• Consider this: Your résumé should reflect your abilities to-date. Since you're on winter break, this is a great time to evaluate *gulp* what you learned this semester. Perhaps you're mastered Nahuatl, linear programming or Für Elise. Maybe you learned new software or you were trained in another medium of art. Give yourself credit where credit is due.
• Are you a Jack of all trades, master of none? Did you spend the last semester refining your skills? Make sure you list your level of expertise after each skill and to make note of your progress. It may be wise to list any note-worthy recognition you've received from these skills as well.
• If you've completed any internships this quarter, list your experience. If you're working, list any new milestones or achievements.
• Did you attend any conferences? Were you invited as a guest speaker for your organization? Update your academic experiences with relevant information that shows your grasp of subject matter related to your career or internship objective.
• If you won any new awards or scholarships, add those too!

GREEN TIP: If you have multiple resumes for different positions you are looking for, keep digital files of them on hand. Keeping paper copies around lend themselves to getting wrinkled, crinkled or folded...not something you'd want to hand over to a potential employer anyways.

Ré-su-what?

Um, that's résumé. You know, that one page'r where you get to dissuade a hiring manager or perhaps knock their socks off. All jokes aside it is a very important piece that sells yourself long before you arrive for your interview...so use it to your advantage!

List your contact information. This one is pretty basic.

• Don't forget to include the best phone number to reach you at. If you have any ringback tones that can work against you, you may either a) want to suspend it or b) give a different number altogether. An HR manager for, say, Bank of America may not appreciate hearing "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems."
• Include an email address that works. If you're proud of your alma mater, rock your .edu email account! Just keep in mind that a lot of university-affiliated email systems have aggressive spam blockers, which may inadvertently block out important emails....like the one requesting that you show up for your EcoChat Interview on The Rainmaker Network Web site at 9am tomorrow.
  
• Appropriate email handles may be in the eye of the beholder. However it's usually safe to err on the side of caution. Instead of sxyqt_nyc@hotmail.com, why not try mary_q@hotmail.com?
• Include your Rainmaker URL. It's a great way to get their attention once they click on your link. You'll have all of your information ready to download at the click of a button and they can view your introductory video as well!
  

State your background of study. This is a great place to mention your major(s) and/or minor. Make sure that you state exactly what you're studying, the way it would read on your diploma. For instance, a BA in Art with an emphasis in Graphic Design is much different than a BA in Graphic Design.

State pertinent work experience. Here, it's best not to creatively re-word your experiences or titles at any prior job or internship. Make sure to include the people of authority of which you worked with (i.e. Worked with the Assistant Managing Editor to secure cover stories and interviews). Unless you can make a case for it, I would leave off unrelated jobs (i.e. video store clerk, retail associate, Santa's little helper) unless they directly tie in to what you're looking for...or unless you've performed above and beyond your position and it resulted in some significant savings or profits for your company.

State honors or awards you've received. Again, keep it related to the line of work you're interested in. Only state awards older than a few years if you were recognized on a national level.

If you're still having problems, there are tons of sources online. The Rainmaker Network provides tons of templates and support for their members. Learn more by logging in and checking out the Tips and Tools!

Although floppy discs (you know, the 3.5" square blocks we now use as coasters) are a thing of the past, CD-Rs are not -- If our Rainmakers start utilizing reusable digital memory devices we can help prevent your backup data from ending up in landfills.

I sure hope that you have never been the victim of hard disc failure. It's the worst feeling -- one minute, you're browsing through an index of term papers on your hard drive, which also includes your 25-page anthropological study of utilitarian tools made from chalcedony excavated from northeast Colorado. The next minute, your files are gone and you don't have any evidence of your academic college life.

Depending on how much work you have, the IT folks here at The Rainmaker Network suggest investing in an external hard drive or multiple jump drives. Back up all of your work on a monthly basis and leave one jump drive at your desk, one in your car, and maybe one with your best friend. Depending on how near-and-dear you keep your work, it may be better to err on the side of caution, especially when you're starting to prepare your works portfolio.

Students with Macs are ahead of the game -- The newest Mac operating system, Leopard, comes handily equipped with "Time Machine," an automatic backup system that archives your work on the hour and every day.

Now that you have digital copies of all of your work, recycle your originals and enjoy a hot cocoa. You're ahead of the game!

Thank goodness it rained in LA today because The Rainmaker Network is on fire!

With the addition of 30 new companies -- TimeWarner, Amazon.com, Conde Nast, Kaiser Permanente, and National Geographic, to name a few -- and 6 new participating universities in Oregon and Washington State, we're moving fast and our Rainmakers are definitely riding the wave of success.

Stay on the lookout for our Winter Break blog series!
How to Green & Further Your Career During Winter Break
Tuesdays and Thursdays until January 6th
Sign up to receive email updates

Have you heard of EcoChat?

If you're a member, you definitely have.

The Rainmaker Network has partnered with Twitter to bring you EcoChat, a microblogging, short-burst messaging system that limits your messages to 140 characters. Twitter is powerful in that it not only delivers your information to the web but also to cell phones, via IM or through RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed. It's a great way to communicate with potential employers or employees to share information--and, in this case, a great way to schedule interviews, bounce ideas and show respect. You can also demonstrate how active you are in your field by posting regular updates, things that you discover that may be of interest, and even share your knowledge or engage others.

Check us out at http://www.twitter.com/rainmakernet and send us a Tweet!

Hi Rainmakers!

Winter break beckons! Yes, yes, your break is well deserved, but The Rainmaker Network thinks that this is an excellent time to do some career housekeeping. After you've drained your brain for finals and your pocketbooks for next semester's tuition, turn your attention back to yourself.

Here are some things to keep in mind (after you're done with finals):

1. Take this time to reflect on what you've learned. Whether it's a new language or new software, take note of it and make sure you list it on your resume. Give yourself credit where credit is due.

2. Update your Rainmaker profiles. Did you just graduate? Were you looking for an internship but are now looking for career opportunities? Our Network Partners can't find you unless you state what you're looking for. If your video is not yet loaded make sure you contact us at memberservices@rainmakernetwork.org to schedule your session.

3. Research the job market early. The prospects are positive for skilled students who are willing to work hard to give themselves an edge. The Rainmaker Network has tons of new jobs being added daily so that students like yourself can plan ahead. The end of the school year is not that far away!

4. Whether or not you use the Rainmaker Network you'll find that networking early on reaps rewards later. Aligning yourself with people or causes you admire will help put the hard times in perspective and may come in handy when you're looking for an opportunity to get ahead.

Now, get back to work and study hard!

Hello Rainmakers...

Just finished reading this article and thought about you.

We've been working hard at staying on top of the shifitng economic landscape while keeping to our vision of helping you find those dream jobs and it looks like the new Prez is on board.

Check out the link below and drop me a line. I want to hear your thoughts on this and, well, anything you might want to share about how you feel this change is going to make your Rainmaker Membership just that much more of a great idea!!!

Looking forward to hearing from you...

Lance

Check it out....

NY Times Headline: Eco-Friendly Stimulus is Planned by Obama Administrationhttp://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=266269&f=19&p=1

I can't deny that I am incredibly jealous. You see, job hunting has always been a bit of a chore for me. Why couldn't people just see me for who I was and hire me because of my awesome personality? Or that my four famous years in high school German had paved the way to a very successful internship wrestling with the Hamburg-ler two summers ago in Deutschland? How was it that my qualifications were reduced to a less-than-stellar three digit number (read: GPA) that never accounted for the three times I switched my major from Biotechnology to Quantum Physics, and then back to my first love, German with an emphasis in Germanic Languages & Linguistics and a minor in Cultural Anthropology?




With a Rainmaker profile, you get the opportunity to highlight your strengths and qualities. You see, a Rainmaker is much more than just their GPA. Our Rainmakers are active in their community and university; they are well rounded students with a sincere interest in finding a professional home in companies that share their eco-conscious values and creativity. When an employer logs on, they can see how you present yourself, how you speak and how you address the issues that are most important to you.

Lucky Michelle Statius...she's always on time. She's always saying the right thing. She always has her resume and works portfolio with her anywhere in the world that life takes her.


Students have it so easy these days!

Over breakfast today, The Rainmaker Network was hit over the head by a rolled-up USA Today while ordering pancakes at a local breakfast joint.

Apparently the economy is "officially in recession."

What does that mean for our Rainmakers?

It means that crisis is beginning to give way to a sense of opportunity...that a world in crisis means a chance for greatness.

Our Rainmakers are urged to follow their hearts and choose career paths that they are most passionate about. Want to be an executive chef for one of the world's leading computer companies? Check. Want to mobilize faith groups all over the world while eliminating poverty housing and homelessness? Check. Whatever your hearts desire, The Rainmaker Network aims to make your dreams a reality. Log on to find out more....but in the meantime, read the USA Today's article below and bring yourself up to date on the economy. It's not only our current reality but it's your future in the making.


Official recession news hammers Dow

The Dow Jones industrial average suffered its fourth-worst point loss ever, plunging 679.95 points, or 7.7%, to 8149.09. The Dow, which had enjoyed its biggest five-session percentage gain since 1932 heading into Monday, gave back 87% of those gains. The Dow is now down 38.6% this year.

Historically, stocks have hit bottom five or six months before the official end of a recession. Due to the credit crunch and global nature of this downturn, however, Wall Street is bracing for a recession more severe than the 16-month-long downturns that began in 1973 and 1981, says Jeffrey Kleintop, chief market strategist at LPL Financial.

The recession began in December 2007, the last month that U.S. employers added jobs, says the National Bureau of Economic Research's committee of economists, which dates business cycles. Firms cut 1.2 million workers in 2008 through October. November data, due Friday, will likely show more cuts. Bernanke noted the economy "remains under considerable stress" because of a sharp drop in consumer spending, a worsening job market, a moribund housing sector and tight credit. "The likely duration of the financial turmoil is difficult to judge," he said. "But even if the functioning of financial markets continues to improve, economic conditions will probably remain weak for a time."

Fed policymakers are expected to cut interest rates in two weeks. But with their target for short-term rates at 1%, the Fed may be forced to take non-traditional actions to increase the amount of money in circulation to boost the economy, Bernanke said.

The National Bureau of Economic Research panel looks at a series of data, including gross domestic product, income, employment, industrial production and retail sales, to determine an official recession. The economy contracted July to September at the fastest pace in seven years.

The Institute for Supply Management's gauge of manufacturing activity fell in November to the lowest level in 26 years as orders, production and jobs all fell. Paulson said further weakening in the economy "threatens to prolong the housing correction," which is at the root of the economy's problems.

"My guess is we'll have some tough sledding for a while," FedEx CEO Fred Smith told USA TODAY.

Well, Green Tuesday has been announced by Ideal Bite--for the third year in a row. They've got some of your favorite online merchants to offer Biter-exclusive discounts (today only) as a green alternative to Black Friday (the busiest shopping day of the year -- the Friday after Thanksgiving) and Cyber Monday (the busiest online shopping day of the year).

Enjoy!

Presented by

Big Dipper Wax Works - beeswax candles. Get 20% off, plus free shipping with orders over $125 when you enter the code GREENTUESDAY during checkout.

Blooming Lotus - personal care products. Get 20% off, plus a free gift with orders over $50 when you enter the code SeasonsGreenings during checkout.

Brilliant Earth - jewelry. Get 20% off its fair-trade gold Choco pendant when you enter the code IDEALBITE in the reference code field during checkout.

BTC Elements - apparel, jewelry, and gifts. Get 20% off when you enter the code bite during checkout.

Greenloop - fashion. Get 25% off when you enter the code IB25 during checkout.

HER Design - handbags, laptop covers, and messenger bags. Get 25% off when you enter the code GREEN2SDAY08 during checkout.

Nau - activewear and outdoor clothing. Get 20% off, plus free shipping with orders over $150 when you enter the code IBUTW during checkout.

Organic Wine Company - vino. Get 20% off its general catalog of wines when you use this link.

Pangea Organics - personal care products. Get a 50%-off order form when you send an email to holiday@pangeaorganics.com with "Ideal Bite" in the subject line.

Saffron Rouge - cosmetics. Get 20% off when you enter the code Bite into 20 during checkout.

Smart Glass - recycled glass jewelry. Get 20% off when you enter the code IDEALBITE during checkout.

VivaTerra - style for your home. Get $20 off a purchase of $100 or more when you enter the code ID08 during checkout.

West Paw Design - gifts for your pet. Get 20% off when you enter the code ideal20offgreen during checkout.

Ideal Bite Biter Gear - Biter merch. Get 20% off anything in our Biter Gear store (except for our Biter for Life Kit) - discount applies automatically.

Look in tomorrow's Los Angeles Times (12/2) for extensive news and information about Project Angel Food's Divine Design event starting this week December 4th through the 8th, our unique shopping extravaganza with fabulous fashion, home beauty and gift items at 50-90% off.

Help Project Angel Food by telling all your friends and neighbors about Divine Design too. What a better way to spread good cheer than by supporting one of LA's most loved and effective non-profits while getting fantastic prices for holiday gifts (and gifts for yourself too)?!

VIP Shopping Party – Thursday, December 4th, with food by Jackson Catering, cocktails, music, great shopping and special guest Hello Kitty!

General Shopping Days - December 5, 6,7, & 8, 11am - 8pm. Please visit divinedesign.org for ticket information and/or a coupon.

9900 Wilshire Blvd. (formerly Robinson's May), Beverly Hills

Nearly 300 leading designers and stores include: ABS • Alberta Ferretti • Angel City Press • Babystyle • Barbie • BCBG • Between the Sheets • Brown Jordan • Chip & Pepper • Claudia Benvenuto • Contents • DKNY • Diane Von Furstenberg • Diesel • Elie Tahari • Gail DeLoach • Hurley • Illume Candles • Jill Stuart • Jimmy Choo • Jouer Cosmetics • Junior Drake • l.a. Eyeworks • Libertine • Minotti • Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams • Monarchy • Moschino • Nicole Miller • Oscar de la Renta • Rag & Bone • Rebecca Taylor • Sanrio • Sean John • Smashbox • Tadashi Shoji • Ted Baker London • 3.1 Phillip Lim • Wilton Cordrey Collection •
and many more