It doesn’t matter whether you just earned your BCBA certification or you’ve worked for half a dozen ABA companies in your career. Either way, interviewing with a potential employer is stressful. 

You have one opportunity — in person or via video call — to make a good first impression. How do you put your best foot forward? What do you wear? What do you say? What qualities and experiences do you need to present to land a job offer?

And just as important, how do you determine if the employer is a good fit for you? How do you vet whether this is a company you’ll love for years or one where you’ll burn out after a few months?

In this blog, we’ll answer all those questions and more. We’ll break down the BCBA interview process into three parts: preparation, interview, and follow-up. We’ll give you tips on how to dress professionally, answer common ABA job interview questions, and leave a lasting impression on your potential employer. 

Let’s help you nail that interview.

Interviewing in the ABA Field

The ABA field is facing a talent shortage. There is currently a greater demand for services than there are BCBAs to fill positions. That is good news for job seekers, but it does not mean the interview process is unimportant. In fact, we’d argue this makes the interview process especially important.

That’s because a good interview isn’t just about landing a job. It’s about landing the right job.

Your interview should help you decide whether an opportunity is a good fit for you. So even if you think you have a good shot at getting an offer, don’t phone it in. A little preparation can ensure you’re getting a job you love — autonomy, work-life balance, manageable caseload, and growth opportunities — instead of one you’ll come to dread — poor pay, micromanagement, and 60-hour work weeks.

The BCBA Interview Process

Before we jump into the details, it’s helpful to take a step back and look at the interview process as a whole.

Whether you found an ABA company and applied on your own or were paired with a good match by PsycTalent, you’ll be contacted by the company and will be invited to schedule an interview.

Your first interview is typically with an internal HR or Talent Acquisition specialist at that ABA company. This interview is usually to get to know you a little better, verify your qualifications, and explore whether or not you’d be a good fit on their team.

After you pass this first round, you’ll likely have one to three more interviews before the company sends out a job offer. You’ll move up the chain of command with each of these interviews, first speaking with a clinic director, the owner, or a panel of employees from the company.

Interviews are typically scheduled a day or two apart so the entire process only takes a couple of weeks. Some ABA companies, however, space their interviews a little further apart. So if you have a few days between each meeting, the process could take up to four weeks to complete.

With this in mind, let’s look at how you can prepare for and nail your BCBA job interview.

How to Prepare For Your Interview

The key to nailing your interview is to know what to expect. As you prepare, remember the three areas employers will be looking at: qualifications, experience, and culture fit.

Qualifications

Your initial interview is used to get to know you a little more. It will include some basic questions about your qualifications and past work. It’s helpful to prepare quality answers for some of the most common ABA job interview questions, including:

• When did you earn your BCBA?
• Why did you leave your previous job(s)?
• Why are you looking for a new position?
• What assessments are you trained on? (i.e. VB-MAPP or ABLLS-R)
• Do you have experience creating treatment plans or participating in IEP meetings?

Most of these questions will have fairly straightforward answers, but there is one you should answer carefully. When a potential employer asks why you’re leaving your current job, it’s important to never speak badly of your current or past employers. Even if you’re leaving for negative reasons, you can keep the answer simple and honest without disparaging your current company. 

Here are a few examples of what an appropriate answer would be:

• “I am looking for a new opportunity to expand my skill set.”
• “I was ready for a change of pace so I can embrace new challenges and grow as a professional.”
• “I didn’t see eye to eye with my supervisor and decided the best move for me was to find a company that more closely aligned with my values.”

Experience

Once you’ve made it through the first interview, you’ll hopefully be invited to another. In the following interviews, your potential employer will likely dig into your past experiences and how you handle challenging situations.

These interviews lean more toward open-ended questions. The interviewer might want to know about a time when you overcame a particular challenge or ask you to explain how you handle general issues in the workplace.

As you answer these questions, remember to be specific and honest. You want to set yourself apart by highlighting the details. Discuss exactly how you solved a problem with a coworker or helped a struggling RBT improve their skills. Do your research ahead of time so you can tailor your stories to reflect the ABA company’s core values. This shows you embody what they care about most and would be a great fit for the team.

It’s good to have three or four examples in mind to offer when asked these questions. Consider times when you handled a difficult situation with co-workers, staff, children, and parents. Think about any time you had to resolve conflict among these groups or had to come up with a creative solution to help a client. 

• Were there any kids you helped overcome especially difficult challenges?
• Did you ever step up to help your previous company beyond your job description?
• Are there any systems or processes you implemented that make work easier for everyone?

For maximum effect, structure your stories into three parts: the challenge, the solution, and the result. For example: “I was working with a kiddo who struggled with having conversations. So I guided him through a three-step intervention focused on listening, understanding, and speaking. After a few months, he was not only having more conversations but also started making more friends at school.”

Culture Fit

As you answer an interviewer’s questions and give examples of your past work, you want to keep in mind the qualities they’re looking for in a candidate. Each company will want people who represent their mission statement and core values. It’s helpful to review those ahead of time on the company’s website so you know what characteristics they value in an employee.

Aside from those specific qualities, there are also some general qualities that every ABA employer likes to see in their potential employees. They want someone who is a team player and willing to collaborate with others. Being a BCBA requires help and support from your team, so it’s important that you know how to work well with others.

Employers also look for people who are cheerful and easy to communicate with. They want someone who can get along with children, families, and staff. A positive attitude is also a great representation of their company.

Most importantly, ABA companies are looking for people who are open and eager to learn more about their field. Both new and experienced professionals can fall into a rut. A couple of great ways to break out of this is to acquire new clinical skills or step out of your comfort zone to help the business operate better. Demonstrating your desire to learn more about your field and business operations will make a great impression on a potential employer.

The Interview

A number of things could go through your mind on the day of an ABA job interview. Am I dressed appropriately? How early should I show up? What topics should I bring up? The key to calming your nerves and feeling confident is to adequately prepare yourself.

Before the Interview

Research

Before you interview with any company, it’s important to do a little research. First, try to find out who you’ll be speaking to and connect with them on LinkedIn. Their profile might give you some interesting talking points or ideas on how you can make a personal connection before the interview begins.

You also want to look at the company’s website to find information about their mission and core values. Note how you align with these two things and try to craft your answers so they reflect those values. This will help you successfully navigate the ABA job interview questions because you know what qualities the company values most.

Attire

Business casual is appropriate for job interviews, whether it’s in person or on a video call. Anything less is not appropriate. Even if you know the company dresses casually — jeans and a t-shirt or polo — you still want to look professional in your interview.

Answers

It’s often helpful to have your answers written down on a sheet of paper or notecards. This will help you remember points you want to make or experiences you want to highlight even if you get nervous during the interview. 

Make notes of things like:

• The settings you’ve previously worked in
• What your caseload was like
• What your kiddos’ ages were
• Anything special or unique about your past roles
• Any notable accomplishments about yourself (served on special committees, trained other BCBAs, held supervisory roles, etc.)

Tips for Remote Interviews

Remote interviews might feel more casual because you’re in your home, but you should treat them with the same level of professionalism as you would an in-person interview. Dress in business casual and sit appropriately in a chair at a table or flat surface. Do not do a job interview from your couch.

You also want a professional, quiet environment. Find somewhere in your home with a neutral background, such as a bare wall or a bookshelf. Don’t have your bed, sofa, kitchen, or living spaces in your background. Make sure your spot is quiet so you can hear the interviewer and they can hear you. 

We recommend calling out potential distractions or explaining your situation before the interview, when necessary. For example, if you have dogs at home you can mention to the interviewer that they might hear barking at some point. Or if you have notes on your desk that you plan to reference, let them know you’re reading so they don’t think you’re distracted. 

During the Interview

Now that you’ve taken the time to prepare, you should feel ready to step into your BCBA job interview. 

If you’re still feeling a little nervous, it helps to change how you frame the interview in your mind. Instead of thinking about it as an interrogation, consider it a professional conversation. Remember that you’re also interviewing the ABA company to make sure they’re a good fit for you. Go in knowing that you’re a qualified candidate who wants to learn more about a potential job opportunity and the company itself.

With calm nerves, you can focus on these two important interview techniques:

Ask Questions About the Company

Inquiring about the company, its values, and its projects shows your interest in working with them and helps you determine if they’re the right fit for you. Recruiters and managers love seeing people who are discerning about where they work. It helps both you and them determine if you’ll be happy in the role.

It’s important to ask considerate, thoughtful questions that invite the interviewer to clarify how they live out the company mission or carry out company goals. To do this, you should have a solid understanding of what the company is striving for and how they intend to achieve it.

Preface your questions with how the information impacts you to show how you relate on a personal level. Some quality questions include:

• I love this piece of your mission statement. What are some cool things the company is doing to support that?
• I’m passionate about giving back to the community and excited that your company cares about that too. What are some things the company does for our city/town?
• I can tell your company really cares about growth by the testimonials your employees give. What are a few ways you support your employees’ career development within the company?

Set Yourself Apart

You always want to be memorable in your interview. That’s what sets you apart from the handful of other people the interviewer will talk to on the same day. There are two ways you can set yourself apart from the competition so the interviewer is more likely to remember you as a qualified candidate:

1. Talk about unique parts of your background or qualifications that not every BCBA has. Maybe you trained somewhere special or have special experience in other areas such as clinical quality, operations, or peer reviews. Anything out of the normal scope of a BCBA position is worth mentioning. Sometimes this helps an ABA company tailor your job to your interests and qualifications. They might be interested enough to alter the job description so they’re using your best strengths and you’re doing the work you’re most passionate about.
2. Demonstrate how you align with the company culture. In the stories you tell and answers to questions, include words from the company mission statement. Match your language to what they use on the website and note what information really resonated with you. Employers want a team that’s deeply dedicated to their mission. Aligning yourself with that right out of the gate is a great way to stick in their minds after the interview.

Follow Up

The interview doesn’t end when you leave the building or exit your Zoom call. After you finish speaking with your potential employer, it’s important to send a follow-up email thanking them for their time and reaffirming your interest. This is a professional touch that can often give you an edge because many candidates will skip this step.

Your thank-you email should reflect some of the things you discussed during your interview and be unique to the company. Here’s an example of what a good follow-up email might say:

Hi [Interviewer’s Name],

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. I’m really interested in this position and working for your company. I loved what you said about [insert relevant detail]. I’m looking forward to our next conversation!

Notice the email is short and sweet. No need to craft multiple paragraphs. A few courteous sentences will go a long way to establishing your interest and professionalism. 

Nail Your Interview, Land the Job

Now that you know the secrets of nailing your BCBA interview, you can approach new job opportunities with confidence. Remember those common ABA job interview questions and be prepared with great answers. These tips will help you soar through interviews and stick in the minds of employers so you have more offers to consider when it’s time to choose your next position. 
Finding the right workplace for you can be tough, though. That’s why at PsycTalent Recruiting, we partner with ABA companies and BCBA job seekers to pair the right professionals with the right companies. Scroll through our current job openings to take the next step in your career today!