Potomac News - April 1991
College Student Finds Job by Creating One For Himself
By Susan Reneau
Recent Woodbridge High School gradate John Parker, 20 of Lake Ridge isn’t worried about his summer job. He founded his own business.
With University Painters, Parker decided to learn business from the ground up – so in December, he called the Philadelphia-based company and asked if he could acquire a franchise.
Parker has been hiring painters for the summer rush since January and hopes to have three crews of teen-agers and young adults by May.
“I’m looking to hire nine to 12 people this summer. I want to train people that are the same age as me,” Parker said Saturday.
Parker said he likes the idea of having control over his summer work, and he wants to learn how to manage a business.
“Can’t think of a better way to do it, I get to hire and fire everyone who works form me,” he said.
This College of William and Mary foreign language major isn’t sure he will stay in the painting business, but he is thinking of changing his major to International business because of his current experience.
Painters earn $6 to $7 an hour. The average painting job pays up to $1,200, so he expects to paint 65 houses this summer to make the effort worthwhile. If young people, 18 and older, want to apply with University Painters, they can call Parker at (800) 879-2656
