Finding a Meaningful Career Using Organizational Behavior Management
Track and phrase your systems-level wins today to open OBM doors tomorrow.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Gravina et al. (2024) wrote a how-to guide for BCBAs who want jobs in organizational behavior management.
The paper lists three career tracks: operations, consulting, and academia.
It tells readers what to put on a résumé and how to talk about systems-level wins.
What they found
The authors say you should track big-picture results, not just single-client graphs.
They give sentence examples you can copy into cover letters.
They warn that OBM bosses want proof you can change staff behavior, not child behavior.
How this fits with other research
King et al. (2020) gave the first OBM roadmap: dream big, meet people, get training. Gravina keeps that map but adds the résumé fine print.
Braksick et al. (2023) pick up where Gravina stops. After you land the interview, their paper shows how to sell OBM to wary executives.
Alligood et al. (2021) cover jumping into any new ABA niche. Gravina zooms in on OBM and tells you exactly which bullets to type.
Why it matters
If you are a new BCBA who likes data but not table-time, this paper is your checklist. Start logging cost savings, safety gains, and turnover drops today. Swap "tact training" for "saved 12% labor cost" on your résumé. Operations managers will notice.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Students, early career behavior analysts, and professionals who are retreading and interested in organizational behavior management (OBM) often seek guidance on potential career paths. In this article, we offer several factors to consider before pursuing a career related to OBM, including strategies to narrow interests, gain experience, and communicate those experiences to hiring organizations. Next, we outline potential career paths and give specific examples of job titles and duties. The job areas described are academia/research, operations, internal consulting, and external consulting. Finally, we discuss how OBM training is relevant to each area and other skills necessary to be competitive for those positions.
Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2024 · doi:10.1007/s40617-023-00871-4