Pros
I ended up working at another ABA clinic a few miles away. Owner there is not unprofessional, or psychotic, and actually cares about the well-being of her employees and clients.
Cons
Okay so, I interviewed with Spears a few years ago, and it was hands-down the weirdest, most unprofessional interview I've ever been on.
1. I was greeted at the door by the secretary who did not introduce herself to me. She sat me down in the lounge and said the interviewer would be there in a minute. She failed to tell me his name as well.
2. The interviewer came downstairs to interview me and he looked like he just either didn't want to be there, or he was high, or something. He also didn't even bother to introduce himself to me. He literally just sat down gave a brief description of the job and the pay.
3. I couldn't even tell you what questions he asked me because it stood out to me so much at how unprofessional it was that he didn't even bother to introduce himself to me, just literally sat down and started asking questions. I didn't even know how to bring it up.
4. He then took me on a tour of the place and there was some lady there that was literally giving me the death stare as I was following the interviewer. It was really weird, and made me super uncomfortable, like I wasn't good enough to be there.
5. I got to observe the circle time, or music time, and that session felt like it was longer than necessary. I could sense fake enthusiasm from the line therapists, and I quickly noticed how bored the kids were starting to get because the music time was taking for-ever!
6. The interviewer asked me if I had any questions, and I told him I was thinking of going back to school, and I asked how their company supported their employers who want to further their education, and sharply told me, "Well if you're going back to school your schedule needs to revolve around our schedule". I was taken aback by that because most ABA clinics are highly encouraging of their employers to go back to school, and even work around their schedule; being a line tech is not a long-term career, but apparantly Spears doesn't get that.
7. The interviewer then invited me to come back for a second interview the following day, and I agreed (I don't know why, now that I think about it), and then asked if 10AM was okay, and I said yes, and then he was like, "Okay good. Make sure you're here on time because we are not going to call". I wasn't even late for my interview that AM so why would he assume I'd be late? Also, I was 26 years old, I'm pretty sure I could remember what time I had an interview for.
8. After I left, I went to what was my current job at the time, and at the end of the day the secretary called me and said the position had already been filled. If you don't want to hire someone, don't lie about it. How the heck did you quickly hire someone within a few hours?
9. It's no love loss because I know of someone who ended up working at Spears, and Kelly Spears is a psycho and could give a poo about her clients and her employers. Apparrently she yells at employees who ask questions in the middle of meatings, chews out her employees if her daughter goes upstairs and takes off her clothes, and also makes it a point to let her employers know she doesn't want to give them benefits, but has to because they are no longer considered a small business.
10. The interviewer's name was Ian. I found out on LinkedIn.
11. If you're interested in ABA, apply at Gulf South, Within Reach, or Crane. They treat their employees and clients very well.
12. Also, I hear some of the higher ups are a little unethical with treating some clients, and even went so far as to not give a nonverbal client a regular therapist and just let him roam around the clinic because they knew he couldn't say anything about it.