Students pursuing careers in education filled the Robert W. Plaster Center Feb. 12 for Teacher Interview Day, a career fair designed specifically to connect future PSU educators with school districts from across the region. Organized by the university’s office of career development, the event brought 84 schools to campus to meet primarily with seniors, post-grads, alumni, and education majors preparing to enter the workforce. The fair targeted students in teacher education programs as well as students in the school of psychology administration and other education-based professions. December graduates were also invited to participate, offering them a chance to secure positions ahead of the traditional spring hiring cycle.
“This is our affair that is targeted towards education majors,” event organizer Kim Hull explained. “We have 84 schools here ready to connect with our seniors and education.”
While the primary focus was on graduating seniors, organizers emphasized that the event was open to more than those just actively seeking full-time employment. The event was held from 9 A.M. to 2 P.M., inviting underclassmen and undecided majors to explore opportunities, ask questions, and begin building professional relationships. Any students who are undecided and just need a little bit more time and information can come here as well. Hull said it’s a great opportunity to talk to schools and learn about their districts and ask educators what got them into the field. For many students, the value of teacher interview days extends beyond immediate job offers.
The office of career development frames the event as part of a broader effort to help students feel more comfortable and confident about their next steps, whether they are pursuing internships or full-time positions. “We are all about promoting help and resources to students to make them feel more comfortable,” Hull said. “Any opportunity that a student has gotten in front of an employer builds confidence.”
The emphasis on exposure has echoed by students navigating back-to-back interviews throughout the day. Joe Lancaster, a music education major, registered for the event the morning it began. Although he plans to relocate to Indiana after graduation, he still sees value in participating in the event.
“Unfortunately, I’m not going to be here,” Lancaster said. “I’ll be in Indiana when all these jobs open up, so I’m doing this for experience and professional feedback.”
Lancaster scheduled interviews across a range of districts, including rural communities and larger metropolitan areas. He recently completed an interview with school districts in Wichita. The district was primarily seeking local candidates with specific terminal degrees. He also spoke with representatives from Garden City and other districts in Western Kansas. His final interview of the day was scheduled with Shawnee Mission.
Despite knowing relocation would limit his immediate prospects, Lancaster approached the day as practice as much as preparation for a performance.
“As a music person, practicing interviewing is a lot like practicing performing,” he said. “You don’t get worse by doing it.”
He described the physical and mental toll of multiple interviews, the nerves, the adrenaline, and the exhaustion, as well as the learning that follows.
“It’s like when you’re in an argument, and later in the shower you think about what you could have said,” he said with a laugh. “You’re winning interviews in your head. That’s the rehearsal part of it.”
Lancaster believes that students planning to move out of state should attend events like this because the experience you get is still valuable. Organizers hope more students will adopt them and attend in future semesters. Beyond job offers, the event provides networking opportunities, insights into distinct cultures, and firsthand experience navigating professional conversations.