Typical Questions from Parents

SWP is designed to teach real-world skills by having sumer co-ops run all aspects of a small business.

 

 

Also, review the corporations who are eager to interview our summer co-op students. This demonstrates how well regarded our experience is in Corporate Canada.

 

 

It's possible and the proof is in the last twenty five years of summer co-ops successfully completing the program. The program is designed to take highly ambitious, self motivated, over achievers and give them a forum in which to excel.

 

 

Most companies, especially the brand-name firms, give little or no responsibility to summer co-ops beyond making photocopies and pouring coffee. While exposure to an industry is helpful, it does not require hours of performing mundane tasks as an summer co-op to accomplish this goal. The best way to prepare for a career is to create the skills necessary for success in that career. SWP is an summer co-op program where participants perform real tasks and take on real responsibility. Our philosophy is that skills are only developed by doing, not watching.

 

This is a common question asked by parents who are eager for their students to complete their education. However, the job market is extremely competitive and a University degree no longer carries the weight it once did. Over one hundred thousand students graduate from University each year and they all have one thing in common - a diploma. The University years are meant to not only explore academics, but to prepare oneself for entry into the job market. Summer school does not add to a student's resume. "Not only did I graduate from college but I went to summer school as well," is not very impressive to a recruiter in the job market.

Yes, but at least they will graduate on time.
It is natural to be concerned about how quickly your student will complete school. You are, after all, likely paying part if not all of the bill! However, the concept of 'on time' can be a bit self-defeating. If a student graduates as quickly as possible, but neglects to create tangible real world skills in addition to obtaining their academic credentials, the first few years in the job market could be very discouraging. SWP creates the concrete skills that employers are looking for and makes entry into the job market easier.

SWP generates revenue by collecting a small portion of the work order once the project is completed by the manager. However, we make a considerable investment in each summer co-op prior to the summer due to training costs, marketing materials, licensing, accounting, customer service, etc.

 

While it may seem strange that a company would make such an investment in unproven employees, our selectivity in recruiting (rated one of the most selective summer co-op programs in North America by Princeton Internship Review) and the effectiveness of our training, ensures our summer co-ops succeed. Also, while our summer co-op's are compensated extremely well, they definitely earn this through intense work and effort.

 

This is not a get-rich-quick program. This is a

program that creates long-term skills and also compensates well for a strong work ethic.

Summer Co-Ops are provided extensive training in all aspects of running a business. In addition to traditional classroom style training, summer co-ops are mentored through each part of the program by a person who successfully completed the summer program the previous year. Each time your student tries something for the first time, their mentor will accompany them.

 

Summer co-ops also have regularly scheduled phone meetings with their mentor every week. Mentors are always available to help/answer questions.

Each year we have students from every academic discipline participate in the program. Painting is simply the vehicle we use to teach the skills inherent in running a business. These skills, such as leadership, stress management, disciplined work ethic, are applicable to any career. Also, exterior painting is a fairly simple process that can be easily taught thereby allowing our mentors more time to focus on teaching leadership skills.

 

SWP guarantees that participants will have all the training, support and resources to succeed within our program in the school and summer months. At the end of the day, much like school, we need to make sure that students “show up for class, study hard and hand in their assignments on time”! We have an extremely high success rate, and much of our staff stay on board to manage with us for not just one season, but two or three.

 

By taking our values to heart, our students strive for excellence every single day: Be on time, Do what you say, Finish what you start, Say Please and Thank you. We find the most important reason so many students succeed in our program is because they all put in the proper amount of time to their management position to be successful (just like going to class).

 

Is the profit guaranteed?
Just as in the real world, profit is not guaranteed. It is the responsibility of the summer co-op to control costs and to manage the profit margin for their business. However, summer co-ops are provided extensive training and have a direct-relationship with a mentor to ensure they are taught best practices. In the last twelve years, the average summer co-op has maintained an overall profit margin of slightly over twenty eight percent.