Sherwin-Williams

About the Company 

Sherwin-Williams was founded in 1866 by Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams. They are a global leader with development, manufacture and sale in paint and paint related products. The company employs over 33,000 people and does business in over 109 countries. They are a great company for college graduates to look into because of their extensive internship programs and entry-level job opportunities.

The company strives to be a global leader in Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity. They are an employer member of Diversity Jobs. Within Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, they have a few mission statements and goals for themselves. They are as follows:

ID&E Efforts

"Our future depends on recruiting and retaining top talent with unique perspectives and experiences to help us grow. Success takes an inclusive, diverse workforce coming together from all over the world to develop the best, most innovative ways to continue our culture of excellence."

Our Suppliers

"We are committed to providing access to potential business opportunities for all businesses, including qualified minority, female-owned, Veteran, and small businesses. Our goal is to create a supplier base that exemplifies inclusion and represents the diversity of our employees, customers and communities."

Our Community

"Our participation and contribution to those in need help us to better understand and address the needs of the diverse communities in which we operate. Giving back has always been a part of Sherwin-Williams and we embrace the opportunity to work within our communities."

On top of their involvement with Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity efforts, Sherwin-Williams prides themselves in their company values which include:

• Integrity

• Service

• Growth

• Performance

• People

• Quality

• Innovation

Award Winning Company 

Sherwin-Williams is an award winning company, with a specific award for being a great employer for new college graduates. In both 2019 and 2020, the company won the ‘Forbes: America’s Best Employers for New Graduates’ award. This shows how much they value helping graduated and soon-to-be graduating college students with finding jobs. In addition to this, the company values integrity, people, service, quality, growth, innovation, and performance in their current and potential employees. All around, Sherwin-Williams is a great company who works hard to provide opportunities to graduated college students.

2020 Awards

• Cleveland Plain Dealer®: Northeast Ohio Top Workplaces

• Fast Company®: World Changing Ideas – Consumer Products

• Fast Company®: World Changing Ideas – Corporate Social Responsibility

• Forbes®: America’s Best-In-State Employers

• Forbes®: America’s Best Employers for Diversity

• Forbes®: America’s Best Employers for New Graduates

• Forbes®: America’s Best Employers for Women

• Forbes®: America’s Best Employers for Veterans
  
  

Internships & Career Development Programs

Sherwin-Williams offers multiple internship, co-op, and career development programs. They’re looking for students and graduates from all backgrounds and geographies. Sherwin-Williams currently offers five unique programs that focus on different real world and job experiences.

Sales and management training programs

This is a program where you’ll develop and refine multiple different skills. These skills include customer relationship marketing, marketing & merchandising, financial reporting, product and technical knowledge, leadership and professional development, and operations management.

Research & development internships

This internship is a 12 week summer internship built for sophomores- seniors. You will be paired with a mentor to work on networking opportunities and technical skills. They also offer a Co-op program where you can work part time with a flexible schedule while still attending school.

Manufacturing: Accelerated development program

This is a program designed for ambitious recent graduates who want to gain real world experience in logistics, engineering, environmental health, or human resources. This is a full time rotational experience tailored to your specific research area. Spend the year moving between Sherwin-Williams different manufacturing & distribution sites.

IT professional apprenticeship. 

This program is designed to give students an edge in starting their careers. Each apprentice will work in the information technology field and commit somewhere between 15- 30 hours a week. The main goals of this apprenticeship is to gain experience and help Sherwin- Williams solve company wide problems throughout the US & Globally. You will be assigned a mentor to give assistance through the duration of your apprenticeship. Some students can stay up to six months after their apprenticeship ends if they desire.

Field Audit Program. 
This program gives interns hands-on experience working alongside expert auditors as they work to audit Sherwin- Williams reports and internal controls. Interns can expect to analyze existing processes and provide feedback to improve overall efficiency and effectiveness of internal controls. Interns can also develop understanding of store policies and store procedures. Interns are expected to complete analytical reviews and report findings to appropriate personnel.

Career Opportunities

Sherwin-Williams has many career opportunities for college graduates in many different fields. You don't need to intern or complete any development programs in order to apply for a job at Sherwin-Williams, although they often hire from within! Many interns for the company are offered full-time positions at the completion of their internship.

Sherwin-Williams career opportunities include the areas of 

Sales

Manufacturing & Distribution

Professional (Accounting & Finance, Audit, Human Resources, Information Technology, Marketing)

Research & Development

Drivers

Graduating students who are studying business would find many career options in both the Sales and Professional jobs page on their website. A graduating marketing student would find the most opportunity within the Sales and Marketing job posting pages on Sherwin-Williams’ website. For accurate and specific information about current job openings and the descriptions of those jobs, it’s recommended to frequently check their website for information. 

What Employees are Saying About the Company

Reviews from Glassdoor

"The management structure was great and everyone respected each other. The atmosphere was very teachable and open."

"You have lots of support and most people are really fun to work for but if you are not a sales person then this is not the job for you. You must be prepared to work in a fast paced environment with lots of physical demands."

"As a part-time employee at the Cedar Rapids, IA, commercial store, I have been treated almost next to management. They offer great compensation and a fun work environment. If you show up, work hard, and can communicate effectively with customers and fellow employers, this is a great position. They also promote from within and have great career advancement opportunities."

Next Steps

If you’re looking for a 10–12-week paid internship over the summer that offers hands-on experience in management, sales, store operations while delivering meaningful customer experiences. Then Sherwin-Williams is the perfect opportunity for you! For more information, head over to the respective job pages!

Sales

Manufacturing & Distribution

Professional (Accounting & Finance, Audit, Human Resources, Information Technology, Marketing)

Research & Development

Drivers

Qualifications for applying to internships include:

• Be at least 18 years of age

• Have a valid Driver’s License

• Be legally authorized to work in a country of employment without requiring sponsorship for employment visa status, now or in the future

• Be enrolled in an accredited four-year college or university at the time of internship

 

Other qualifications for their internships and jobs include :

• Be willing and able to work all scheduled hours which may include evenings and weekends

• Must be able to retrieve material from shelves and floor stacks and lift and carry up to 50 lbs. for short distances

• Must be able to operate material handling equipment safely once trained

• Must be able to distinguish the difference between colors, a skill used when color matching paint

Sherwin-Williams has a promote-from-within philosophy. Interns who successfully complete the internship are encouraged to apply to further their career!