Future educators and others looking for careers in teaching will have the opportunity to meet with representatives of area school districts at two University of Houston-Victoria job fairs.

The UHV Education Job Fairs – hosted by UHV Career Services and the School of Education & Human Development – will be held at the UH System at Cinco Ranch and the UHV campus on separate days.

The first job fair will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 14 at UHS at Cinco Ranch, 4242 S. Mason Road in Katy. The second will be from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 17 in the UHV University Center Multi-Purpose Room, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St.

Amy Hatmaker

The Education Job Fairs are geared toward UHV alumni, graduating seniors in the UHV education program or those interested in the teaching profession who have a degree in another field but want to find out what it takes to get teaching certification, said Amy Hatmaker, UHV Career Services manager.

“The main purpose of the job fairs is to educate anyone who wants information about becoming an educator,” Hatmaker said. “There will be people there who can share information about alternative certifications, and the job fair also will help connect people who want to find jobs with school districts.”

School districts from Greater Houston and the Victoria area are registered to attend the job fairs. These include Victoria, Edna, Fort Bend and Lamar Consolidated.

“It’s always better if applicants can get in front of an employer in person,” Hatmaker said. “It adds a lot because it helps potential employers get a better feel for an applicant. The nice thing about the Education Job Fairs is they’re small and personal.”

Some other job fairs, such as the Texas Job Fair in Houston with more than 130 companies and 1,700 job seekers, include multiple industries. Such a broad spectrum can be overwhelming for applicants and makes it hard to stand out to employers, Hatmaker said. That’s why UHV offers a job fair specific to education. Because it is smaller, she said it’s less intense, less stressful, and applicants get a little more time with potential employers.

“The applicant also can learn more about the district, and the district is able to learn more about the applicant,” Hatmaker said. “Those who really want to make an impression on the recruiter should research the system or school district. It always makes applicants stand out if they’re able to ask recruiters questions about their districts. That shows that they’ve done their homework.”

Madalyn Maresh

Although some districts might not have any positions open at the moment, the job fair is a good resource for future hiring, said Madalyn Maresh, director of human resources and federal programs at Edna Independent School District. If a situation comes up in the middle of the year, the connections made at the job fair can help fill unexpected openings.

“I like to go and meet the applicants in person,” Maresh said. “That way, when their name comes across our application system, I can remember meeting them and talking with them at the job fair. It’s nice to have that connection.”

Job seekers should bring copies of their resume and dress professionally. They are not required to register to attend.

Both job fairs are free and open to the public.

Employers can register for the job fairs until Oct. 9. The $45 registration fee will allow employers to set up a table at both events, but employers can choose to attend only one if they wish. A lunch will be available for recruiters following the Victoria job fair. To register for the job fairs, contact Hatmaker at 361-570-4378 or hatmakera@uhv.edu.