Amanda Lance
- Financial Representative
- Northwestern Mutual
School Information
School: Western Washington University
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2016-2018
Career Information
Working For: Northwestern Mutual
Title: Financial Representative
Industry: Finance
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
“To help clients achieve financial security by providing advice, developing financial plans, and matching solutions to client goals through a relationship-focused approach. Long term relationship approach that allows me to be a lifelong partner in their journey rather than a stop.”
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?Building the life I always dreamed of and finding someone amazing to share it with.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
From the range of skills I acquired to the amazing people I still keep in touch with today, College Works was the foundation of my entire career.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
After graduation it provided me with an unparallel experience to my resume. Employers were impressed with the wide variety of skills I picked up and successfully could demonstrate. To this day it has been the back bone of my work ethic and drive to excel. It sparked my interest working with people in sales and my love for construction.
What do you want to tell your clients about what it meant to work with them and how it has helped you get to where you are today?
Laure Sorenson, she gave me not only an amazing opportunity to work on two homes for her, but she gave me an introduction to my best painter who turned into a crew chief, and to this day a great life long friend. When we met to do the estimate she had me meet her daughter Emily. Without her, I don’t know how we could’ve accomplished so much production each summer. Emily is a wholesome strong individual who came from such a great family and brings that to her family she’s grown.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
Being able to take no with a grain of salt. Persevering through that really builds character.
How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?
I am still close with many of the people I worked with. Some of the closest people are great business contacts, I’ve been to their wedding, and one of their wives will be a bridesmaid in mine. Some are clients, others are just friends. Nothing would be possible without our time together at College Works.
If you had to come up with a one line slogan for CW, what would it be?
Home to the future leaders of the workforce.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
Take the risk, I was afraid of heights actually before I started at College Works, it helped me concur it and the ability to make a living off of going on roofs every day! You don’t have to like or care about painting to find joy in the opportunity. Current managers, support the people around you. Some of the best friendships and relationships in your life will come from your time here.
Many college students struggle to choose between an internship specific to their target industry or doing CW. What advice would you give them on this subject if they wanted to enter your career field?
College Works Painting is a place to gain experience in some many aspects of being an asset to the workforce, employers will see that. If you have the chance to do this internship even once it is worth it. In other years it’s okay to switch to something more specific to what you want down the road. Everything works out the way it should. You might find connections with people in the career you want through the program.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
Be prepared to network and dial. It’s better than hitting the doors at least. Lean on more experienced individuals to help develop your planning philosophy.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
Winning both skydiving contests and reluctantly going, they had to push me out of the plane since I didn’t want to go. It was rough, but memorable.