer any questions that might arise during your application process. Keep scrolling down the page and find out what we have put together in our handy guide.
Who is an Art Teacher?
Let’s get started with finding out what it takes to be and who an art teacher is. This is a person employed to teach the history, creation, and appreciation of art. The duties of an art teacher include: How to paint, sketch, designing, printmaking, and history of a particular art. But all these depend on your field of major as a student. Just as with other job titles.
7 Steps on How to Become an Arts Teacher
Before anything else, you need drive and passion to become a good art teacher.
Your passion should be a combo of teaching and the art itself. Once you have these two deeply rooted in your heart, there is no stopping. Passion pushes you to pursue the path of your desires. Assuming you already have all these, here is how you can get any art job of your dreams.
1. Earn a Relevant Degree
Education is the key, so they have always said it over and again.
The only way to empower and give life to your dream of becoming an art teacher is through earning a relevant degree. A degree will certify you to enter a classroom full of students and teach. That is what you must start with. With time, you can think of taking things higher. Get a master’s degree to improve your credentials and broaden your skills.
2. Gain Some Teaching Experience
Having outstanding credentials alone does not mean anything. You are still too far from the apple and you need to do more. Getting some experience. This can be done through internships, volunteering in art schools, among other activities that involve exercising what you have learned in school.
Internship is a right of passage for every graduate into the job market.
At the end of your internship or volunteering services, you will have gained a wealth of experience. This will help you build a portfolio to use for your job search. Ensure that you give nothing but the best to get a glowing recommendation. For every internship you do, don’t forget to update it on your portfolio.
3. Pass Your Exams
Do all the exams that are stipulated for every student to finally become a teacher. Ensure that you pass with flying colors. This way, you will have no difficulty in getting jobs because your resume is outstanding. What with good recommendations and best performance in your exams.
We are not perfect, and you might not meet the state’s minimum requirements. Don’t give up if that happens. That is why there is a retake to give you another chance to shoot your shots. You have been groomed to pass this exam so work hard enough to pass them.
4. Get Licensed
Once you pass your final exams, the next thing you will have to do is to be licensed as a teacher. This will also allow you to apply and look for art teaching jobs. Put your transcripts, recommendations, resumes in place. Once you have everything in place, you can now start to actively search for jobs.
5. Apply for Jobs and Get Interviews
You are now fully armed to position yourself in the marketplace.
Scour through the internet, go door to door, and even go as far as telling potential employers that you are looking for an art teaching job. Who knows? When you see any opportunity that sparks your interest, don’t wait. Apply for it as soon as you can. If you are called for interviews, research, prepare and dress well for it. Show your potential employers that you were born ready by having everything in place and prepared to start as soon as they are ready.
6. Do Follow-Ups
Don’t let that cliché line; don’t call us, we’ll call you to deter you from achieving your goals. Let them hear from you. If after a few days they haven’t called, make that call yourself. I mean what is the worst that can happen? Make a call or send an email. Thank them for having you for the interview and let them know that you felt honored. Then reiterate your interest and probe the question on when you might hear from them.
7. Deal with the Outcome
You might get the job. You might not. Whatever the outcome, embrace. If you aced it, hooray! Make a decision based on the job offer. It is okay to say no even if you are the one who pursued it. If the offer is impressive enough, there is a lot to think about and prepare.
On the other hand, if you didn’t get the job, let it go. No matter how much you were banking on it. Start from the top and keep applying. Something that best suits you will eventually roll along. Don’t brood.
In Conclusion
Job opportunities are getting scarce by the minute. You have to really stand out from the crowd to get a piece of the pie. Start working hard as early as your school day to create a flawless and outstanding resume. Have something unique that would make it hard for the employers not to notice you from a crowd of other job seekers.