Her Story
About Tammy
Tammy Hays is an experienced HR and recruiting professional with about 20 years in the automotive industry. Currently serving as an HR recruiting coach at Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, she supports recruitment strategies across 26 dealerships. Her daily responsibilities include receiving and vetting applications, posting job requisitions, managing background checks and drug testing, overseeing orientation, and following up with candidates throughout their first year of employment. In the previous year, she hired 768 candidates herself while achieving an 86 percent retention rate, which is notable in an industry known for high turnover. Tammy holds a bachelor's degree from Eastern Kentucky University and is completing her MBA at Southern New Hampshire University with a 3.9 GPA. She attributes much of her professional drive to her family and finds great fulfillment in helping entry-level candidates launch meaningful careers that can lead to six-figure positions.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tammy
01What do you attribute your success to?
My success comes from my family. They have been the foundation and taught me the importance of hard work and staying true to who I am. They encouraged me to believe in myself and keep pushing forward even when things are difficult. I was raised by a single mother who never laid down and gave up. Success is about the example you set, the people you help, and the legacy you create.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Don't wait until you feel completely ready. Sometimes you have to step into the opportunity, learn as you go, and trust that you're capable of figuring it out. Keep learning, surround yourself with people who believe in you, and never be afraid to advocate for yourself.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If someone was starting out in HR, I would tell them that the hard days are worth it. The career is great. I love helping people. The reward at the end of it, although there are some hard days and you have to make hard decisions that hurt, just keep pushing because it is well worth it in the end.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The challenges are AI. Now AI has all of these tools like Indeed using AI and smart sourcing and selective hiring, so that would be one of the challenges because as we progress things start being more robotic and they may not need recruiting coaches or recruiters.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Time management is most important in my family life because even though I have a strong career and I'm pursuing my education, I need to make sure that I make time for my family and myself. That plays into my career because if I'm tired and burnt out, then I'm not doing any justice for anybody on either side, whether it's personal or professional.
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