Your questions answered.
About the internship
What is the College Works Internship?
Called the Student Professional Program (SPP), the College Works internship is a unique program that blends hands-on business skills development with high-quality house painting services. Unlike traditional internships, with the SPP you aren’t relegated to making coffee for or “shadowing” the people who do the work. Instead, you launch and run your own residential painting business, get comprehensive front-line and back-office training, and receive personalized mentorship from seasoned businesspeople that are passionate about raising up the next generation of leaders. Unlimited earning potential, transferable skills, invaluable personal development, and a competitive advantage in the post-graduation job market are just some of the other major benefits of this program.
Why should I choose the SPP over an internship in my chosen field?
We believe that the best way to prepare for a career is to develop the skills necessary for success in that career—irrespective of the industry or field you work in.
Each year we have students from every academic discipline participate in the SPP. They understand that painting is simply the vehicle we use to teach transferable skills.
The truth about most traditional internships is that they give you few to zero opportunities to develop real skills. The SPP does the opposite. Our interns run a real business, develop the required skills to make it successful, and enjoy the financial rewards of their labor.
If you see yourself working in sales, marketing, operations, HR, finance, or entrepreneurship—in any field—there are few better experiences to prepare you for the workforce than the SPP.
How much do SPP interns earn?
We have a minimum compensation guarantee of $6,000 for participants who work consistently through the entire program. However, students who bring their A-game earn much more. We don’t cap intern commissions, which means after a summer of disciplined work, you could earn enough to pay for tuition, make a sizable down payment, or have investment capital for your next venture. If you achieve benchmarks with your team, you could also qualify for additional cash and trip incentives.
Are SPP interns independent contractors?
No, SPP interns are part-time, seasonal W-2 employees. As such, they enjoy flexible hours and time off as needed to support their academic and social success.
Is the Student Professional Program available in my area?
College Work currently operates the Student Professional Program in 13 midwestern states, recruiting students from more than 50 universities. Visit our locations page to see if we’re in your area.
Application process
What are the minimum application requirements for the Student Professional Program?
To apply for the Student Professional Program internship, you must be a full-time undergraduate student with access to a car, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher at time of application, and be able to commit to the minimum required work hours—20 hours per week during the spring semester and full-time work in the summer.
Additional qualifications include three years of employment history, prior experience of working 30 hours or more per week, maintaining a 3.0 GPA in a challenging major over contiguous semesters and varsity sports involvement.
What is the selection process like?
We believe that the best way to prepare for a career is to develop the skills necessary for success in that career—irrespective of the industry or field you work in.
Each year we have students from every academic discipline participate in the SPP. They understand that painting is simply the vehicle we use to teach transferable skills.
The truth about most traditional internships is that they give you few to zero opportunities to develop real skills. The SPP does the opposite. Our interns run a real business, develop the required skills to make it successful, and enjoy the financial rewards of their labor.
If you see yourself working in sales, marketing, operations, HR, finance, or entrepreneurship—in any field—there are few better experiences to prepare you for the workforce than the SPP.
What are the qualities of a successful intern applicant?
The entrepreneurial nature of the College Works Student Professional Program means that we are looking for interns that are ambitious, resilient, self-starters. They possess a growth mindset and believe in the intrinsic value of hard work. Successful applicants take the initiative to connect with CW alumni to learn about their experiences with the program and come to interviews with smart questions showing they are as invested in their success as we are.
Training and startup support
What training and support will I receive if selected as an intern?
Once selected for the Student Professional Program, you can look forward to extensive training during your spring semester and ongoing support once production starts in the summer.
Training includes, but is not limited to, two days of intensive classroom instruction, small group role playing, field training, ongoing mentorship and weekly calls with a district manager, paint and production training, and payroll onboarding.
How many hours should I expect to spend training during my spring semester?
Your time obligation in the spring semester is similar to being an active member of student government, participating in a varsity or Division I team sport, or working a demanding part-time job.
Will training negatively impact my grades?
Our training course has been tailored to help you prioritize your education while setting yourself up for a summer of intensive entrepreneurship. Many of our interns report that their grades actually improve by applying the professional time management skills taught by their mentor in our program.
Where does training take place?
Our training starts with two-day seminar-style instruction at a conference center or hotel close to your university. This occurs in either early February or March.
Mentor-directed field training happens in your designated territory during the spring semester.
Additional bi-weekly training sessions are offered via Zoom in the spring semester and in person during the summer.
Finally, paint training occurs at a customer’s home and/or our paint supplier’s facility.
What is a District Manager?
A District Manager is a former SPP intern with a proven track record of running a high-performing College Works branch. Each District Manager oversees and mentors 5-15 interns per year and is responsible for their ongoing professional development for the duration of the internship. A few select interns are invited to apply for District Manager positions upon completion of a successful internship.
Painting and production
Do interns paint homes?
No, interns hire and manage crews of workers that paint homes.
How much do I need to know about residential painting to run a crew?
No prior knowledge or experience of residential painting is required to be an SPP intern. While exterior painting is a fairly simple process that can be easily taught, our painting training for interns largely focuses on job site management. This includes knowledge of safety protocols, quality control, and equipment use. Our management training equips you with the skills you’ll need to lead the people side of your operation, including hiring, firing, and motivating your workers. Aside from this, District Managers are always available to answer any painting and production questions.
Does College Works provide training for painters?
Prior experience for summer painter applicants is welcome but not required. We train painters in safety protocols which include and exceed current OSHA guidelines and EPA lead safety requirements. We teach painting skills, safety procedures, and finishing techniques at one of our supplier locations as well as on the job under the supervision of an experienced project manager.
Life after internship
How will the SPP help me in the post-graduation job market?
Alumni regularly tell us that they can trace their career, leadership, and, indeed, financial success directly back to the skills they acquired through our internship program.
In fact, market research firm Career Analytics conducted an independent study of our program showing that our alumni find jobs faster after graduation, earn more than their peers within five years of graduating from college, and reach upper management faster than their peers. Letters from major corporations eager to interview our interns demonstrate how well regarded the SPP is by hiring managers.
I’d love to speak with a College Works SPP alum. How can I connect with them?
During the internship interview and selection process, you will be given a phone list and asked to contact at least two alumni directly to learn about their College Works experiences. Additionally, 100s of alumni across all majors, industries, and employers share their stories and candid advice to potential and current SPP interns in our Alumni Database.
What do SPP alumni go on to do?
SPP alumni go on to successful careers in business, law, medicine, tech, and other fields including entrepreneurship. Learn more about their post-College Works experiences here.
About College Works
What is College Works?
College Works is an innovative company at the intersection of professional development, entrepreneurship, and the home services sector. We teach undergraduate students how to build and manage their own residential painting business through our award-winning internship, the Student Professional Program.
Interns get the opportunity to build an impressive resume and gain highly marketable skills that translate to any career. Homeowners get high-quality painting services while supporting the next generation of business leaders. Our summer painting crews can count on competitive pay and a full schedule of 40-hours of work per week.
College works was founded in 1993, is fully licensed and insured, operates in 12 states, hires more than 2,000 college students every year, and paints more than 3,000 homes annually.
How does College Works make money?
We generate revenue by taking a portion of each painting project sold by our interns. However, before we make any money, we invest a considerable amount into each intern, including the cost of training, marketing materials, licensing, accounting, and customer service. While it is unconventional for a company to make such an investment in unproven employees, our selectivity in recruiting and the effectiveness of our training ensures our success.
Is College Works a non-profit organization?
No, College Works is a mission-driven, for-profit company. Our purpose is to transform the next generation of leaders by equipping them with the skills to think critically, the tools to lead effectively, and the opportunity to build a successful future. Our method is providing college students with an early experience of real entrepreneurship.
Is College Works a multi-level marketing company?
No, College Works differs from a multi-level (also known as network) marketing company in several important ways.
Unlike MLMs, College Works SPP interns never have to pay “joining fees” or purchase goods or services from us to start their businesses. We invest in their training and upskilling up front and offer a line of credit for their startup equipment capital.
With many MLMs the primary way to make money is by recruiting other salespeople underneath you and taking a cut of their joining fees and sales. SPP interns don’t focus on recruiting other interns. They are only responsible for helping select their crew of hourly summer employees to deliver painting services.
Our interns make a commission on every painting project they sell. They maximize their earnings by effectively managing their estimates, labor, and material costs—fundamentals of running any successful business.