17 Activity Director Interview Questions and Answers

An activity director is responsible for creating and leading activities for residents in a long-term care facility, such as a nursing home, adult day care, or assisted living community. They may also be responsible for creating menus and supervising the dietary staff.

If you’re looking for a job in this field, you’ll likely need to go through a job interview. During the interview, you’ll be asked questions about your experience working with seniors, your creativity, and your ability to lead groups. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of common interview questions and answers for activity directors.

Are you familiar with the activities and programs offered at this particular facility?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have researched the facility and its offerings. It is important to thoroughly research any potential employer before your interview, including reading through their website and looking at reviews online. If you are not familiar with all of the programs offered by the facility, it is a good idea to mention that you would be willing to learn more about them.

Example: “I am familiar with some of the activities and programs offered here. I read through the activity calendar on your website and looked up some reviews for the facility online. I noticed there were quite a few different options available for residents, which makes me excited to work here. I think I could really help make these programs even better.”

What are some of the most important skills that an activity director should have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills and qualifications to succeed in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of your strongest skills that relate to the job description.

Example: “The most important skill for an activity director is communication. This person needs to be able to communicate effectively with both residents and their families. They also need to be organized and detail-oriented so they can keep track of all the activities going on at once. Another important skill is creativity. Activity directors should be able to come up with new ideas for engaging residents and keeping them active.”

How do you handle difficult or challenging behavior from an individual who is participating in an activity?

An activity director may need to handle challenging behavior from participants. An interviewer may ask this question to learn about your experience with handling difficult situations and how you resolve them. In your answer, try to describe a specific situation in which you handled challenging behavior and the steps you took to resolve it.

Example: “In my previous role as an activity director, I had a participant who was very disruptive during group activities. The individual would often speak over other people or make jokes that were inappropriate for the setting. When I noticed this behavior, I spoke with the individual privately and explained that their actions were distracting others and asked if they could modify their behavior. They agreed to do so, and we moved on.”

What is your process for creating a fun and engaging activity schedule?

The activity director is responsible for creating a fun and engaging schedule of activities that keep residents active, happy and healthy. Interviewers want to know how you plan your daily, weekly or monthly schedules so they can see if your process aligns with their expectations.

Example: “I start by looking at the facility’s calendar and seeing what holidays are coming up. Then I look at our resident demographics and interests to determine which activities would be most appropriate. For example, we have a lot of veterans in our community, so I always try to include Veteran’s Day activities. Next, I create a list of possible ideas and rank them based on popularity and interest level. Finally, I meet with my team to discuss the options and decide on the final schedule.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to manage a difficult situation with a group of children.

An activity director needs to be able to handle challenging situations with children and other staff members. This question allows you to demonstrate your problem-solving skills, communication abilities and conflict resolution skills.

Example: “I once worked at a summer camp where I was the only adult supervising a group of kids on a field trip. One child in particular was being disruptive and distracting the others from their activities. I asked him to step aside so we could talk privately. He told me he didn’t want to go on the field trip because he was bored. I explained that it’s important to try new things even if they’re difficult or boring. We talked about some ways he could make the experience more enjoyable for himself. After our conversation, he returned to his group and participated fully.”

If you had to choose one activity to offer at your facility, what would it be and why?

This question is a great way to see how passionate you are about the activities you offer. It also shows your interviewer what kind of activity you would choose if you had to eliminate all others from your facility. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention an activity that you have personal experience with or one that you think is beneficial for residents.

Example: “If I could only offer one activity at my facility, I would choose yoga because I believe it’s a wonderful way to help seniors improve their flexibility and balance. Yoga has been proven to reduce stress levels and increase energy levels in older adults, which makes it a great option for our facility.”

What would you do if you noticed that an individual was consistently sitting by themselves during an activity?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your interpersonal skills and ability to encourage socialization among residents. In your answer, describe how you would approach the resident and what steps you would take to help them integrate with other individuals in the community.

Example: “If I noticed that an individual was sitting by themselves during an activity, I would first try to speak with them about it. If they were open to talking, I would listen to their concerns and offer support or resources to help them feel more comfortable. If they didn’t want to talk, I would still make sure they felt included by inviting them to join me for a walk around the facility or asking if they wanted to play cards with others.”

How well do you think you would fit into the culture of our facility?

The interviewer may ask this question to gauge your cultural fit with the facility. They want to know that you will be able to adapt to their unique culture and work well with others in the role. In your answer, try to highlight how you would contribute positively to the team’s dynamic.

Example: “I think I would fit into your facility’s culture quite well. My personality is very outgoing, so I am always looking for ways to bring more fun and excitement to my workplace. I also love working with older adults because they are usually so kind and welcoming. I feel like I could really make a difference in making our residents’ lives better.”

Do you have any experience working with children with special needs?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience working with children who have special needs. If you do, they may want to know how you handled the situation and what skills you used to help them succeed in your program. If you don’t have any experience working with children with special needs, you can talk about a time when you helped someone overcome an obstacle or challenge.

Example: “I worked as an activity director at a summer camp for kids with disabilities last year. I was responsible for planning activities that were inclusive of all the children attending the camp. One day, one of the counselors asked me how we could make our games more accessible for children with physical disabilities. I met with the other activity directors and came up with some ideas on how to modify our games so everyone could participate.”

When is it appropriate to give a “time out” as a form of discipline?

Time out is a common form of discipline in many facilities. The interviewer wants to know that you understand when it’s appropriate and how you would implement it. Use your experience to explain the steps you take to ensure the time out is effective, but also safe for residents.

Example: “Time out should be used as a last resort after other forms of discipline have been tried. I always make sure that there are no safety concerns before implementing a time out. For example, if a resident becomes aggressive or starts throwing things, I will first remove them from the situation and then use time out as a consequence. Time outs can be done alone or with another person present.”

We want to increase the amount of physical activity that our participants get each day. What would you do to help accomplish this?

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your ability to motivate others and encourage them to be more active. Use examples from previous experience where you helped increase the amount of physical activity in a group setting.

Example: “I would first start by assessing what types of activities our residents enjoy most. Then, I would find ways to incorporate those activities into daily routines or events. For example, if we have a lot of people who enjoy playing basketball, I could organize weekly pickup games for anyone who wants to play. This way, it’s something they can do regularly but also get some exercise.”

Describe your process for monitoring the safety of your participants during an activity.

The interviewer may ask you a question like this to assess your ability to keep participants safe during activities. Use examples from past experiences where you monitored the safety of participants and ensured they were prepared for an activity.

Example: “I always make sure that I have all necessary equipment before starting an activity, including any tools or supplies we need. In my last role as an activity director, I noticed one day that we didn’t have enough basketballs for our game of horse. Rather than cancel the game, I had some of the players use volleyballs instead. It was a little different, but it allowed us to still play the game while ensuring everyone’s safety.”

What makes you qualified to be an activity director?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have the skills and qualifications needed for this role. Use your answer to highlight your experience, education and training in activity directing.

Example: “I am passionate about working with seniors because I know how important it is to keep them active and engaged. In my previous position as an activity director, I organized a wide variety of fun activities for residents, including arts and crafts, games and exercise classes. I also made sure that we had plenty of staff members on hand to help our residents during these events so they could enjoy themselves without worrying about anything.”

Which age group do you find the most rewarding to work with? Why?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience working with different age groups. It can also show them how you feel about working with children of various ages and what kind of activities you enjoy planning for each group. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific age group that you enjoyed working with in the past and why you found it rewarding.

Example: “I find working with teenagers the most rewarding because I love seeing them grow into confident young adults. In my last role as an activity director, I started a volunteer program where teens could sign up to work at local hospitals or nursing homes. Many of the teens were nervous about volunteering, but by the end of the program, they all loved their experiences and many even decided to pursue careers in healthcare.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of being an activity director?

This question can help the interviewer determine what you value most in your role. It also helps them understand how you would prioritize your responsibilities if you were hired for this position. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of the job’s primary duties and explain why they are important to you.

Example: “I think that the most important aspect of being an activity director is ensuring that all residents have fun while participating in activities. I believe that having fun is one of the best ways to make memories and build relationships with others. As an activity director, I would ensure that each resident has plenty of opportunities to enjoy themselves during their stay.”

How often do you think an individual should participate in an activity to get the maximum benefit?

The interviewer may ask you this question to assess your knowledge of how often a person should participate in an activity. This can help them determine if you have the ability to plan activities that are beneficial for residents and their schedules. In your answer, try to explain what factors you consider when determining how often someone participates in an activity.

Example: “I think it depends on the individual’s goals for participating in the activity. For example, I worked with one resident who was trying to improve his balance. He participated in our balance class twice a week. Another resident wanted to increase her flexibility, so she participated in yoga once a day. It really depends on the goal of each individual.”

There is a wide range of activity options available to our participants. How would you help them decide which activity to participate in?

The interviewer may ask you this question to understand how you would help their residents choose which activities they want to participate in. Use your answer to highlight your ability to communicate with the residents and help them make decisions that are best for them.

Example: “I believe it’s important to give each resident a choice of at least five different activities every day. I find that by offering so many options, residents can usually find something they enjoy doing. When helping them decide which activity to do, I first ask what they’re looking for from an activity. For example, if they’re looking for something low-impact, I’ll direct them toward some of our more sedentary activities. If they’re looking for something more active, I’ll offer up some of our more intense activities.”