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This position has closed. COUNTRY Financial removed this listing from their careers page on Oct 6, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Media Relations Specialist

COUNTRY Financial · Bloomington, IL · $64,800–$89,100 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 15, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 4, 2026

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you served as a spokesperson. How did you prepare for the interview?

What they are checking: Whether they have real experience on the record and a disciplined preparation process.

Tell me about a content strategy you developed. How did you decide which audiences and channels to focus on?

What they are checking: Whether they think strategically about the right message for the right audience through the right medium.

How do you build relationships with local and trade reporters before you need them?

What they are checking: Whether they invest in media relationships as an ongoing effort, not just during a crisis.

What would you do

A reporter calls about a big storm and asks how many claims COUNTRY has received and when people will be paid. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can be helpful and timely while only sharing confirmed information that has cleared review.

How would you prepare an executive who has never done a TV interview to deliver a key message?

What they are checking: Whether they can coach leaders on clear messages, bridging and staying calm on camera.

In a financial services company, legal and compliance review a lot of content. How do you keep messages timely when review takes time?

What they are checking: Whether they plan ahead and build good working relationships with reviewers rather than fighting the process.

A negative post about a claim denial starts getting shared on social media. What do you do in the first few hours?

What they are checking: Whether they can assess the risk, coordinate with Claims and respond without sharing private client details.

About the work

Walk me through how you would plan, produce and edit an episode of a company podcast.

What they are checking: Whether they have hands-on production skills for the podcast work the posting names.

How would you measure whether our media relations work is actually helping the company's reputation?

What they are checking: Whether they look past clip counts to tone, message pickup and reach with key audiences.

Write me a headline and first sentence, out loud, for a story about COUNTRY agents helping their community after a flood.

What they are checking: Whether they can produce clear, newsworthy writing on the spot.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at COUNTRY Financial from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by COUNTRY Financial.

Experience more with a career at COUNTRY Financial! We’re excited you’re interested in a career at COUNTRY as we strive toward our vision - to enrich lives in the communities we serve. Our footprint spans coast to coast. But more important than where we operate, is the people who do the work. Apply today to help our organization grow and make a difference for our clients. About the role Protect and enhance the reputation of COUNTRY Financial through the development of a content strategy and external communication efforts. Supports corporate vision, mission and objectives through content planning, message development and delivery to ensure the right messages get to the right audiences using the appropriate medium based on best practices and which meet legal, compliance, brand and other standards. Ensures consistency of messages and alignment with corporate objectives and values. This role will also work in different media formats such as podcasts and social media content - this could include content development, production and editing of the podcast and social media posts. How does this role make an impact? - Serves as spokesperson for the organization, handling contact with newspaper, magazine, radio, television, trade press and social media. - Trains leadership and other company spokespeople to deliver messages through various external communication mediums. - Actively monitors reputational threats and potential threats that could damage the reputation of COUNTRY and recommends strategies to manage them (i.e. reputation audits, proactive and reactive media responses, etc.). - Responsible for analyzing, recommending, developing and implementing news media strategies for the organization with a focus on our Vision and corporate strategies. Supports corporate project teams as a Public Affairs and Media Relations representative. Do you have what we're looking for? • Typically requires 4+ years of relevant experience or a combination of related experience, education and training. • Proven experience leading external communications or public relations strategies that build trust, enhance brand reputation, and support organizational objectives. • Strong media relations and messaging expertise, with the ability to effectively tailor and deliver messages to the right audiences through the most appropriate channels. • Demonstrated ability to partner with executive leaders and cross-functional teams to plan and execute aligned, high-impact communications. • Excellent writing, editing, and storytelling skills with a focus on clarity, credibility, and brand consistency. • Experience creating producing, and editing content across multiple media formats, including podcasts, social media, traditional media, and other digital channels. • Experience in regulated, corporate, or service-driven environments; insurance or financial services experience preferred. Base Pay Range: $64,800-$89,100 The base pay range represents the typical range of potential salary offers for candidates hired. Factors used to determine your actual salary include your specific skills, qualifications and experience. Incentive Pay: In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for a Short-Term Incentive plan. Why work with us? Our employees and representatives serve nearly one million households with our diverse range of personal and business insurance products as well as retirement and investment services. We build relationships and work together to create a stronger, more secure future for our clients and our communities. We’re a big company, yet small enough you can make an impact and won’t get lost in the shuffle. You’ll have the opportunity to learn and grow throughout your career, either within this role or by exploring other areas of our business. You’ll be able to take advantage of our benefits package, which includes insurance benefits (medical, dental, vision, disability, and life), 401(k) with company match. COUNTRY Financial is committed to providing equal opportunity in all areas of employment, and in providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, disability, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations. Come join our team at COUNTRY today!