Interview Q&As

What is our mission statement?

Promoting prosperity by protecting what matters most.

What are your career goals? or Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

"Five years from now, I see myself as a trusted advisor within the state, known for my expertise in the field and providing sound legal counsel. I aspire to take on more leadership roles and mentoring junior attorneys on tomorrow's emerging legal challenges."

How do you handle stress/pressure/change?

"In high-pressure situations, I typically rely on my strong organizational skills to help me through. I start by breaking down tasks into smaller, more manageable components and creating an action plan tackle them. I also prioritize self-care by taking short breaks or walks to recharge and not overdoing it so I burnout. Additionally, I'm not afraid to reach out to my colleagues or supervisors for support or guidance when needed, recognizing that collaboration is key to overcoming many challenges.

Tell me about yourself.

(1) Hudson, Ohio. (2) Cleveland (3) Heidelberg University -- Criminal Justice and Baseball (4) Secret Service (5) Law school in columbus (6) AOS, AGO, OBM

What is your proudest achievement?

(1) Law Review -- academically (2) Winning Cooperstown -- non-academically

What are some important skills you have learned in your position?

(1) Problem-Solving - finding solutions often to unique problems or cases of first impression. (2) Adaptability - Flexibility to adapt to the changing legal landscape, especially in a post covid world (3) Communication - Refined the skills necessary to effectively advocate legal positions and the policies behind them.

Any questions for us?

(1) can you provide more detail about the day-to-day responsibilities of the position? (2) What do you like best about your currents roles? (3) When do you think you'll know more about the next steps in the hiring process?

What are your weaknesses?

CDS (1) WORST CRITIC. - often too critical of myself and sometimes spend too much times perfecting tasks. (2) HESITANT TO DELEGATE WORK - sometimes prefer to take on responsibilities myself to ensure they are completed to my standards. (3) STRUGGLE WITH WORK LIFE BALANCE - always prioritize my work and while I have never reached a burnout I know taking time to reset can be more beneficial in the long run.

Conflict in the workplace?

Current role allows for quite a bit of collaboration with other agency legal counsels. Conflict between competing priorities is natural. From time to time I have encountered situations where there is disagreement on the interpretation of a law, policy, or otherwise. But recognizing the importance of open communication and being respectful to alternative viewpoints has often led to a calm conversation with a focus of finding a mutually beneficial resolution.

What are your salary expectations?

Currently an Attorney 5, about half-way through pay scale 15. Expecting my next step in late summer/early fall so would respectfully request a 2-3 step increase.

Tell us about a time you made a mistake (or failed) and how you addressed it.

Ethics Story Acknowledge the mistake. Demonstrated accountability. Put in process improvements to learn from the mistake.

Tell me what you know about this role.

From the job description, I understand that you are looking for an attorney with a focus on contracts, grant writing, procurement. In addition, there were several general government responsibilities listed that I have extensive experience in such as public records, records retention, and legislative analysis/research.

Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership?

Grants work at OBM. Newly created division -- the Ohio Grants Partnership -- and I was tasked with working as the sole attorney within the division.

How do you handle constructive criticism?

Honestly, I handle it well. I welcome valuable feedback in the hopes that it will help me to continually improve so it is embraced with an open mind.

Why are you leaving your current job?

Honestly, I was not looking to leave my current job. This opportunity presented itself and seemed like it may be too good of a fit for me to pass up.

Why did you apply? (i.e. why are you leaving your current role) or Why do you want to work here?

I had several people reach out to me about the opportunity. When asked about Commerce, everyone only had great things to say. When reviewing the job posting and Commerce website, I was particularly drawn the agency mission and vision statements, where it is mentioned that Commerce strives to be the most resourceful and trusted agency in state gov. This resonated well with me -- and it sounded like an excellent place to work and a team I would be proud to call myself a part of.

Why should we hire you? or What do you bring to the table others don't?

I think you should hire me because I believe my educational and professional experiences closely align with your ideal candidate for hire. I have a well-rounded, governmental background having worked for two elected offices and one state agency and I believe I can greatly contribute my talents to this Department. In addition, I am a driven individual who is easy to work with and help bring out the best in not only myself but those I work with.

Describe a challenging work situation and how you handled it?

In a previous role, I was giving a presentation on records training when technical issues preventing the power point from loading. To quickly resolve the situation, I improvised with a Q and A session while I waited for IT to send me a digital copy. In all, we were able to have a very productive conversation and only missed about 30 minutes of material. Received positive feedback from the audience.

Tell us about a situation where the law wasn't on your side?

In a situation where the law seemed to be working against us our desired outcome -- approached the situation by tackling ambiguities and alternative interpretation that could be advantageous to the client's case.

Why are you interested in this position?

Interested in this job because I know the work that I would be doing on day-to-day basis makes a meaningful impact on the lives of Ohioans.

Give an example of a time you solved a problem creatively?

Mediation during law school. Two parties involving a dispute and one party flaunted a stack of cash saying they weren't willing to settle under any circumstances. Through several 1 on 1 conversations with the parties before brining everyone back together we were able to get to the root of the problem -- which is disrespect -- and after an apology and a handshake the parties agreed to dismiss the suit.

What are you greatest strengths?

PAT (1) Patient -- Listen before I speak and I say yes before I say no. (2) Meticulously attentive to detail -- often the last set of eyes on drafts that don't require a legal review. Westlaw (mom) (3) Time management -- used to working under pressure with sensitive deadlines and maintaining a high-quality work product while juggling several tasks at once.

What are 3 things cowokers would say about you?

PRO (1) PROACTIVE: Takes initiative to address needs before they become problems. (2) RELIABLE -- knowing that I am someone you can count on fosters a positive work environment (3) OPEN MINDED - Welcomes diverse perspectives and ideas in coming to a decision.

What motivates you?

Passion for learning. Regularly seeking out opportunities to grow personally and professionally and expand my skill set.

What kind of enviroment do you work best under?

Prefer the collaborative setting but work well in both. I have had fast-paced agressive leadership and cool/ laidback boss. Ultimately, I believe I work becase under a management structure that is trusting and involved.

What can you tell us about Commerce?

The Ohio Department of Commerce is the state's chief regulatory agency. The Department plays a vital role in consumer protection by issuing over a half-million licenses, permits, and certifications each year. The department is made up of several different divisions and programs that spans a variety of industries (such as cannabis, liquor, banking) with the goal of protecting Ohioians.

What can you tell us about the procurement process?

The process behind obtaining goods and services. Requisite Procurement Programs Direct Purchase Authority Competitive Selection

How would you handle a policy initiative that you do not agree with?

When faced with a decision I don't agree with, I prioritize maintaining professionalism and respect for the decision-making process. I am not afraid to step up to the plate.