In early 2006, I started feeling like I needed a career change. I had been working in the Property Management/Short-Term and Long-Term Rentals/Reservations field for about 5 years and was beginning to feel bored and unfulfilled. I happened to come across a job posting for the Summit County Sheriff’s Office for a Civil Clerk. The first thing that popped into my mind is what is a Civil Clerk, and can I do it? I honestly did not waste any time and I applied for the job without even thinking twice about it. The next thing I knew, I was completing a 17-page application that was way beyond what I expected. I remember it being labor-intensive because I had to research online for my previous jobs from way back when and I honestly did not know if they were still around. After turning in my application, then it was the waiting game to see if I was going to get an interview. To my surprise, I did get an interview and it was the last interview of the day. I remember showing up for my interview and about walked out after seeing the number of individuals that were there for the same thing. Then I was thinking to myself that by the time they interview me, they are going to be tired and ready to stop for the day.
I walked into the conference room to a long table with (if my memory serves me right) five people including the Jail Commander. I was sitting alone on one side of the table in the line of fire bracing myself for them to shoot off questions to me. It was one of those interviews where you are so nervous you cannot remember what you said. I am not sure if I am remembering correctly, but it was either the next day or a couple of days after the interview that I received a call from the Jail Commander and one of the first things he said to me was “Hey kid, do you want a job?” I was speechless and shocked but managed to say yes sir! I had to go through a Polygraph exam, an extensive background check, and a Psych exam. Next thing you know, I am the Civil Clerk for the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. The Civil Clerk’s responsibilities included receiving the filings for civil cases, preparing notices and citations, and maintaining records associated with the cases filed with the Summit County Combined Courts. I would prepare the notices and citations for the Civil Deputy to complete the Civil Process Service.
A whole new world opened to me working in the law enforcement environment. A world where you are constantly shocked and amazed by humanity in both good and disturbing ways. I was working in a civilian capacity so I can only imagine what the Deputies were experiencing daily. I would love to hear the Deputies talk about their day and in many instances, the people they would encounter would end up coming into the office for one reason or another. Hearing their stories provided insight for me in the event those individuals came into the office, and I would have an idea of how to assist them. Since I was located at the front desk of the office, I would be the first person they would meet. I have always been involved in industries where customer service was a priority. I remember when I first started working in retail and the mantra was the customer is always right. In this environment, that mantra did not apply.
It was still a priority to provide customer service, but it was with caution. You learned to adjust to the different types of personalities and attitudes you would deal with on a daily basis. You also learned very quickly not to take anything personally. The one thing I was confident in was that no matter what, I knew there was always someone around to provide backup at the Front Desk if needed. We also had a panic button in the event situations got out of control.
My bilingual skills were utilized more than I could have expected. I was one of the few employees who spoke Spanish in our office, so I often assisted the Deputies in our office, Jail, Combined Courts, and the Probation Office with Spanish translations. I enjoyed learning about various aspects of the different agencies. I also began to build a rapport with the Spanish community in Summit County.
Once I felt comfortable in this position, I began to feel like I wanted to explore other positions within the company. One piece of advice my mother gave me when I was younger and began working, was to learn as much as I could about my job, but also the other positions within the company. This way I would not get stuck knowing only one skill but open to learning more. This was effective in every job I have had because I learned multiple skills and could work in different departments within each company. When I worked in retail, I was able to move around the store and work in various capacities within each department. It did not get boring or monotonous and it opened doors to other opportunities.
About a little over a year of being the Civil Clerk, I learned of a Records Clerk position available in the Records Department. I knew immediately this was something that I wanted to pursue. I submitted my letter of interest and applied for the position. After going through the application and interview process, I was promoted to Records Clerk. I was not fully prepared for what was in store for me as I began my journey as the Records Clerk. It not only impacted my life professionally but also personally. If I could have given myself advice prior to this, I would have told myself to buckle up, it is about to get bumpy!
The World of Dlo 