20 Center for Autism and Related Disorders Interview Questions and Answers

When interviewing for a position at Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD), you can expect to be asked questions about your experience working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder, your behavior management techniques, and your understanding of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). While you may not have all the answers, being prepared with thoughtful responses to these common interview questions will help you stand out from the competition.

Center for Autism and Related Disorders Interview Process

The interview process at Center for Autism and Related Disorders is generally pretty straightforward. Most applicants will start with a phone screen, followed by an in-person interview. Some positions may require a group interview. Overall, the interviews are not too difficult, but candidates should be prepared to answer questions about their experience working with children, as well as their availability.

1. What is your experience with behavior therapy?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with autism and related disorders. It can also show them how you apply that knowledge to your work. If you have no experience, consider describing a time when you helped someone overcome a behavioral issue.

Example: “I’ve worked in several different settings where I provided therapy for children on the spectrum. In my last role, I was responsible for developing treatment plans based on each child’s needs. This required me to collaborate with parents and other professionals to create an individualized plan for each child. I find this process rewarding because it allows me to see the progress families make.”

2. How would you coach someone who was struggling in a social situation?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you would use your interpersonal skills to coach someone through a challenging situation. Use examples from past experiences where you helped others overcome challenges and develop their social skills.

Example: “I once worked with a client who was very anxious in public places, especially when surrounded by people he didn’t know. I started by asking him what made him nervous about being in these situations. He told me that it was the way other people looked at him that made him uncomfortable. We practiced ways for him to feel more confident in public settings so that he could interact with others without feeling overwhelmed.”

3. Are you comfortable working with children and adolescents?

This question is an opportunity to show your interpersonal skills and ability to work with a variety of people. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific examples of how you’ve worked with children or adolescents in the past.

Example: “I have experience working with both children and adolescents, as I was a behavioral therapist at a summer camp for kids with autism last summer. There were many different age groups that attended the camp, so I had to adjust my teaching style based on the needs of each group. For example, I used more visual aids when working with younger children and more verbal instruction when working with older children.”

4. Have you ever worked on an interdisciplinary team?

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to work with other professionals and learn from them. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific time you worked on a team and what you learned from the experience.

Example: “Yes, I have. In my current role as a behavioral therapist at CARD, I work alongside speech therapists, occupational therapists and social skills coaches. Each of these professionals brings unique knowledge and expertise to our clients’ treatment plans, which helps me better understand how to best support each client’s needs.”

5. Tell me about a time when you were able to help a client reach their goals.

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your skills as a therapist and how you interact with clients. Use examples from previous work experience or personal life to show that you are dedicated to helping others succeed.

Example: “In my last role, I worked with a client who was struggling in school because of his autism. He had trouble focusing on tasks for long periods of time and would often become distracted by small things around him. We created an individualized education plan so he could learn at his own pace and develop coping strategies for when he became distracted. After several months of working together, he started making A’s in all of his classes.”

6. Describe a time where you’ve had a difficult or challenging case.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the steps you took to solve the case or how you helped the client overcome their challenges.

Example: “In my previous role as an occupational therapist, I had a client who was nonverbal and would often throw tantrums when he didn’t get his way. This made it difficult for him to communicate with others and participate in group activities. After working with him for several weeks, we were able to develop a communication system using pictures and gestures that allowed him to express himself more effectively.”

7. Do you have any certifications pertaining to ABA, Autism, Special Education.

Interviewers may ask this question to determine if you have any certifications that are relevant to the position. If you do, be sure to mention them in your answer and explain what they entail. If you don’t have any specific certification, it’s okay to say so and then describe how you’ve learned about ABA or autism through other means.

Example: “I am not certified in ABA or Autism Spectrum Disorder, however I did complete a course on Applied Behavior Analysis at my last job. The course was offered by an online university and focused on teaching us how to use ABA techniques to help children with autism learn new skills.”

8. If hired as a Behavior Technician, how long do you plan to stay with the company?

Employers ask this question to make sure you’re committed to the job and that it’s a good fit for you. They want to know that you plan to stay with them long enough to get your training, accrue experience and develop relationships with clients. Your answer should show that you are dedicated to the company and its mission.

Example: “I am passionate about working with children on the autism spectrum. I have been volunteering at my local school district for two years now, so I’m ready to take the next step in my career. I would like to work here until I can become a lead behavior technician.”

9. Tell me about a conflict you faced at work, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of your problem-solving skills and ability to work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a situation where you were able to resolve a conflict or disagreement in a positive way that benefited everyone involved.

Example: “In my previous role as an occupational therapist, I worked with a child who had autism spectrum disorder. The child was very active during our sessions, which made it difficult for me to complete some of my assessments. I spoke with his parents about the issue and they understood. We came up with a plan where we would do most of our assessment at the beginning of each session and then allow him to play for the rest of the time.”

10. Why are you interested in working for CARD?

This question can help the interviewer learn more about your motivations for applying to their organization. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific aspect of CARD that you are excited about and why.

Example: “I am interested in working at CARD because I have seen how much progress people with autism can make when they receive quality care from professionals who understand them. In my last job as an occupational therapist, I worked with many children on the spectrum, and I saw firsthand how effective therapy can be. I would love to continue helping others overcome challenges related to autism.”

11. Which of our core values do you identify with most?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your understanding of CARD’s mission and values. It also helps them determine if you are a good fit for their organization. When answering this question, make sure to reference one or two of the core values listed on the job description.

Example: “I believe that every person has value and should be treated with respect. I would like to help others understand how to interact with people who have autism spectrum disorder. I also think it’s important to challenge myself and learn new things, so I would love to work in an environment where we can collaborate and share ideas.”

12. Why should we hire you over another candidate?

This question is a great opportunity to highlight your skills and qualifications. It’s also an opportunity to show the interviewer that you’ve done some research on their organization.

Example: “I am passionate about working with children who have autism spectrum disorder because I know how much it can impact their lives. In my previous role, I helped develop a program for students with ASD in which they learned social skills through play therapy. This experience has given me valuable insight into what works best when helping people with autism.”

13. What would you say if parents disagreed with treatment recommendations?

This question can help interviewers understand how you would handle a challenging situation. In your answer, try to show that you are willing to listen and compromise with parents while also maintaining the integrity of your recommendations.

Example: “If I ever had a disagreement with a parent about treatment plans or recommendations, I would first make sure they understood my reasoning for the recommendation. Then, I would ask them what their goals were for their child’s care and see if there was any way we could meet both parties’ needs. If not, I would explain why I felt it was important to follow through with my original plan.”

14. Tell me about a time when you felt especially proud of yourself because of something that you accomplished.

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand what motivates you. It also helps them determine if your goals align with those of CARD. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about a time when you were able to overcome a challenge or achieve something that was important to you.

Example: “When I first started working as an occupational therapist, I had a client who was nonverbal. He would often throw tantrums because he couldn’t communicate his needs. After several months of working together, we developed a system where he could use pictures to tell me what he wanted. This made our sessions much more productive and helped him learn how to communicate verbally.”

15. How much time do you need between sessions to complete paperwork/data collection?

Interviewers may ask this question to understand how you manage your time and the amount of work you can complete in a day. They want to know that you are organized enough to keep up with paperwork, data collection and other administrative tasks while also providing quality care for clients.

Example: “I find that I am most productive when I have at least 30 minutes between sessions so I can focus on completing my notes from each session. This allows me to be more thorough in my documentation and helps me remember details about each client’s progress.”

16. How would you approach teaching a skill to a child that has no motivation to learn it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you would handle a specific challenge that may arise in your role. Use examples from past experience to show how you adapt and overcome challenges when working with clients.

Example: “I have worked with many children who lack motivation, but I find that it’s important to first establish trust and build rapport with them before trying to teach new skills. In my last position, I had a client who was very resistant to learning social skills. I started by getting to know him better and asking questions about his interests. After establishing a connection, I asked if he would be willing to practice some of our exercises together. He agreed, and we spent time practicing simple conversation skills and gestures.”

17. Describe your qualifications and experience related to this position.

This question is an opportunity to highlight your relevant skills and experience. When answering this question, it can be helpful to include a brief overview of your education, training and work history that relates to the job description.

Example: “I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of California, Berkeley, where I graduated with honors. I also completed my master’s degree in clinical psychology at San Diego State University, where I was awarded for excellence in research. In addition to these degrees, I have worked as a psychologist for five years, including three years at CARD.”

18. Tell me about a time you made a mistake, what happened and how did you resolve it?

Interviewers ask this question to see how you respond to challenges and learn from your mistakes. They want to know that you are willing to take responsibility for your actions, apologize when necessary and make an effort to improve yourself in the future.

Example: “When I was working as a behavioral therapist at a children’s hospital, I had a patient who was very anxious about his upcoming surgery. He would cry every time we tried to talk to him about it, so I decided to try using some of my calming techniques on him. Unfortunately, he became even more upset after I used them, and I realized later that they were making him feel more nervous than before. After talking with his parents, I apologized and explained what happened. We came up with a new plan together, and he felt much better by the time of his surgery.”

19. Tell me about a goal that you set for yourself and how you achieved it.

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of your work ethic and how you approach challenges. When answering this question, it can be helpful to discuss a goal that you set for yourself in the past and how you achieved it.

Example: “When I was working as an occupational therapist at a hospital, I noticed that many patients were having difficulty with their fine motor skills. This is something that often happens when someone has autism spectrum disorder because they may have trouble developing these skills. So, I decided to create a program where we could teach our patients some basic fine motor skills. After talking with my colleagues about what I wanted to do, they helped me develop a curriculum. We then implemented the program into our daily routine, and within six months, we saw significant improvements in our patients’ fine motor skills.”

20. What does professionalism mean to you?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you understand the importance of maintaining a professional demeanor at work. When answering this question, it can be helpful to discuss how professionalism has helped you succeed in previous roles and highlight any specific skills or traits that contribute to your professionalism.

Example: “Professionalism means being respectful and responsible in all aspects of my life. I am always on time for work, prepared with necessary materials and ready to perform my job duties. In addition, I treat everyone with respect, regardless of their position or status. Professionalism also means having integrity and honesty. I would never lie about something or misrepresent myself.”