Alligood, C.A., Gravina, N.E. Branching Out: Finding Success in New Areas of Practice. Behav Analysis Practice 14, 283–289 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-020-00483-2
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344344435_Branching_Out_Finding_Success_in_New_Areas_of_Practice (link to article)
I read semi-frequent comments about being pigeonholed, and this is from the latest issue of BAP.
While there are myriad applications for behavior analysis (OBM, education, coaching, etc.),
In a 2016 job task analysis survey conducted by the BACB (2020a), over 88% of respondents reported practicing in autism, developmental disabilities, or education.
Many of the "other" fields outside of clinical applications add up to...under 3%. One barrier is a lack of formalized training in most behavior analytic programs. The authors cite Normand and Kohn (2013) who recommend several fields, all of which require extra training (HR, personal training).
The authors work in OBM and animal training and frequently are asked about how to branch out, and they provide general guidance.
Learn Behavior Analysis Concepts and Fundamental Skills in Depth
Less common practice areas have less literature, support, etc. Therefore you need to understand the basics to evaluate the small amount that exists.
Obtain High-Quality Master’s Training
Attend an accredited master's program (check ABAI) in the field in which you're interested. If you can't, seek mentorship. If you're already done with school and not intending to go back, contact the literature in your area of interest, which may be outside the typical behavior analytic journals. There may also be other kinds of training available that is not specifically a grad program.
Doctoral Training
Pursuing a PhD might make sense, depending on your desired field.
Moving From a Common Practice Area to a Less Common Area by Taking Slow, Planned Steps
Make small lateral moves in jobs.
Find a Mentor or Community of Practice
You can't try to jump into a new area without knowledge or experience, so you will need a mentor or community. How?
There are at least four ways to secure mentoring: (a) being hired by an established company, (b) arranging for contracted supervision, (c) volunteering time on projects, and (d) joining a community of practice with experts.
Finding a mentor or community:
Work for an Established Company
Learn from experts; have some job security; but may have to start entry-level. How to find?
Identifying a professional organization in your desired area of practice can be a good way to start exploring the types of jobs available; these organizations sometimes provide job listings on their websites.
Contract a Mentor
May not be ideal, but paying someone for mentorship may result in high-quality mentorship. One way to find a mentor:
Once you have identified a professional organization in your desired practice area, attending a conference held by that organization is one way to connect with experts in that area.
Volunteer for a Mentor
If you can't find a company for which to work, or a mentor who will be contracted, this is another choice. At first you can expect it won't mean much work, but you can prove yourself to the person.
Join a Community of Practice
A community of practice can be described as a group of individuals who work in a similar area and meet regularly to share information, training, experiences, and tools among the group (Lave & Wenger, 1991).
Find a Job in the Practice Area
Jobs may not seem available, but in fact the employer may not have much knowledge about behavior or behavior analysis, and the job postings may not include those keywords. The authors recommend that you examine your own qualifications for the job. You may also have to take a pay cut, start entry level, etc.
The authors add caution to the idea of a "back up plan" job, such as becoming a practicing BCBA. The pay is good, and the longer you avoid experience in another field the more challenging it can become.
Be Realistic and Humble
Approach a new field as a learner, not an expert. It can take years to become an expert. What can you do until then? You can:
Use Humility
You may be an expert on human behavior, but that doesn't make you an expert on everything (see previous point).
Make Yourself Useful
Work hard, volunteer for more work, and use the skills you have mastered from behavior analysis (if applicable).
Show It, Then Tell It
Don't talk about behavior analytic terms before you've demonstrated their utility -- so, don't say you're going to use "negative reinforcement" on an OBM client; first demonstrate it, then name it.
(Personally I thought this section was going to mean something else that I think is important in demonstrating your effectiveness: do something good or valuable, then draw some attention to it. Take credit so they know you're working hard!)
My opinion:
This is a good series of recommendations generally, for most people. It addresses many of the complaints I see, which often boil down into: desirable niche jobs are hard to get. That's true, and you've probably heard a very old person say "It's who you know," which is networking within your chosen field. In the age of the internet, it's somewhat easier than ever -- you could scour LinkedIn, university websites, etc., and just contact people regarding the field.