Teaching and beyond: Exploring the specialized interests within education careers

Abstract

The education sector is facing declining enrollment in programs that prepare education professionals, early-career burnout, and high attrition from the profession. This raises questions about preservice education professionals’ vocational interests and person-job fit. To address this, the present study examined the vocational interests of preservice education professionals (preschool, primary, STEM and art teachers, and inclusion specialists; N = 568) using the Jackson Career Explorer Mini (JCE Mini), which assesses 35 career interest areas. First, we examined the internal structure of the instrument and ratings across interest areas. Second, we tested whether interest profiles differentiate preservice pathways across majors. Third, we examined the relationship between education-proximal interests with career choice satisfaction and perceived job stress. Across majors, Teaching ranked among the top interests, and interest profiles differentiated the preservice pathways as expected (e.g., Creative Arts for art teachers; higher Social Service among inclusion specialists; highest Elementary Education among primary teachers). Interests in Teaching, Elementary Education, and Social Service were positively related to career choice satisfaction across majors. Relationships with perceived job stress were more variable. The findings show the utility of fine-grained interest assessment with the JCE Mini for understanding preservice profiles and identifying students who may benefit from targeted guidance and tailored support in preparation programs, including stress management training and resilience-building resources to enhance career choice satisfaction and retention among future education professionals.