College Works Painting

Branch Manager

January - August 2019 • Danville, CA

What I liked

It opened my eyes about business.

What I wish was different

I wish I could redo it with much more focus into it.

Advice

Don't try to fool yourself--this internship will require all of your time. If you're going to attempt it, don't try and split time with another job or activity.

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Branch Manager

February 2017 - August 2019 • Madison, WI

What I liked

I really enjoyed the independence I had while running my own business as a branch manager for CWP. I had the flexibility to make my own schedule, hire my own personnel, find my own clients and make every decision for my business. I was given mentorship and advice, but also the responsibility to grow into a true leadership position. I am a firm believer that you learn by doing and CWP is all about getting it done.

What I wish was different

Looking back, I can honestly say I don't wish that anything had been different. Every challenge I faced grew me as a person. If I had to pick one thing I wish had been different, I guess I wish I learned to enjoy the wild ride more back then. You forget that running a business as a college student is truly amazing when you are in the position and I wish I would have realized how much I was growing as it happened.

Advice

This is a career development program, which means you are going to be trained to develop skills you don't necessarily possess right away. You are supposed to face challenges, that is expected, so don't kick yourself when you feel down. Learn to love the process because that is the real takeaway from the program.

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Branch Manager

February - August 2019 • Port Huron, MI

What I liked

I really enjoyed multiple things: personal growth, endless networking, and skill development necessary for the real world. The internship taught me inner confidence, discipline, and managerial skills that you cannot find anywhere else when looking for internships.

What I wish was different

I wish I would have committed to getting out of my comfort zone even more so then I did. I find it very fun to do that thing alone and in the early phases I was nervous to do so. Embrace getting out of your own comfort zone!

Advice

Stay disciplined to your goals. If you set something for yourself, go and do it with no intention on a result. Jump in and enjoy every aspect, even if it makes you nervous. You will be thrilled at what you can do!

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Branch Manager

February - August 2019 • Mount Pleasant, MI

What I liked

I enjoyed learning all of the career development skills I have acquired such as communication, leadership, confidence, and time management. I feel like I have grown more over the last 6 months than I have in the past 5 years. It was a very challenging experience, but you cannot grow without stepping outside your comfort zone.

What I wish was different

I wish I hired more workers to help me when many people left for a variety of reasons, and to find even better painters at a consistent rate.

Advice

Work harder and think smarter to excel. Also how ever much you put into this, is how much you are going to get back out of it by growing and developing yourself.

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District Manager/ Branch Manager

March 2018 - October 2019 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

The people are beyond amazing. It is a group of people that want to be the best of the best and want to help you grow and become successful. The company takes you to amazing places and rewards you for all your hard work. Its a company that builds lifelong relationships with likeminded people. It helps teach you so many different parts of a business that you don't necessarily learn in a classroom.

What I wish was different

Nothing.

Advice

It is a challenging program but it will change you as a person. No matter how hard it gets, its worth it. Commit, and commit 100%

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Branch Manager

March - August 2018 • Redding, CA

What I liked

-The culture of the company is a lot of fun, and meeting new people from different campuses doing the same thing as you. -The support from my manager in not only training me in the different aspects of how to run a business, but also in my personal life and making sure I have enough time dedicated to school and family. -The autonomy in the role that allowed me to meet with clients when I wanted to, and set my own goals to hit. -Learning all the aspects of not only business (sales, marketing, accounting, management), but also different skills like stress management, communicating with clients, and organization.

What I wish was different

-Most of the pay comes in during the summer, but that's because that's when the projects are actually getting completed and checks from clients are collected. -Lots of weekends working during the spring, but it was hard to not want to work because that's when the majority of the business would be built.

Advice

-This is definitely the hardest thing I've ever done, so I'd just encourage people to realize this is more mindset than skills in the beginning. Anyone can develop a sales skill or learn marketing, but people need to have a positive mindset in order to get there first.

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Crew Chief

June - August 2018 • Princeton, NJ

What I liked

Learned about painting and labor

What I wish was different

Clients paid so I got paid in full

Advice

Work hard

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Branch Manager

February 2015 • Chicago, IL

What I liked

Developing hands on skills in leadership, professional communication, sales, management, marketing, and profit analysis.

What I wish was different

I wish depaul would give more chances for hands on experiences like this program.

Advice

The more you put into it the more you get out of it.

1 One person found this helpful

Marketing Associate

May - August 2017 • Pittsburgh, PA

What I liked

Gaining new marketing experience

What I wish was different

Trying new neighborhoods instead of just one

Advice

It is very hard but remain calm and keep faith

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Paint company Branch Manager

April - September 2018 • Omaha, NE

What I liked

Opportunity to manage employees and learn sales.

What I wish was different

Too much manual labor in an industry I'm not passionate about

Advice

Enter with the expectation that you will be doing some painting.

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House Painter

May - June 2018 • Greeley, CO

What I liked

My boss was my friend and I gained valuable knowledge.

What I wish was different

I wish I had liked it more and stuck with it.

Advice

Know what you're getting into, it's long days in the sun.

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Branch Manager

March - October 2018 • Kansas City, MO

What I liked

The ability to run your own business and deal with all the ups and downs that come with it!

What I wish was different

Nothing! It was a perfect job!

Advice

If you're not willing to work hard, don't apply.

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Local Banch Manager

February - August 2018 • East Lansing, MI

What I liked

I loved the ability to create and run my own branch of College Works Painting. I was able to build a business from scratch and learned about all the aspects that go into running a business

What I wish was different

I wish it started earlier in the year. I would have been able to grow my business even more

Advice

If you’re thinking about doing this internship, do it 100%. No one will be successful if they only work part time.

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Branch Manager

March - August 2018 • Port Jervis, NY

What I liked

Managing a crew Gaining knowledge on Marketing, Sales, Bookkeeping, Production

What I wish was different

Advice

It helps so much in ‘real life’ situations, you learn valuable skills you won’t in the classroom.

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Branch Manager

February - August 2018 • West Bloomfield Township, MI

What I liked

Gained immeasurable real-world business experience. Improved communication skills, confidence, stress management, time management. Made good money

What I wish was different

LONG work weeks. 30 hours/week during school, 60-80 hours/week during the summer. Wish the company would offer more training on painting for their interns.

Advice

Be prepared for long hours and lots of stress. YOU WILL NOT BE PAID UNTIL JUNE AT THE EARLIEST.

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painter

June - August 2018 • Northville, MI

What I liked

nothing

What I wish was different

work for someone else

Advice

literally nothing just don’t work there it’s a scam

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Branch Manager

March - August 2016 • Madison, WI

What I liked

I gained a tremendous amount of real world skills and experience that I've been able to use in numerous interviews since.

What I wish was different

Advice

Listen to your DM and don't be afraid to ask them for help. They've got your back and they want to make sure you crush it!

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Marketing Manager

March - August 2018 • Pittsburgh, PA

What I liked

Helping people in a new way! I met many wonderful people through this internship that I will stay connected with forever. I learned so much in such a small period of time - valuable information that’ll carry with myself forever.

What I wish was different

Had more opportunities to expand my Marketing area, less traveling time.

Advice

Definitely do not commit yourself if you are not willing to put in 110%. It is a challenging internship!

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Branch Manager

March - July 2016 • Midland, MI

What I liked

Gave a great experience on teaching me how to manage my resources and create opportunities on my own.

What I wish was different

To be less stressful and to have more helpful people around me. I was mostly thrown out to the dogs to try and accomplish my goals on my own.

Advice

Honestly would not recommend, there are better internships out there that aren’t as stressful and will give you a better learning experience.

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Branch Manager

March - August 2016 • Wichita, KS

What I liked

It was very challenging and a lot of hard work but the payout was worth it.

What I wish was different

I wish I had been in a better place in my life when I took on this internship. Make sure you are mentally prepared before you begin an internship this difficult.