January 28, 2025

COUNTRY Financial® is Hiring a Second Cohort of Claims Apprentices

Apprentices receive on-the-job training and education from Heartland Community College

After testing the program in 2024, COUNTRY Financial will hire a second cohort of Claims Apprentices in 2025. Apprentices complete an 18-month program that includes a combination of education at Heartland Community College and on-the-job training to provide a consistent, positive and satisfying claims experience for COUNTRY clients. Interviews will begin in March and the cohort will start in July 2025.

"Through the COUNTRY Financial Claims apprenticeship, we have invested in our community by providing new career paths for local talent,” said Jesse Kohlbecker, Vice President of Claims and Client Services. “This program gives participants the opportunity to develop professionally while earning college credit at Heartland Community College. This initiative has had a positive impact on our apprentices, our organization, and the Bloomington-Normal community.”

“Partners such as COUNTRY Financial are key in helping meet the workforce needs of the community and furthering the success of our students,” said Keith Cornille, President of Heartland Community College. “Apprenticeships offer a direct pipeline for employers to strengthen their workforce with tailored, high-quality talent. Our apprentices get to upskill and develop their training portfolio while gaining real-world professional experience. Our industry partners offer these opportunities because they know it is a sound investment in the most valuable of assets: quality employees.”

The combination of on-the-job training and education is not typically offered in corporate environments. Claims Apprentices spend one-third of their time focusing on their studies, which includes a mix of coursework at Heartland Community College, industry training for which they will receive college credit, as well as job shadowing in various areas of claims and industry training. They will also learn how to assist clients with auto claims and deepen their knowledge so they can progress into more specialized roles in the future.

Avery Sanderson, a current Claims Apprentice, says: “The Claims Apprenticeship Program has brought me so many opportunities to learn and gain experience. The schooling, as well as the content of the job, allow you to learn so much and grow your skill set as an employee.”

Ideal candidates live within 50 miles of the COUNTRY Financial office in Bloomington. Interested candidates can apply.

Learn more about careers at COUNTRY.