Jane Redden
- Talent Director
- Atrium
School Information
School: University of Massachusetts Amherst
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2011 to 2012
Career Information
Working For: Atrium
Title: Talent Director
Industry: Staffing
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
Connecting talented Accounting/Finance, HR, and Administrative professionals with incredible opportunities in the Greater Boston area.
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?Hitting SolarCity’s monthly quota my first month in… apparently that’s really rare.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
The basis to pretty much everything I know about sales, goal setting, work ethic, and having fun.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
I worked as a Field Energy Consultant for SolarCity right out of college. I was actually referred to that position by a College Works Painting network and I enjoyed it a lot and made really good money. When I decided I wanted to try something new I felt very in control of my career path, meaning I was looking for a company that was right for me rather than jumping on whatever offers I got. The majority of my friends are desperate for work and are interviewing at as many places as possible, hoping that one sticks. I feel that because of my experience with both College Works Painting and SolarCity, my resume stands out in comparison to most of my peers, so job offers come pretty easily.
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?
Lisa New and Larry Summers, 2011 – This was my biggest project of the year and the turning point for my business. I know they had gotten a bunch of other estimates but Lisa chose me because she said she trusted me the most. Booking this job gave me huge amounts of confidence and I felt unstoppable from that point on. There were a few hiccups when it came to production but I think Lisa and I had developed a mutual respect for each other, so figuring out solutions to whatever problems we were facing was pretty simple. Working with them taught me that relationships really are everything in regards to both the sales cycle as well as customer service.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
The importance of work ethic. There’s always going to be someone who is more talented than you, but you are the only person in control of how hard you work. The amount of effort you put in will directly correlate to how successful you are. I think that can be applied to almost anything.
How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?
I live in Boston now and have College Works Painting friends come into the city pretty often. I have also taken trips out of state to visit friends who have moved away since the internship which is always fun.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
Confidence is key. Everything is about perception so if you present yourself in a confident manner your customers will trust pretty much everything you say. And if you’re not confident pretend like you are. Fake it til you make it, and eventually you will become it.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
I do inside sales now, so I feel like College Works Painting is directly related to my current field. However, I think the experience with College Works Painting can be applicable to any field you’re looking to get into. Simple things you’ll learn through College Works Painting like work ethic, professionalism, time management and communication skills are necessary in any industry.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
Marketing with my two co-workers in torrential downpours. We were not prepared for rain and had no umbrellas. We sprinted probably about a mile back to our cars and were super relieved to finally be back…only to realized one of the other girls dropped her keys along the way and we had to go back and retrace our steps to find them. I realize it’s pretty weird that this is my favorite memory but I smile every single time I think about it.
Last words of wisdom?
I strongly advise all college students to be a part of the College Works Painting internship if given the opportunity. The College Works internship has become a part of my identity, and is something that I am truly proud to be associated with. I know it sounds cliche but I honestly have no idea where I would be right now if I hadn’t done the internship. College Works completely changed me and caused me grow into a confident young professional. I am extremely grateful for everything I have learned and become due to my experience with College Works Painting.