As a young professional, if you would have told Jill Spry that she’d be working in the insurance business, she would have laughed. Jill liked to experience new things and moving around from job to job had become routine. Encouraged by her mother, Jill settled down and sought out a stable opportunity with a great company and made it a career. That company was State Farm and twenty four years later (and counting) Jill Spry is still enjoying life, having fun, and building a career she is proud of.
Just like her father, a retired business owner, Jill has always been an entrepreneur at heart. As an Agency Recruiter for State Farm, based in Murfreesboro, TN, Jill devotes her time to seeking out individuals who are passionate about helping people and owning their own business. It’s not uncommon to find her on the phone or responding to the over 200 LinkedIn in-mails she sends routinely. In between meeting with as many as seven candidates daily, Jill finds time to serve as the Chairperson for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Council.
Jill started with State Farm at the entry level, processing paperwork. The turning point came when she applied for a position in the Learning and Development department. Here, she would be able to showcase her love for people, teaching, and her natural knack for spotting talent. During her seven years as an Agency Training Specialist, Jill finished her BA degree in Management and Human Relations from Trevecca Nazarene University and swiftly moved into agency recruiting. She stepped away from recruiting in 2008 and accepted a position as a Marketing Analyst. Jill returned to recruiting in 2010 and has on-boarded numerous now successful agents.
When asked what word people use most to describe her, she immediately says ‘passion.’ Her passion for people and seeing them accomplish their goals motivates her during the candidate selection process, which requires a commitment. She admits that finding candidates with an aptitude for sales paired with a personality that fit core State Farm values can be challenging at times. She relies on her experience to narrow the field. When she is in need of guidance, however, she looks to her assistant manager, who has been and continues to be a great mentor to her.
State Farm is home for Jill and she has no plans of leaving. In five years, she sees herself still recruiting but on a larger scale. Her mother once told her to always ‘do whatever is asked of you, and then some.’ Those words have guided Jill over the years and continue to push her forward.
Connect with Jill Spry
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jillspry
Twitter: @spry8404