20 State of Oregon Interview Questions and Answers

When you go in for an interview with the State of Oregon, you can expect to be asked questions about your experience with financial services and your ability to manage a variety of responsibilities. The interviewers will be looking to see if you have the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in the role you’re applying for. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common interview questions you may be asked, along with sample answers to give you an idea of what to say.

State of Oregon Interview Process

The interview process at State of Oregon can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require you to submit an online application, followed by an assessment and/or written questions. You may then be selected for a video or in-person interview. The interviews are typically conducted by a panel of interviewers, and you may be asked to answer questions about your work history, qualifications, and DEI experience.

1. What are your career objectives?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your career goals and how they align with the position. To answer, you can discuss what motivates you in your work and how you hope to grow professionally.

Example: “My primary objective is to advance my skills as a financial analyst. I am passionate about learning new things and would love to have the opportunity to apply my knowledge of accounting to help Oregon’s state government manage its finances. I also want to continue growing within my current role and eventually become a CPA.”

2. Tell me about a time that you had to make an important decision without consulting with your supervisor, how did it turn out?

This question can help the interviewer get a sense of your decision-making skills and how you handle responsibility. When answering, it can be helpful to highlight your critical thinking skills and ability to make effective decisions on your own.

Example: “In my current role as an accountant, I was working with a client who had recently started their business. They were having trouble managing their finances because they didn’t have enough money in their budget for payroll. I advised them that if they wanted to continue operating, they would need to find more funds or cut back on expenses. After discussing some options with them, we decided that they should scale back their marketing efforts until they could afford to hire more employees.”

3. In what ways do you think this position can help you achieve your career goals?

This question can help the interviewer learn more about your career goals and how you plan to achieve them. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a few things that interest you in relation to the position and what skills or experiences you have that will help you succeed in the role.

Example: “I am very interested in working with numbers and finances, so I think this position would be a great fit for me. In my previous job as an accountant, I learned how to manage budgets and work with large amounts of data. This skill set is something I feel could benefit me in this role.”

4. How would you describe your customer service style?

The Oregon State Treasury is responsible for providing excellent customer service to the state’s residents. This question helps hiring managers assess your ability to interact with customers and provide them with solutions to their problems. Use examples from previous work experiences that demonstrate your commitment to helping others.

Example: “I believe in treating every person I meet with respect, regardless of whether they are a colleague or a member of the public. In my last role as an accountant, I noticed that many members of the public were confused about how to file their taxes online. So, I created a series of YouTube videos that explained the process step-by-step. These videos received over 100,000 views, and I was able to help thousands of people complete their tax returns.”

5. If hired, in what ways could you contribute to the success of the department?

This question is an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the role and how you can make a positive impact. When answering, it’s important to highlight your relevant skills and abilities that will help you succeed in this position.

Example: “I am passionate about financial services and have extensive experience managing budgets and overseeing investments. I would use my expertise to ensure the state treasury remains financially stable and continues to provide excellent customer service to Oregonians.”

6. Provide an example of when you had to prioritize tasks and projects.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your time management skills and how you handle multiple responsibilities. Use examples from previous roles that highlight your ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines and manage projects effectively.

Example: “In my current role as a treasury analyst, I have several ongoing projects where I need to balance the needs of different stakeholders. For example, one project required me to work with state agencies to determine which ones could reduce spending without impacting services. In another instance, I needed to create a budget for the state’s rainy day fund while also meeting other budgetary requirements.”

7. Do you have experience working in a fast-paced environment?

The Oregon State Treasury is a fast-paced environment, and the interviewer wants to make sure you can handle that. If you have experience working in a similar role, share your experiences with them. If not, explain how you would adapt to this type of work environment.

Example: “I worked as an accountant for a small business where I was responsible for balancing the books every month. This required me to work quickly because we had to submit our financial reports on time. I am used to working under pressure and always meeting deadlines.”

8. Describe a scenario where a coworker was not following proper procedures, how did you handle it?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your leadership skills and how you would handle a situation where someone was not following procedures. In your answer, try to show that you can be assertive while also being empathetic.

Example: “In my last role as an accountant, I had a coworker who often forgot to record receipts for certain transactions. This led to some discrepancies in our financial reports, so I sat down with her one-on-one and explained the importance of recording all transactions properly. She understood and made sure to follow proper procedure after that.”

9. Have you ever had problems with co-workers? How were they resolved?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your conflict resolution skills. Use examples from previous work experiences where you had a disagreement with a colleague and how you resolved it.

Example: “In my last position, I disagreed with one of my colleagues on the best way to handle a client’s account. We talked through our disagreements and came up with a compromise that satisfied both of us. This helped me develop my communication skills and resolve conflicts in a productive manner.”

10. Tell us about a time when you were assigned multiple responsibilities, how did you manage them all?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your ability to multitask and prioritize tasks. Use examples from previous work experience or school projects that highlight your organizational skills, time management abilities and attention to detail.

Example: “In my current role as a financial analyst for the state of Oregon, I am responsible for analyzing data and creating reports on budgeting, revenue projections and expenditures. In addition to these responsibilities, I also manage multiple accounts and ensure all transactions are recorded accurately. To balance these duties effectively, I use project management software to organize my workflow and set due dates for each task.”

11. Are you familiar with state procurement policies and procedures?

The Oregon State Treasury is responsible for managing the state’s procurement policies and procedures. Interviewers ask this question to make sure you are familiar with these policies and can adhere to them if hired. In your answer, explain that you understand how to use the state’s procurement system and have experience doing so.

Example: “I am very familiar with the state’s procurement policies and procedures. I worked in a similar role at my last job where I was responsible for ensuring all purchases were made according to policy. This included making sure vendors met certain qualifications before they could do business with the state. I also had to ensure that we followed all rules regarding competitive bidding.”

12. Have you worked on any committees before? Which ones?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your leadership skills and how you’ve contributed to a team in the past. If you have experience working on committees, describe what your role was and what responsibilities you had.

Example: “In my current position as an accountant at Smith & Company Accounting Firm, I am part of our company’s finance committee. The purpose of this committee is to discuss any financial concerns or questions that arise among employees. We also use this time to share ideas for improving processes within the accounting department. In previous positions, I’ve been involved with similar committees.”

13. What is your experience conducting research?

The Oregon State Treasury requires employees to conduct research on a regular basis. This question helps the interviewer determine if you have experience with this type of work and how well you can apply your skills to their department. Use examples from previous jobs where you had to conduct research, including any specific tools or techniques that helped you complete your tasks.

Example: “In my last position as an accountant, I was responsible for researching tax laws and regulations. I used several online resources to find information about new legislation and updated our records accordingly. I also researched different accounting software programs to help us manage our finances more efficiently.”

14. Tell me about a time when you had to work under pressure.

This question can help an interviewer learn more about your ability to handle stress and pressure. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific time when you were able to overcome the challenges of working under pressure.

Example: “In my current role as a financial analyst, I am often tasked with completing complex calculations in a short amount of time. In these situations, I find that breaking down large projects into smaller tasks helps me stay focused on what needs to get done. This strategy has helped me complete many assignments ahead of schedule.”

15. What is your approach to creating new programs?

The Treasury needs employees who can create new programs and initiatives that help the state save money. Your answer should show your ability to think creatively and implement ideas that benefit the organization.

Example: “I believe in starting with a problem statement, which is a clear description of what you’re trying to solve. I then research solutions from other organizations and develop a plan for how we could apply those strategies to our department. For example, when I worked at my last job, we were tasked with creating a program that would reduce the number of paper receipts issued by the state. After researching several different methods, we decided on implementing an electronic receipt system.”

16. When was the last time you had to deal with a difficult or angry customer?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your customer service skills. Use examples from previous jobs or describe a time when you helped resolve a conflict with a friend, family member or colleague.

Example: “At my last job, I had a coworker who was always late for work and would often leave early without telling anyone. This made it difficult for me to manage our workloads because we were constantly switching tasks. Eventually, I spoke with the employee about the issue and they agreed to let me know if they needed help so that we could better coordinate our schedules. They ended up being on time every day for the next three months.”

17. Give an example of a time when you had to be very detail oriented.

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your attention to detail and how you apply it in the workplace. When answering, try to provide an example that shows your ability to pay close attention to details while also demonstrating your organizational skills.

Example: “In my current role as a financial analyst, I am responsible for analyzing data from various sources to help make informed decisions about state spending. In my previous position, I was tasked with identifying areas where we could save money without impacting our operations. To do so, I had to analyze thousands of pages of documents and compare them to historical data to find trends. It took me several weeks to complete the project, but I was able to identify ways to save the state millions of dollars each year.”

18. Describe your experience preparing documents for publication.

The Oregon State Treasury requires employees to prepare documents for publication, which is a process that involves editing and formatting information. This question helps employers understand your experience with this type of work and how you might apply it in their department.

Example: “I have extensive experience preparing documents for publication as part of my current role. I’ve worked on several projects where we had to publish reports or other important documents. In these situations, I would ensure the document was formatted correctly and ready for publication before sending it to our team of writers and editors. They would then review the document and make any final changes before publishing.”

19. We often need to come up with creative solutions to resolve problems. Can you tell me about a time when you did so?

This question can help an interviewer learn more about your problem-solving skills. Use examples from previous work experiences to highlight how you used critical thinking and creativity to resolve a challenge or solve a problem.

Example: “At my last job, I was tasked with managing the state’s budget for public transportation. One of our biggest challenges was finding ways to cut costs without reducing services. After some research, I found that we could save money by switching vendors for bus maintenance. This change saved us $500,000 annually.”

20. At our agency we strive to provide excellent customer service. Tell us about a time that you went above and beyond for a customer.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your customer service skills and how you handle challenging situations. In your answer, try to describe a situation where you went above and beyond for a customer and the positive outcome of that experience.

Example: “In my previous role as a financial advisor, I had a client who was having trouble managing their finances. They were overwhelmed with debt and unsure what steps they should take next. After meeting with them several times, I created a plan to help them pay off their debts and create a budget so they could save money each month. The client followed my advice and within six months, they paid off all of their debts and started saving money.”