College Pro Painters is an amazing opportunity to build your resume.  While completing my geography degree I was looking for some solid work experience.  I had done summer jobs like dishwashing, server, lawn cutting but I had a strong desire to get some real work experience that would separate me from my friends and other students.  I also had a really strong desire to challenge myself and do something bigger than I had done before.  College Pro Painters was the best decision I made to build my resume and get real life experience.

The College Pro training program is, bar none, one of the best training programs I have ever encountered.  The General Managers have a laid out program for teaching sales, marketing, interviewing and how to paint a house. The way they train you is great – they don’t teach it all once.  You learn stuff as you go along, and at the right time.  They teach you in a classroom and then there is a lot of in the field training and weekly meetings to keep you focused.

As the summer progresses, you get so much more than a summer job.  Instead of doing customer service or sales or general labor, the franchisee manager role incorporates everything, and then some, and that is why it is a great resume builder and a great summer job.

Two of the biggest learning and transferable skills I learned were: interviewing and selling.  I hired over 12 employees (only kept 6!) but these skills will be very valuable in the future if I start my own business or if I work for a company.  I also booked over $100,000 dollars in sales, which was about 40 jobs.  You can’t learn how to sell at school, and often I booked jobs over $4,000…now that’s a summer job!

With College Pro, no other job gives you this much responsibility this fast.  If you are a hard worker and want to learn, I highly recommend this as a summer job!

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College Pro Painters what an experience. I personally am an engineering student and have faced a lot of challenges and College Pro Painters was definitely one of the big ones. I find that, when I’m challenged, that’s when I learned the most, and College Pro Painters definitely delivered on knowledge. I was looking into internship opportunities and stumbled upon College Pro. It only seemed relevant to business students at first, but after learning more about College Pro Painters and their methods of training, I realized that the hands-on business skills you learn were very applicable to what I needed to make it in the real world. So, I decided to take the chance with College Pro; basically a few months later I was running my own company – who would have thought?

I was trained well and was sent out to build a team of painters of my very own. I hired six employees and learned what it’s like to really take responsibility and be in a true leadership role. This was a life changing experience, people depended on me. My actions had real consequences whether they were good or bad. It was a completely different world then what I was used to in university. It wasn’t just about my needs, it was about the customers, it was about the painters, and it was about building strong relationships.

Honestly, I think I grew as a person, it really felt like going from high school to university all over again. Everything was a bit different and much more challenging but you learn way more. After doing this program I learned so much about leadership and keeping organized and working well with others. I think that the engineering programs should allow Leadership-based Internships opportunities. I truly believe that I learned more about Life and skills that will stick with me forever in the last six months with College Pro Painters then I could in four years of schooling.

If you’re a student in any faculty or major and are looking for an Internship opportunity I would strongly recommend the College Pro Program. The trainers are extremely skilled and truly know how to run a team. To sum up, my experience with College Pro Painters have been a blast, and I can’t wait to work with them again.

Ask the typical 19-22 year old what he/she wants to be doing 10 years down the road and the answer you usually get is something along the lines of:  “I want to be running my own (insert the type) business and I want to very successful”.   While this is just a dream for most, it will become a reality for 1% of those out there with the guts and drive to set themselves up to make it happen.

For those “forward thinkers” out there, a place exists where you can get yourself moving down that path… quickly.  That place is College Pro Painters – a North American student painting and window-cleaning company that specializes in hiring hundreds of college-aged students to run their own business over the spring and summer.

College Pro Painters has been in business since 1971 and is on a mission to develop leadership and management skills in young entrepreneurs. They train their young business owners on all aspects of running a successful small business and they support them each step of the way.  Students sign up for the College Pro program to gain valuable skill and experience, to build their resumes, and to make money over the summer.  It is not uncommon to find ex-College Pro managers in high-level positions in all industries.  Many of them go on to work at one of College Pro’s sister companies or start their own business with the skills they developed during their time at College Pro Painters.

As the typical “successful adult” knows, pushing yourself when you are young to do interesting and challenging jobs will often help indicate what you’ll be in 10 years.  Each piece of experience (whether it be school or job) is a building block for where you’ll be down the road.  At College Pro Painters, students are gaining an edge on their peers and are vaulting themselves towards an amazing future.  They are building their tomorrow, today.

For those with the guts to follow through on their dreams, College Pro Painters is a great place to start. Contact the company at www.collegepro.com for more information about management opportunities for yourself or someone you know.

James Dale, former College Pro Painters franchisee, says, “In my two years as a franchisee I learned many lessons.  It was both painful at times and exhilarating at times but overall it was one of the greatest work experiences I have ever had.”  College Pro is an amazing opportunity for young people who aspire to be leaders, experience management, and who want to taste business success for the first or maybe second time.  In College Pro you learn so much about yourself and others in such a short time it is like a business degree compressed into one summer.

It is hard work!  Let no one tell you it easy, or, if you hear some people say it’s hard – they are right – they may not have been the right person because running a business is not for everyone!  But you have a lot of support and a proven system that works.  James continues with, “I believe my success came from working hard and listening to my General Manager in two key areas: hiring and selling.”

James worked very hard, especially in his second year, in hiring the right people so that he would have success.  In his first year he made some mistakes in hiring – particularly in hiring individuals who were not hard working or were not very honest people.  In his second year he spent a lot of time interviewing potential candidates on their previous work experiences and how they handled tough jobs.  He also had a lot of success in hiring people who had a track record of taking pride in their work and being honest.  The key was to look at their past performances to predict future success.  James’ painters made really good money and they had fun.

James also became really good at finding a customer’s needs when booking jobs and then making sure he hit those needs when actually producing the job.  James worked hard at connecting with customers and this really helped his success ratio in booking jobs.  James says that “as I became more and more skilled I was able to book big jobs and some customers trusted me with jobs over $5000.”

“I would recommend the College Pro experience if you are a hard worker and have a preference to lead people and have responsibility on your shoulders. “

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What are employers really looking for? What do students need to land that perfect job? These are the timeless questions that stalk every student in University.

Great marks? Let’s be honest, no one can compete with Chinese and Indian super students (let’s remember there are more people learning English in China today than in North America). Reza Satchu, outspoken business professor at the University of Toronto, says it best when he urges students to take risks at a young age, while in school I would add, and to deliberately put themselves in situations that will cause discomfort to maximize learning. Satchu is right; discomfort provides an extremely fertile environment for expedited self-development.

What does this all mean? Employers are looking for candidates who have taken steps to place themselves in tough, demanding and even overwhelming environments. Environments that place great sums of responsibility on them, more than they are prepared for, qualified for or even capable of – at first that is, the right candidates will rise to the challenge, grow and maybe even succeed.

The baby boomers are sticking around (bummer, I know), and a strong economy hid shopping carts full of bad managers, so in a world with fewer top spots, and a much greater timidity amongst employers to ‘take a chance’ on a under-experienced candidate, employers need candidates who can prove that they can perform starting day one. The successful candidates will be those who can point to seasons of discomfort that they voluntarily subscribed themselves to and took away real-life skills with real-life results. Success in these ventures is not critical (it helps, but it’s not critical), rather, the candidate needs to demonstrate that in the face of true adversity, they pressed on into the face of challenge, far past their own personal capabilities and delivered on the objective.

College Pro Painters, I would argue, is one of the finest ‘discomfort learning environments’ available to select students. The opportunity to operate every aspect of a real, “you own, you build it” business is extremely unique, and a perfect example of the type of experience that cautious employers are looking for their candidates to have – the kind of experience that tells an employer that this candidate can deliver even when in the ‘belly of the beast’ so to speak.

Employers are looking for candidates with a proven track record that they can deliver when the question or the problem is not clear. The business environment today has never been faster, more competitive and more exciting. For a hopeful candidate, a career opportunity in the exciting world of business requires experiences like those offered by College Pro Painters. Academics will always have a valuable place, hard to get anywhere without an undergrad degree these days, but my advice ultimately to students is, “challenge  yourself while  in  school  and  that  dream  job  after  school  could  be  yours!”

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Aside from helping college students realize their true potential through entrepreneurship, College Pro Painters also values reaching out to community members to offer a helping hand. The company’s core purpose of ‘together, realizing potentials’ takes on new meaning when applied to the good of the community as a whole. Student managers and full-time staff members understand the importance of using their skills to better the lives of those around them.

One way College Pro Painters gives back each year is through alternative spring breaks. Instead of heading to the usual spring break hot spots for a week’s worth of partying, College Pro students band together to paint the homes of people who otherwise would not be able to afford it. On one trip to a neighborhood outside of Tampa, 35 franchisees selected six houses to paint over their time away from school. Most of the homes hadn’t been painted in more than 40 years and were in very poor condition. Students are happy to do it.

“It’s a very different culture here, and for me personally, that’s really exciting to be painting and doing work in and around something you’re not used to,” said Jordan Driediger, a College Pro Painters general manager. “It’s a very different income level here, but there’s a lot of community. People are extremely friendly; I don’t think we could have had a better time with the community that we were in, and I definitely want to come back to this exact place.”

The spirits of homeowners were high and full of gratitude as they saw their newly painted homes, courtesy of College Pro Painters. Some had been waiting for years to see the transformations.

“Oh gosh, I can’t begin to say how happy I am because I’ve been waiting on it for a long time. I’ve been trying to save up the money to get it done for a long time, and I never did,” said one homeowner. “I wasn’t even concerned about Christmas I just wanted the 28^th to come. And they did an excellent job on my house. I would put them up on any house, any day.”

Another homeowner, an elderly woman, peacefully reflects on the work students did on her home.

“It’s a blessing to me. Thank you. Thank the program and thank you all for what you’re doing,” she says with a smile.

The College Pro Painters alternative spring break program gives students an opportunity to show that they care about doing a quality painting job, regardless of the money. The company makes sure everyone has a great experience—that includes the franchisees, general managers who are coaching, and the homeowners. College Pro Painters shows how a fresh coat of paint can bring young people and communities in need together.

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College Pro Painters in a student-run painting company operating in North America and Canada. College Pro Painters offer the unique opportunity for college students to own and operate their own painting franchise for a summer while they are on break from school.

While working with College Pro Painters, students will learn to operate all the day to day aspects of owning and operating a business, from hiring and training, to customer service. The College Pro Painters system is ideal for students with an interest in entrepreneurism and a strong drive to succeed. But this program isn’t for everyone; there is a great amount of work and time needed to succeed in any business, which is why College Pro Painters offers advice to young business-minded individuals. Here are some helpful tips from College Pro for the adventurous student:

Teamwork is Key:

Even the most independent of entrepreneurs will tell you that you are only as good as your team.  This is especially true of new and developing businesses. Surrounding yourself with hard-working, trustworthy, like-minded individuals ensures that you have someone you can count on and share ideas with, people that will ultimately be there to grow with you and your business.

Put Others First:

College Pro Painters knows that customers are the lifeblood of any successful business endeavor. Word of mouth advertising is still the most effective and lucrative type of marketing available. If your clients are unhappy, they will be sure to not use your service or product again, and they will most likely be vocal in telling friends and family the same…so take care of them. In the same vein, your employees are the ones facing your valuable clients. If they are content and feel appreciated in the workplace it will translate into better customer service and ultimately a healthy business and bottom line for you. Put yourself last and you will surely rise to the top.

Set Realistic Goals:

This doesn’t apply solely to business, but should be reflected in your personal life as well. By setting realistic business and personal goals you will stay on track and stay motivated. Everyone’s goals will be different depending on where you are in your business and in your personal life, but you should take some time to plan on a monthly and even yearly basis. A good place to begin when starting a business is by laying out all the tools you will need to succeed month by month. So in month 1 perhaps your goal is to have all your finances in order, month 2 might be creating a website or marketing materials so you will get the exposure you need, and so on.

Market Yourself…a Lot:

Marketing is one of the most important (and can be one of the most expensive) aspects of promoting your small business. Most small or new businesses will not have a huge marketing budget to leverage, but there are plenty of inexpensive ways to “get out there.” Social Media, for example, is usually free and has a huge reach. Creating a Facebook business page or Twitter account lets you connect to your target audience in a very personal way through messages and posts.

Consider joining marketing clubs or neighborhood organization such as the Lions Club. These are usually free or low-cost and allow you to meet potential customers and network with like-minded business owners. Lastly, don’t underestimate the importance of having a strong web presence. Websites do not have to cost thousands of dollars or be overly complicated. Starting a blog with your product or services and basic contact information will give you exposure to thousands of consumers you would not have otherwise.

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Think of the trim of your home as the “icing on the cake.” It stands out, showcases a homeowner’s attention to detail, and can really make or break any color scheme. Unfortunately, painting trim can be an arduous process; demanding hours of preparation and tedious detail painting. While the results are definitely worth the work, you can make the job that much easier with the right know.

College Pro Painters is the premier student-lead painting company in North America and Canada. In business since 1971, College Pro has the skills and experience to help you with any residential exterior painting project, including trim painting. Here’s a handy list of tips and tricks from College Pro regarding trim painting that can help make your newest painting project easy and painless.

College Pro Painters recommends that if you’ve recently replaced the caulking around your windows or doors to make sure the caulking is dry prior to painting over it.  And when you are painting caulk, be sure to use enough paint to create a protective seal around doors and windows. This will protect interiors from insects, rain and wind.

The best way to avoid getting unwanted paint on doors and screens is to remove them altogether. Not only will this protect them, you can use this time to make minor repairs you’ve been putting off, such as mending rips and tears in screens or repainting and refinishing wood doors. When painting doors, College Pro recommends starting with the panels first, then rails, and finally the edges.

Gutters and downspouts made of galvanized metal can pose a problem for the energetic do-it yourselfer. These tough spots are often very dirty and worn down and require additional prepping prior to adding paint. These elements should be scraped with a wire brush to remove loose paint and then primed and painted. When painting downspouts, College Pro recommends painting in the direction of the flutes, which is generally top to bottom. For an added layer of protection coat the inside of your homes gutters with asphalt based paint. This will waterproof the gutters and seal any holes or cracks you may have, this potentially adding years of use to your gutters. This is especially useful in climates with high amounts of yearly rainfall and precipitation.

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College Pro sat down with one of College Pro Painters most successful Business Managers within College Pro.

Name: Casey Clark
Current Position: Regional Business Manager
Location: Chicago, IL

When did you start working for College Pro and in what role?
I started in a Franchise Manager position in 2005 with College Pro Painters.

What were your prior job experiences?
I worked as a digital editing advisor for a photographer while in high school.

What do you find most rewarding about your current role?
The most rewarding part of my job is seeing my subordinates figure out the smaller things each week that help them grow and develop their skills and careers. I enjoy getting to see the entire business grow from start to finish every year and know that the individuals we select for the franchise position are truly growing and building an incredible career from the hands-on experience that they have received.

What is a typical job day like for you at College Pro?
My typical day is meeting with my general managers for a weekly meeting and then working one-on-one with them for a few hours each. Then, I work with my marketing coordinator and presidents for an hour or so before doing a conference call with all 50 of our regional managers on how they are doing and what the major focus of this week should be.

What skills are most necessary to succeed in your position?
I would say the most important skills are first, high-level skills in relationship building, critical thinking, priority management, goal break-down and accountability, and lastly, situational leadership.

Who or what inspires you?
I am inspired by what College Pro is able to accomplish every year. I am inspired by those who have come before me within the company and have gone on to do some amazing things within their careers. Lastly, I really look up to the senior executive staff within College Pro. They always help push me to find a new level of potential for myself.

What advice would you give to someone hoping to work for College Pro?
Work extremely hard and understand that working hard is going to pay off in the future if you are focusing, as an “inner coach,” on skill development.  Don’t make excuses and hold others to the highest level to which you also hold yourself.

What is your favorite story related to College Pro?
I remember when we were really behind on the business in 2008, so we did a half-off royalty week and ended up signing 10 times more contracts than we had ever done. The focus from the managers and myself was so much fun, and we ended up moving the business to the needs of the managers’ profit and the organization. It was awesome.

I also remember the time when I did a “Tour De Midwest”.  I traveled with another General Manager and visited 33 managers in less then 7 days.  We drove over 4000 miles that week, played four rounds of golf and also made a big impact with all of the managers in our hour or two with each. One night even included sleeping in the car. It was awesome fun for that one week and it was a great way to get some energy up from the managers knowing we were out supporting to really move the business.

In your opinion, why is College Pro a great place to work?
At College Pro, you get a ton of independence and get to have way more responsibility than you are usually ready for. Because of all the hands-on, one-on-one development that you receive, you are able to build your skills up and move your career very quickly if you are willing to put in the hard work.  I would not give it up for anything!

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