Erik Murray
- Owner
- Precision Painting
School Information
School: University of California, Santa Barbara
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2006 to 2007
Career Information
Working For: Precision Painting
Title: Owner
Industry: Construction
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
I run the company. In simple terms it’s similar to what we did in College Works. I have developed a sustainable business with a constant flow of estimates. We market online, direct mailers, magazines, etc. The only thing I don’t do is paint.
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?The success of my business. We are now the largest painting company in the Thousand Oaks area. We hit 1.5 million in sales for 2013 and we had 22 full time employees for most of the year.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
College Works Painting was the foundation for my success. Without it I may not have had the confidence to go into business for myself.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
It’s a numbers game!!!!!
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
Commit fully or you will fail. Be confident when dealing with customers, painters or anyone the you encounter during the program.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
After the obvious of getting your license and insurance, it is most important to understand how to sell yourself. Then know your product and trade.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
My first year in Cancun. The entire trip was amazing.
Last words of wisdom?
One of the things that all of the College Works Painting interns have in common before the internship is that they don’t know how to paint. Learn how to paint!!! Read every label in the paint store google, youtube, find books on your trade. It will make you more confident in your estimates and you will provide a higher quality job and over all experience.