Tips to Improve your web portal design

In this age of web portfolios and digital job searching, website is a lifeline marketing tool. So how do we make our site informative and also attractive ?

Important Design tips for your web portal.

1. Colors and Images : Light text on white backgrounds and dark text on dark backgrounds is not the right combination. Especially if you have a lot of text, it is very important that it is easy to read and doesn't hurt people's eyes. It is better not to include images that are more than a few kilobytes. It is safer to use 10-12 kB images. This makes sure that your website does not take too much time to load.

2. Use less Eye Candy: Don't bother putting 'Eye Candy' on your site like menus with sounds. Some browsers don't support them. It is not necessary to incorporate several images in a webpage unless it is entirely meant for images. It is a good idea to strike a balance between an image and the content related to it.

3. Avoid Popup Window : They are extremely annoying and visitors don’t like to see them either. If your free web host gives you the option of a banner in a popup window or one at the top of the page choose the one on the page.

4. Keep Adverts To minimum : Too much adverts spoil the look and feel of your sites, and the visitors don’t like to see to many of them in screen. Although it may be tempting to have more adverts to try and make more money but just 2 or 3 highly targeted adverts will make you more money and your visitors won't give up and leave, either.

5. Hide Visitor Counter : It is extremely important to track your visitors, especially as your site grows, but showing the actual number of visitors serves no good purpose. If you have very few visitors then people who see that on your site will think it is unpopular, has no good content and will leave. If you have a lot of visitors then people won't really care about how many visitors you've had. It is better to use a good tracking service or hiding your counter.

6. Better Navigation : The visitors to your site won’t know where you put each piece of information. They need to be shown exactly where to find what they want. Use descriptive links. Always have an obvious link back to your homepage. If at all possible you should include a search function.

7. Don't Keep Moving Things : When designing a web site, the first thing you should remember is to keep a consistent design. The only page which can be different is the main page. If you keep moving around your site's navigation or if every page is completely different from the others, your visitors will get confused.

8. Visitors are Not Interested In You Or Your Awards : One of the mistakes that a lot of sites, especially smaller ones, make is to have too much on their website telling users about the person who built it and showcasing the awards the website has won. Most people on the web will be looking only for information. It is all right to have some information about you on a separate section of your site but don't make it a central part. Also, don't put awards all over your front page.

9. Don't Crowd The Screen : A very important thing to do when designing your website is to leave a bit of space. Even though screen space is precious and you should try and make the best use of it, try to leave some blank space. Leave margins, use shorter paragraphs and don't fill up the screen with animated GIFs. If there is space, your site will look 'clean' and 'open' and users will like it. Using animated GIFs will draw your users' attention away from your content, which is what they are at your site for. Never ever try images that come in multi-color that flash and blink comically.

10. Make Your Site Sticky : Some ways of making your site 'sticky' like this is to offer a service (like e-mail from Everyone.net), have a newsletter, update regularly or include news headlines on your site. It could save you a lot of time. Free E-mail Free News Headlines Care to add more.

Please add it as a comment. Thanks.

How do you know if your resume is fashionable and recruitment attractive ?

Would you try to cut your own hair?

Most people wouldn't. Both resume writing and hair styling require advanced and expert skills. A good hairstylist and a good Career Counselor, will find a style which will bring out your best features, skills and abilities.

So, let me offer some fashion, resume tips...

Here is another great article on resume writing and preparation for job search-

Less than 5% of North American’s ever receive any formal training in key job-search skills, such as resume writing. Yet, since the average job only lasts 3 years, you will be continually job-searching throughout your career. Understanding the latest resume fashions can help you get noticed and stand out from the crowd.

Let's review, a much misunderstood and oft ignored resume component: the Header. The Header is the first section at the top of your resume, it is your first impression. Similar to having polished shoes, a good quality briefcase or handbag and clean fingernails. While it isn’t as exciting a section as the Education section or the Professional Experience – which would be equivalent to your suit, it is equivalent to your accessories. It is the first impression.

Header Section:

What’s Hot? At least 18-20 font for your name and 14-16 font for the rest of your header. Do you want to irritate the Resume reviewer, if so use font size 6.

What’s Not? Free, cheesy, email address’: Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo. Guaranteed to make you look broke, young, oblivious, unprofessional. You will position yourself as the “cheap hire.” Use a paid email address. If you are a University student, use your student email address.

Want to be Fashion Forward? Use the modern, phone-number convention: 555.444.444 If you use (604) 678-4357 you have just dated your resume style to 1989.

Resume Derailer: Geographic proximity to a potential job. If you live in a large, metro area like Atlanta, consider whether you should even include your home address. More than 15 or 20 miles from work, you may be eliminated in the pre-screening. Employers want to feel they have access to you 24/7, even if they will never need you to come in at night and turn off the alarm.

Header Styles: What’s Hot? It’s like the LBD Little Black Dress. Consult with a high-volume, Career Counselor who specializes in business clients with career trajectories, like yours. Header styles can be very industry specific. Learn what the standard is in your industry: pyramid, reverse pyramid, centered, asymmetrical etc… How conservative or creative is your industry? This will greatly impact your header and resume style.

Social Media and resume fashions...

What’s Hot? Include your Social Media address’ in your Header. Not using any Social Media for your Job Search, you better start soon, since your competition already is. Otherwise, you will look hopelessly unfashionable. Include your LinkedIn address in your Header. All business professionals, should have an online presence.

Want to be Fashion Forward? Use a Vanity, URL for your LinkedIn page and include this URL in your Header? Don’t just use the random assortment of numbers and letters which are the default URL. This is kind of like a custom car tag, or as Canadians’ say “License Plate.” Though, on LI, it is FREE.

Want to be at a Runway Fashion model? Turn your LI URL into a Hyper-link, in Word. That’s right, create a hyper-link. When the HR professional drags their mouse over it, it will take them directly to your page and profile. Note: of course this doesn’t work if you are presenting a hard copy of your resume as 10% of candidates do. Though, an online resume and application is the preferred format for 90% of resumes.

Stay tuned, for more smoking hot resume fashions....

Reference-

http://www.careerrocketeer.com/2009/10/resume-fashions-whats-hot-whats-not-is.html#

Can You Imagine Albert Einstein Applying for a Job Today? Would He Get Hired?

Here is another great article from my reading-

We all know Albert Einstein was a genius in mathematics and physics. But did you know he had a hard time finding a job when he got out of university? Why?

Albert really wanted to teach when he graduated from the Polytechnic Institute in Zurich. However, he couldn’t get past square one to get a teaching position. Nobody would hire him because they didn’t see him as a great teacher. And he’d never taught before.The same problem exists in today’s job market. People are getting hired today because they have experience doing the same thing for someone else. For that reason, Einstein never did become a teacher (at least until very later in life). So, you be the judge. Is the best predictor of success the fact that you’ve done the job before? Obviously not, but that’s the way most hiring is done today.So what is the test predictor of success?

Some would say it is all about passion. Let’s examine that using Einstein as an example...Einstein passion was mathematics and physics, but he really loved his violin. He loved the mathematical nature of a violin. He was determined to master it. And he did get pretty good at it… good enough to have a private audience with Queen Elizabeth. He was indeed a good violinist, but he was a much better physicist. Why is someone as smart as Einstein not able to master the violin to the level he could pick up physics?

Here’s my read on this. The great violinists have an acute sense of feel. Take Itzhak Perlman for example. You can feel his emotions coming out through his fingers and through the violin. He lives those feelings, and translates them through to the violin.No matter how much Einstein tried, he couldn’t get his emotions to translate through into the violin. Why?

Because he is so logically minded that this part of his mind dominated his core thought process. He wasn't hardwired to process feelings the way a violinist would. So passion isn’t enough to predict success in a particular career.In my reading about Einstein, I have a guess on how Einstein thought and why he was such a genius (and ironically why he would been a great teacher). Consider the way he started snooping around into what eventually became his theory of general relativity.

Einstein loved to daydream. He couldn’t help but do it. In fact, one of his favorite things to do was to go sailing on a day when he knew there would be no wind. He loved to be bored in the middle of Lake Zurich so his mind could wander.Over a period of time, his mind wandered a lot about what it would be like to ride alongside a beam of light. That imagination and breaking things down into the most simple of logical thoughts is how he finally discovered relativity.That is the way Einstein was drawn to think. I can’t be sure because I never knew him, but I’ve done a lot of reading about him. His way of breaking down the most complex logical puzzles through his imagination is what made him a genius physicist, and ironically a great teacher. And he would have been a fantastic teacher right out of school for the very same reason. (Albert Einstein became a famed teacher later on in life.)

So, what’s the moral of the story to us mere mortals? Know your natural way of thinking and get into a career that uses that as much as possible. And don’t try to become someone who you aren’t.
For further reading please visit-http://www.careerrocketeer.com/2009/10/can-you-imagine-albert-einstein.html

Information about up-coming job fairs-

National Job Fairs - Networking Events List. What you'll find is the most comprehensive list of job fairs and networking events on the internet. Feel free to browse around by date, location or industry. Read more at-

http://www.linkedin.com/newsArticle?viewDiscussion=&articleID=75391291&gid=1973725&trk=EML_anet_nws_title-cDhOon0JumNFomgJt7dBpSBA

This article was submitted on October 06, 2009 at 08:00 AM PDT

Dr.Shruti Bhat at http://www.drshrutibhat.com

Personal branding

Brands sell...why, because brands tell us "philosophy/ attitude"...and its well-known that attitudes governs the altitude.

So what is personal branding. Its a necessity in today's job market. Helps a job seeker to understand his market value and accordingly position himself. Been reading a lot about Personal branding lately.

Some excerpts are presented here-

Personal branding is the most important stage of the job search process as it is the first and foundation stage. I have asked fellow job seekers and career-search experts from across the web for what they consider to be some top tips for standing out in today’s job market. While I could not include every tip from all of the experts, I have selected and compiled the best and most unique ones in this list to share with you today.

Do what employers do and "Google" your name. What comes up? You can't control what Google indexes but you can update your various online personas to reflect your personal brand. For starters, make sure that you've created a Google Profile and list all of the links to your sites and pages that you want employers to find. Your Google Profile might not initially come up first in search engine rankings so add a link from your blog or twitter page back to your Google Profile. The more links that point to a web page, the better Google will think of it so point as many links as you can back to your own Google profile to move it up in search engine rankings. However the most important brand building exercise to perform is to make your personal brand shine similarly on all your public facing sites. You may want to remove that drunken party photo from your blog or Tweet more about topics that potential employers will appreciate. No matter what your brand or persona is online, make sure that they all reflect the true you. - Darwin Stephenson, InspirationDivine.com

You must have your name as a URL: using a service such as aol, gmail, etc doesn't send the message that you are unique or that you take yourself seriously. You must have (at least) a one-page website that includes a summary of your career experience (not a resume--note, please, there's a rumor that bankers like to see that you've played team sports), a professional headshot, and links to sites you find interesting (fyi: the more diverse these are, the more well-rounded you will appear.) - Frances Cole Jones, FrancesColeJones.com

Consider LinkedIn as a marketing (branding) opportunity, not a resume recap. State your personal brand clearly in your Summary section and include your brand statement right after your name: “John Jakes, Award winning, patent generating, product design leader,” or “Rita Ashley, Job Search Coaching for $100,000+ Job Seekers. My clients get hired.” - Rita Ashley, JobSearchDebugged.com

Utilize a professional headshot as the main photo on all your online profiles (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Two weeks before a conference, I looked up other professionals attending and added them as friends on Facebook and/or followed them on Twitter. I was an unknown heading into the conference, not knowing a single person, and had over 20 people recognize me from my profile photo and introduce themselves. I left the conference with over 100 new contacts and several lucrative opportunities. - Jenny Leonard, Razviti.com

Nothing sells like experience - even when your resume says you don't have any. Creating experience(s) through unpaid internships have helped many future stars get a foot in the door - in an economic climate that is tougher and tougher to differentiate yourself. By demonstrating savvy, business acumen, innovative initiative and then top it off by being willing to work virtually, and creatively document your experience to expose your own personal experience as well as promote the company you are working for is yet another 'on-brand you'. Create the brand by building and creating the experiences your want to represent you. - Gilbert Melott, NextVoice247.com

Reference:

http://www.linkedin.com/news?viewArticle=&articleID=76978443&gid=1086567&articleURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecareerrocketeer%2Ecom%2F2009%2F10%2Fpersonal-branding-tips-from-experts%2Ehtml&urlhash=HloF&trk=news_discuss

http://www.linkedin.com/news?viewArticle=&articleID=76538935&gid=39683&articleURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ehrperformancesites%2Ecom%2F%3Fp%3D677&urlhash=4e5B&trk=news_discuss

Dr.Shruti Bhat at http://www.shrutibhat.com

Networking mindset and un-written rules-

Here is another good excerpt from an article I read on networking-

Networking mindset-

I am not going to sugarcoat it: for most people, networking SUCKS. Many rank it down there with a root canal, sitting in traffic...

I have heard many reasons for low networking performance. Believe me, all of them are valid. Whether you are shy, afraid of bragging, scared of making a bad first impression, or you just plain hate networking, it’s completely understandable. There are millions just like you so you shouldn’t feel bad about it.

The question is, what do you do about networking? Getting good at “traditional networking” requires overhauling your entire set of social skills. Let’s go with what works for you right now!

My definition of networking doesn’t involve doing anything you HATE or dislike doing.
Whenever I hear someone say, “I hate networking,” or “I am no good at networking,” alarm bells instantly go off for me. It says to me that person does not have the right frame of mind to be an effective networker. They probably think there is only one way to network. I want you to know, that networking is not an action. It is a state of mind and the right frame of mind is all you need.

So how do you get into this “magical” mindset? 3 simple steps:

1. Know your goal (a job, a sale, a new connection, a business partner, a simple friendship). Write it down!
2. Always be trying to figure out whether your contacts can help you reach this goal.
3. Understand that it is okay to ask your contacts for favors. Realize that they would, already have, or will ask for something from you. And also realize, that you would be glad to help them if they asked you for a favor. All of the “great networkers” are not afraid to ask their contacts to help them if they needed it.

Obviously, you noticed that I emphasized contacts. Understand that all of your friends, are your contacts, but not all of your contacts have to be your friends. It’s an unwritten rule in networking.

Your contacts are the people that have the position or other contacts that can get you the job, or the sale, or whatever else you need.

To be a great networker, you don’t have to be good at the “traditional networking event.” I mean, you should be, but its certainly not required. In fact, those that master the “networking mindset” can network wherever they want. Yes, the networking event is the quickest place to make a lot of contacts. But it is definitely not the most fun or most effective method for everyone.

Reference-

http://www.samdiener.com/2009/10/how-to-network-the-millionaire-networking-mindset/

Dr.Shruti Bhat at http://www.drshrutibhat.com

Maintaining high Emotional quotient after job loss-

Why put this article here on my blog ? Well, let me share my experience with all of you.

I lost my job in March '09 ! and would you believe it if I told you, the company had offered me Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) just 2 months ago (in Jan '09) !

We had just begun the new year after a vacation , in fact I had completed 75 % of my targeted annual MBO objectives in just 6 months time frame, all product launches scheduled for the previous year were bang on time, zero employee turnover, I had posted a savings of over 400,000 Canadian dollars in only 1 year, a fete of great importance, especially, in a recession hampered economy...

So , WHAT happened in 2 months ? No reasons were provided to me by my employers as to why they were terminating my services ! I was only kept wondering...

My natural response to such BAD treatment was- whatever, happened to me was beyond my control, but, how I respond to this situation is definitely under my control.

Very first decision made by me was that I will not brood, instead, I shall grip my spirit furthermore, to face the challenges ahead of me.

I shall certainly not compromise with my dignity, values, principles and morals. Come what may, I shall not permit any such event to hijack my self-confidence and self esteem.

I gave my employers, my blessings of "all the very best for your future endeavours" and proceeded with my life.

Now, I had a lot of time on hand (no 80 hours per week work schedules !), hence did lot of reading. My natural habit of sharing, provoked me into thinking, why not share with the community, lessons I learn from my reading ? So this article, for my friends and readers-

GETTING BACK To WORK-Everything You Need to Bounce Back and Get a Job After a Layoff- Overcoming Discouragement - From terminated, to inspired, to hired.

The average job seeker takes about four months to land a job after searching for openings. During an economic downturn, finding a job becomes even more difficult and so discouragement is a common emotion. While the practical aspects of looking for a job present plenty of challenges, the emotional component cannot be ignored.

For some, the emotions of shock, grief, anger, anxiety, and depression that often accompany job loss can impair a solid action plan. Maybe you don’t even have a plan of action. Or, you are diligently getting your resume out to the world without the results you desire.

Everyone feels discouraged at times but you can’t be effective in your job search if you launch into interviews with unchecked emotions popping up. What can you do to transform discouragement into hope that you will land another job? First, don’t panic. Place post-it notes with the word “Breathe” on them. Engage in activities that will help you move through difficult emotions. Fear and hope make poor roommates because one dispels the other. You must fight discouragement.

Avoid beginning and ending your day with negative television and radio news reports about the economy. News of this sort can only result in negative thinking and feelings. Begin your day early by first making a deposit into your emotional bank account. Write a list of five things you are grateful for each morning.

If you are starting to give in to discouragement, it is time to tune in for self-care. Prepare a list of 10 self-care items that will help renew your mind, body, and spirit. You may find it difficult to do so, but it is completely worth your time. The items on your list do not even have to cost money. Participate in 2-3 of these self-care activities every day.

If you are burned out, experiencing stress or other physical health symptoms, and feelings of discouragement, this situation absolutely requires that you give yourself permission to take an overdue restorative time-out. It’s not a luxury; it’s a necessity!

Many people work very hard while also attending to the needs of their family, but find it nearly impossible to be especially kind and tender to their selves.

In an emergency, you have to put on your own oxygen mask first, and being out of work in an economic downturn qualifies as just such an emergency.

Address discouragement and other emotions by taking the time you need – not by doing what others think you should do. Talk to someone you trust who will help you to get rid of negative feelings.

When you are ready, launch into the tangible, practical components of job search. Take stock of your expectations. Unmet expectations can lead to disappointment and discouragement. You may be very good at the work you have done in the past but your future does not live in your past. Industry changes create opportunities for new job growth. Do you need to take what I refer to as the ’transitional bridge job’ or two part time jobs to pay the bills while you think about seriously re-inventing yourself ?

Do you want to return to a former, similar, or new job title? Research professional association websites in the industry you want to explore.

Perform information interviews to help expand or narrow options. New job growth is there. You will bring greater enthusiasm and success to your job hunting when you identify what you want to do. What does your heart desire for employment?

When you are ready, set a structured job search schedule, say between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm daily. No matter what, though, it’s important to keep your work/life balance in the daily mix.

Stop looking at the things behind you and focus on the wide-open horizon in front of you.

Your future work is ahead of you and you must move forward to reach your goals...with a smile, confidence and pure heart !

Dr.Shruti Bhat at http://www.drshrutibhat.com

The basics of LinkedIn for the job seeker-

Here is another important article of good use to a job seeker, I read over the week, thought of sharing it with my readers-

The Basics of LinkedIn for the Job Seeker-

If you're using LinkedIn to promote yourself as a job seeker take heed to the list below-

1. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is complete before connecting with others

2. Ensure your headline right under your name clearly states what you are looking for using key words such as non-profit and corporate promotions specialist, Media coordinator, Innovative photography, Branding Professional, etc.

3. Get at least three recommendations Job Seeker: from past preferably from your direct supervisor and a few from your coworkers.

4. Put your website in your profile if applicable.

5. Have a professional looking photo displayed. You don't have to spend money to have one done. Take a nice pic of yourself and attach it.

6. Use the reading list by Amazon on LinkedIn. Add the books you've read and the one's you are currently reading. Have business books as well as leisure books listed. The leisure books allow potential employers know more of a personal side of you.

7. Join groups specific to what you do or what you want to do. Same with industry.

8. Linking Up with others. To link up with others that either are in companies you want to work for, people that you can learn from, etc. search for them. Once you find them take note as to who their contacts are. If they are connected with people you know ask to get introduced to them or send them a friendly email through LinkedIn to:

a. Identify who you are

b. The purpose of your email; both are connected to ?, are in the same groups, would like to have an informational interview, etc. Lets face it, the purpose is to get connected to build a relationship.

c. And most importantly, offer your help as a friendly means of getting connected. Remember to take heed to #1 at the beginning - Completed LinkedIn Profile. You're profile identifies what you're capable of doing.

9. To piggyback #8, if you do not have contacts that can introduce you, look at the groups they are with. Join one of the same group. By doing this you can request to be connected through LinkedIn by identifying the group you are both associated with. Send a short email with your invite.

10. Remember if you have 5 IDK (I Don't know) from people you invite LinkedIn will suspend your account. You will not be able to invite anyone unless you have their Email address.

Dr.Shruti Bhat at http://www.drshrutibhat.com

6 things Michael Jackson can teach you about job search :

Here is another article I read on job search, thought of sharing it with my readers...

Six things Michael Jackson can teach you about job search -

I am old enough to remember when MTV actually played music videos and after his finally got into the rotation, nobody was bigger than Michael Jackson. His string of hits, from Billy Jean to Beat It to Thriller, ensured that you could turn on the television at almost any time and catch one of his videos or short films. Although his life took some very interesting and controversial turns he still remained an important figure in the music industry which was very obvious from the reaction to his death.

A lot can be learned from the way Michael Jackson carried himself throughout his life and career, including the following six lessons that can be applied to the way you conduct a job-search-

1) Always strive to put the best product possible out there.- One of the things that has been said time and time again over the last few days is that Michael Jackson was a perfectionist and always wanted to put the best product possible on the market, whether it be an album or live performance.

The take away- Do the same in your search. Take a look at your product (you, your résumé, your on-line presence, your stage presence, etc.) and make it the best you can. It is a very competitive market and if you are not willing to go the extra mile to make your product the best someone out there someone else will.

2) Don’t ever stop working hard, no matter how successful you are- It would have been very easy for Michael Jackson to stop after the success of Thriller but he kept on striving to push the envelope and grow his career and legacy and in doing so came out with some terrific albums and videos that further solidified has place as one of the best ever.

The take away – It is very easy to put your job-search on-hold because you landed an interview or because you found out a company is interested in you. Your job-search should never stop, even when you land your next opportunity. Always continue to network and keep your eyes and ears open because you never know what tomorrow brings.

3) Give back to the community- From We Are The World to supporting over 30 charities to giving his time for causes he believed in, there is no doubt that Michael Jackson realized the importance of community involvement and worked to help others who were less fortunate.

The take away – No matter how bad your situation is there is always someone who has it far worse than you. Taking a few minutes out of your day to help others, whether you are working or not, can benefit you (and them) in a number of ways.

4) Don’t put yourself in situations that can be viewed as controversial- One of Michael Jackson’s downfalls is that he put himself in situations that, whether guilty or not, definitely swayed the public against him and tarnished his legacy.

The take away – Stay away from things that can be viewed as even remotely controversial and cause you to lose out on an opportunity (i.e. the off-color joke in an interview, the inappropriate picture on Facebook or MySpace, etc).

5) Have people who can ALWAYS say something good about you- Even in his darkest hour, Michael Jackson had a whole group of people who were willing and able to say great things about his character and who he was as a person and a performer.

The take away - References are a huge part of the job-search process and you always need to have people on hand to say great things ab0ut your work and character.

6) Separate yourself from the crowd- Whether it be the glove, the moonwalk, the gravity defying lean from Smooth Criminal, or the video from Thriller, Michael Jackson always found a way to separate himself 0ut from the other acts that he was competing against for your attention and money.

The take away – In a crowded labor market it is important to figure out how to separate yourself to show an organization why they should hire you instead of the others that are going after the same opportunity.Based on your knowledge of Michael Jackson’s life and career, what is your top take-away and/or recommendation on a lesson that applies to job-search?

Until next time, good job hunting and good luck!!

Dr.Shruti Bhat at http://www.drshrutibhat.com

Global Pharma market growth to grow 4 to 6 % in 2010

The global pharmaceutical marked is expected to grow 4 to 6 percent in 2010 to $825 billion, according to the updated forecast from IMS Health. Over the five years ending 2013, the global market is expected to expand 4 to 7 percent, IMS reports. That’s up one percent from previous predictions of 3 to 5 percent, reported in April.

“While that’s a positive piece of news, it still puts the global pharmaceutical growth rate at historically low levels,” IMS Senior Vice President Murray Aitken told reporters on Wednesday.
The US market is expected to strengthen in the near term, due to a boost in pharmacy stocking levels in 2009. Also, price increases for protected products are continuing at a good rate. IMS had originally predicted that drug prices would slow down due to the recession, but it turns out that pharma firms have maintained pricing practices through the economic downturn.

Traditionally, drug manufacturers raise their prices 5 to 6 percent every year for branded medication.

“The relative impact in the US has been more modest that we expected,” Aitken said. “Part of this is because pharmaceutical manufacturers have stepped up their efforts to provide support to patients through patient assistance programs, copay subsidies, and so on.”

In other parts of the world, the impact of the economic downturn depends on the severity of the recession in the particular country and the structure of funding for pharma companies.

“For countries that have deep recessions and where out-of-pocket spending is the major funding mechanism for pharmaceutical drugs—including Russia, Mexico, and South Korea—we are seeing a pretty significant slowdown in growth,” Aitken said.

Another problem is the number of products going off patent versus new products coming to market. The balance is skewed, with more value coming through new generics than new innovative products coming onto the market, according to Aitken.

“This is a major factor dampening growth prospects over the next five years,” Aitken said. “During that time period, globally will we have an unprecedented $137 billion worth of products that are expected to face generic competition, particularly in 2011 and 2012 when Lipitor, Plavix, and Advair go off patent.”

That said, there are new products coming to market, but most of them are focused on relatively narrow indications and small patient groups. Pharma has a handful of potential billion-dollar drugs coming to market, but they aren’t expected to offset the blockbusters going off the market.

The “pharmerging markets” (a term coined by IMS) are expected to continue to grow 12 to 14 percent next year, and 13 to 16 percent over the next five years. “That’s not withstanding a significant impact felt in some of those markets from the economic slowdown, in particular Russia, Turkey, and Mexico,” said Aitken. They are being offset by strong growth in China—expected to be 20 percent per year.

IMS Health said that the forecast could be altered depending on the outcomes of the healthcare reform plan, a boost in income from the addition of the H1N1 vaccine, and an up- or downturn in the economy.

Dr.Shruti Bhat at http://www.drshrutibhat.com

How to network? You must know these 8 Cultural differences

The information below is from an article I read over the internet....thought of sharing with my readers...

It’s impossible to know all of the different cultural differences that you can run into when you are networking. And trying to abide by all of them is even tougher. If I did, I’d be running around not looking at anyone with my hands in my pockets. Of course, then I would be offending both Turkish people (hands in my pockets) and all of my friends in the States.

This is article is a compilation of my research. I apologize if I omit anything or make a mistake – there’s so much information in regards to this subject, and it’s difficult to capture it all. Drop me a line or comment if you see an error or want to add something.

Eye Contact: In the United States and Canada, INTERMITTENT eye contact is extremely important in conveying interest and attention. In many Middle Eastern cultures, INTENSE eye contact between the same genders is often a symbol of trust and sincerity however, between opposite genders, especially in Muslim cultures, anything more than BRIEF eye contact is considered inappropriate.

Additionally, in Asian, African, and Latin American cultures, extended eye contact is considered a “challenge.” The Japanese tend to consider even brief eye contact uncomfortable. And, in some cultures, a woman should look down when talking to a man .

Handshakes: Between cultures, however, there are differences that could throw you off! For example, in parts of Northern Europe a quick firm “one-pump” handshake is the norm. In parts of Southern Europe, Central and South America, a handshake is longer and warmer – meaning the left hand usually touches the clasped hands, the elbow, or even the lapel of the shakee.

Beware that in Turkey, a firm handshake is considered rude and aggressive. In certain African countries, a limp handshake is the standard. Men in Islamic countries never shake the hands of women outside the family.

Greetings: In America, we have the standard greeting: “Hello, my name is..” with a handshake. At a networking event, chances are persons from a different culture will probably assimilate into everyone else’s style, however, there are other greetings out there of which you should be aware. In Japan, people bow. In Italy, people kiss cheeks. There is a very interesting list over at Bruce Van Patter’s website.

Personal Space: I get freaked out when someone gets too close to me – and I immediately try to end the conversation. However, in some cultures it is normal to be “in the bubble.” In China, if someone is doing business, it is widely accepted to have NO personal space at all. Strangers regularly touch when standing near each other. On the other hand, some cultures require much more space than in America. Keep in mind, that personal space will differ for everyone based on their upbringing. The advice that I would give, is that if you are unsure, start with your comfort zone, and let the other person move to where they are comfortable.

Touching:This is a big no-no. It may look okay, but you could be fooled. For example, did you know that in some sects of Judaism, the only woman that a man will touch in his lifetime is the woman he is married to? In Japan, Scandinavia, and England, touching is less frequent. In Latino cultures, touching is encouraged.

This may not have a place in this article, but still interesting: NEVER touch a person’s head. This can be religiously offensive. Really, when you are out networking, just DON’T touch – except to shake hands. If you are comfortable, let the other person guide what is appropriate to them.

Small Talk: It’s tough to make small talk. And to make it even tougher, sometimes it is different in cultures outside of America. There was not much research on this, however, some of my loyal readers were able to help me out. Susanne Ebling of Washington, D.C suggests that in other cultures, just because you are asked “How are you?,” it doesn’t mean that the other person is asking for a full health report. Keep in mind that this is not always a cultural thing. If someone you don’t know asks you how you are, you should never say anything but, “excellent,” or “fine,” or some derivative.

Personal Dress and Hygiene: I don’t know of any culture where it is acceptable to not brush your teeth. I could be wrong. However, everything else can vary! Some cultures don’t shave – their mens’ faces (or womens’ legs or underarms). Some cultures never wear deodorant and others don’t bathe as frequently. You must be careful to make sure you do not offend anyone. And yes, sometimes odors that are quite odd to you might be very acceptable in another culture.

Gestures:They mean different things everywhere. Seriously, keep your gestures to yourself. If you want to flip off the business card warrior, it might not have any effect at all if he/she is from a different culture. In fact, in some cultures, it’s used as a pointer. The thumbs-up has all different meanings too. At the peril of destroying my reputation, I am not even going to write about them. Also be careful with the American “A-Ok” sign and putting your hands on your hips.

Conclusions: The two most important ideas to take away from this article is that you know these differences exist and that you treat others how you would want to be treated. Once again, the best policy is to let the other person lead the interaction if you are unsure. That way, you can never be wrong!

Please feel free to share with whomever you would like. If you would like to share my work on a webpage, please use an “excerpt” of my work and link here.

As for me, I am three months into my job hunt, and appreciate all contact regarding possible opportunities, please email drshrutibhat@gmail.com.

Information Sources:

http://www.thercg.org/youth/odds/0402-th.html

http://www.brighthub.com/education/languages/articles/37970.aspxhttp://www.wikipedia.com/

Dr.Shruti Bhat at http://www.drshrutibhat.com