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