EPIC Hosts Nolan Painting Recruiter Stephen Testa for Dress4Success Speaker Series

Stephen Testa, the recruiter at Nolan Painting spoke with EPIC students Thursday afternoon in the latest installment of the Dress4Success Speaker Series. Testa provided a presentation on how trades are the new college degree, and addressed the stigma around working in the trades, and the benefits of trade work like job stability, high earning potential and a rewarding future. 

“Working in the trades provides you with skills that will help in any field,” said Testa. “It’s more than a job. You see tangible results, develop problem solving skills, gain financial freedom that typical 9-5 jobs don’t offer, and you have autonomy over your work life balance.” 

Testa highlighted the need for young people to work in the trades. Since trades aren’t threatened by the impending popularity of AI and technology, young workers are needed now more than ever. He also recommended reaching out to local businesses in the trade students are interested in to discover what their requirements and expectations are. 

There are many different paths to trade work. Students can go right into an apprenticeship, which allows them to earn while they learn. They can go to a trade or vocational school which is more certification focused. Or they can go to community college to gain a broader foundation on the business side of trade work. Any pathway is beneficial when planning a career in the trades. 

Students interested in work at Nolan Painting only need a driver’s license and a smart phone to get started. Their core values include friendliness, transparency, and accountability. Apprentices don’t have to stay in the field; they can go into sales, human resources, finance, and other areas of the business side. 

Nolan Painting serves the greater Philadelphia area with clients in Montgomery County, Chester County, Delaware County, and Bucks County for over 45 years. Nolan offers a one-year apprenticeship starting at $17/hr. Apprentices receive benefits after only three months on the job and have the potential to make six figures within five years. Nolan is the largest employee-based painting company in the country, and has won the “Best Place to Work” award from the “Philadelphia Inquirer” for the past 10 years.