Picture this: You just passed the BCBA exam and now you’re ready to start interviewing at ABA companies. For many young analysts this may feel like your very first “big interview” and you want to make sure you make the right choice. While pay is a priority, it’s important to realize that salary isn’t the only thing you will want to know about. So here are a few things to look for when you interview for a BCBA position:
- What are the settings and populations the company serves? Are they strictly in-home or clinic-based? Or mostly in the school setting? Each setting has it’s advantages and disadvantages to consider. If you will be expected to work at a clinic, ask about taking a tour. There is a lot you can get a sense of just by being in the building and decide if it’s right for you.
What sort of populations they serve is also important. If they mostly serve preschool age learners but you only have experience working with adolescents and adults you might want to make sure they have mentorship available. - What sort of training do the staff receive? In the ideal world RBTs would receive quality training. Just know that less training the staff has received the more likelihood you will have your work cut out for you to build up their skills. For me, if a company doesn’t offer any sort of safety management training but they will take any learner as a client regardless of the severity of concerning behaviors that is a big red flag.
- What are the billable hour requirements? 30 hours for a full time salaried BCBA position is basically an industry standard although for many individuals this can be a challenging schedule to maintain. It may be better, especially as a new BCBA, to take a position with a slightly lower salary and billable hour requirement than pursue a high salary / high billable hour position.
- When was the last time a BCBA made a suggestion and it was implemented within the company? This one may be a bit cheeky but the answer will tell you a lot about how the company values its BCBA’s input.
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