National Program Recruits Student

It may only be March, but many forward-thinking university students are already planning ahead and lining up good summer jobs and internships.

Long Beach local Samuel Martinez already has his summer plans in place. He has signed on as an intern with College Works Painting, a national program that gives students an opportunity to build a competitive resume and gain marketable leadership skills. And at the same time, he will learn how to become a professional painting contractor.

Martinez, a first-year college student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, applied for the internship when members of the organization came on campus to recruit for the summer.

“I was thrilled when they contacted me for a second interview and told me I was on board,” Martinez said. “It’s a great experience to learn how to run a business from a marketing perspective as well as hiring staff and being onsite and doing a professional job.”

As part of his internship, Martinez also will learn how to scrape and power-sand all peeling paint areas, prime all bare wood, apply galvanized metal primer on all bare metal surfaces, wire-brush flaking and deteriorating stucco, stucco-patch large areas and caulk small cracks in stucco, seams and fascia boards.

“The prices are very competitive,” Martinez says. “There is no difference in hiring a team from College Works Painting or an independent contracting firm. We are also licensed and bonded and only work with the best quality materials.”

Right now, Martinez is in the marketing phrase of his internship, canvassing for work.

“It can be tough making cold calls; you meet all kinds of people,” he relates. “Some close the door in your face and don’t even give you a chance to explain. Others are more polite and listen even if they don’t need any painting services.

“But it’s all part of the learning experience.”

Martinez, who currently is a Spanish major, says he is thinking of possibly double majoring in business.

“While there are excellent business courses offered at college level, there’s nothing like the hands-on experience you get in an internship,” Martinez says. “The district managers are all experienced people who have been through the program and are excellent mentors. And I am looking forward to the hands-on phase during the summer vacation months.”

College Works Painting is a national organization.

These teams of university students collectively paint more than 12,000 homes during the summer. So if you need painting work done, Martinez says he will be only too happy to come by and give you a professional evaluation.

His enthusiasm for the program is an indication that anyone signing him up will have a smiling face around their house and will be guaranteed of getting the job done well.

“I’d like to work myself up to district manager level during my university years,” Martinez says. “Currently, I am planning to teach Spanish when I graduate. But if I really enjoy the business aspect of this internship, I may very well consider a career in the business world.”

To contact Martinez for a quote, call 1-888-450-WORK. Don’t forget to ask for him by name.