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Hello, everyone! For our new subscribers, my name is Anna Tulchinsky and I am the editor of this newsletter as well as all other stuff that gets published on the PulseHR website. If you find this newsletter interesting and helpful, feel free to forward it to your friends and colleagues who are looking for a job and encourage them to subscribe.
Issue 14
March 25, 2003
C O N T E N T S:
1. Health related goodies
2. Canadian biotechnology: A snapshot 1997 and 1999
3. Looking for a Sales/Marketing Agent: A true story
4. Interesting links
5. Conference announcement
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Health related goodies
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· Can nature measure up to Viagra?
The success of Viagra (sidenafil) as a treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) has stimulated an explosion of research aimed at cashing in on the swelling demand for 'love drugs' with similarly marketable properties. Alongside an abundance of synthetic compounds in development, attention has returned to a host of well-known natural plant extracts that could help to combat impotence.
· Increased risk of male breast cancer seen in prostate cancer patients
Men diagnosed with prostate cancer are slightly more likely than other men to develop a second primary cancer, according to a new report.
The increased risk may simply stem from greater surveillance in men diagnosed with this malignancy. However, for at least one malignancy--male breast cancer--there does appear to be a significant association with prostate cancer.
The current findings run counter to previous reports showing that the overall risk of a second primary cancer is decreased after a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Still, a few reports have suggested that the risk of certain malignancies, such as bladder and kidney cancer, is increased after a prostate cancer diagnosis.
· Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) multi-country outbreak
On 15 March, WHO issued a travel advisory in response to the growing international threat posed by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Since then, WHO has conducted daily teleconferences with health authorities and WHO team members on the scene in all areas affected by SARS. WHO also receives detailed bulletins from ministries of health in the most heavily affected areas reporting on any SARS-related events that might alter understanding of the behaviour of this new disease.
Today's communications included a report, from the Hong Kong department of health, providing detailed preliminary data on the detection of nine atypical pneumonia cases among members of a Beijing tour organized by a Hong Kong travel agent. Investigation of these cases, including tentative identification of the index case, has progressed rapidly. The Hong Kong department of health is tracing, for surveillance purposes, the crew members and passengers who had taken two flights. The general public has been informed and a hot-line has been set up.
WHO epidemiologists in Geneva, together with experts tracking outbreaks in affected countries, have decided today that, based on the information available at present, there is no need to change previous WHO advice. WHO continues to recommend no travel restrictions to any destination. WHO advises travellers to remain alert to the symptoms of SARS. These include high fever, respiratory symptoms, including cough, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing, and should report these symptoms promptly.
As of today, 487 SARS cases have been reported from 12 countries.
A number of persons with SARS have taken long distance flights after becoming ill. Thousands of passengers who travelled in the same flights have been traced in Germany, Canada, Singapore and the United States. No cases have been discovered among these contacts. Today's report of a possible transmission of SARS on board a flight is undergoing investigation. As "close" contact is possible during a flight, in passengers sitting close to an infected person, such transmission cannot be ruled out. The evidence to date indicates that in-flight transmission is very unusual.
Health authorities and hospital staff over the world now alert to the symptoms of SARS. Suspect cases are being quickly detected and promptly reported. Proper isolation and management of cases has greatly reduced the risk of transmission of newly detected cases to others.
WHO advice to travellers is being kept under constant review. SARS is an emerging disease. Knowledge about is clinical behaviour, response to treatment, and modes and risks of transmission are continually evolving. WHO is confident that, in the present climate of heightened awareness and rapid and detailed reporting, data useful in understanding SARS and issuing sound public health advice are being rapidly collected and rapidly made available.
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Canadian biotechnology: A snapshot 1997 and 1999
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Biotechnology companies are experiencing extremely rapid growth, according to a joint study by Statistics Canada and Industry Canada.
In addition, new biotechnology products and processes are now reaching the market, and companies are experiencing an increasing return on research and development investment in biotechnology.
In 1999, almost 6,600 biotechnology products were on the market, compared with only 1,758 in 1997. This increase is also reflected in revenues.
Biotechnology revenues of large firms (those with more than 150 employees) amounted to $1.4 billion in 1999. This was more than 3.5 times the level of $398 million two years earlier. Revenue from exports also more than tripled during the same period.
These large firms significantly expanded their research activity during this two-year period, accounting for 86% of the overall increase in biotechnology research and development. In 1997, for every $1 spent in the past on research and development in biotechnology, firms earned $1.65 in revenues. By 1999, this figure was $2.36.
Spending on research and development in biotechnology is concentrated in the human health sector. From 1997 to 1999, spending on research and development in this sector went up about $294 million, representing 85% of the total increase. Biotechnology revenues in this sector alone reached more than $1 billion in 1999, and about 97 out of 225 firms that declared biotech revenues came from this sector. However, there is also growing activity in the agriculture and food processing sector.
Small firms (those with fewer than 50 employees) face a serious commercialization challenge. Most of them are low-revenue earners, and their biggest challenge is bringing their products onto the market.
The study shows that revenue earning and spending on research and development are directly and positively linked to a firm's size. As a result, small firms will likely face continued pressure for consolidation or strategic alliances. As firms grow larger, they are likely to increase the amount they spend on biotechnology research and development, and earn more revenues.
The study How is the Canadian Biotechnology Evolving? (88F0006XIE, no. 3, free) is now available on Statistics Canada's website (www.statcan.ca).
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Looking for a Sales/Marketing Agent: A true story
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Today, instead of introducing a new topic, I'd like to share with you what I personally observed over the last few weeks.
I will first tell you about our own recruiting here at PulseHR, and then I'd tell you about external candidates whose job search I happen to follow. By sharing with you these stories I want to help you understand how recruiters and employers think and why they make certain decisions.
We are looking to expand our client base and decided to invite a few agents on board to help us do that. This is very important to us, because these agents would represent our company, they will be part of our "profile" and our "reputation". Knowing that hunting for clients can be a very challenging assignment, we decided to offer a very generous split (commission). In response to our ad, we received 40 applications so far.
Out of 40 applications we have received so far, only 4 satisfied the formal presentation standards I am looking for. Only 2 applications contained the type of information we are looking for.
Here is what happened: 36 applications contained either no cover letter at all or a one-line text instead of a cover letter. Some applications contained certain text in place of the cover letter, but it would either be incomplete (this is what these candidates do: "I am interested in the position of ____________ at your company") or sometimes these letters would contain unrelated sentences about leadership skills, dancing capacities, and so on and so forth. These candidates overlook the most important thing, i.e. that we are looking for people with specific skills to do specific tasks - all of which was clearly stated in the job description).
We are a recruiting agency. Candidates who would work with us will be promoting our services to potential clients and they may also be helping us do recruiting. In other words, people working for us would almost need to become recruiters themselves, they would have to know everything a typical recruiter knows, and that includes how to make a proper job application.
This is not the end. None, I repeat, none of the candidates, researched our company. None of the candidates took care to think and write a few good sentences about why they think they are a good match for this "particular" position. All candidates simply wrote general description of themselves.
So here is my reasoning (and I am the one responsible for bringing new people on board). If they did not take care to do a little research before they applied to us, then this would be the way they will source and approach potential clients, and we cannot allow it. If they could not write a good cover letter specifically for us, then how are they going to initiate correspondence with new clients? If they do not know how to present themselves, then how are they going to entice our clients to buy our services? If they do not know how to focus on what we need, then how are they going to treat our clients' needs?
There was yet another group, a very different one. Please keep in mind that many, although not all, candidates possessed a very good education and good experience, some even had too much. For example, we received 4 applications from people who used to work as Regional Sales Managers with large companies. Well, it will be great to have them on our team, but we know that they won't stick around for long and won't be trying all too hard. We offer commission-based compensation, whereas people with MBA degrees never commit to these types of positions (isn't it ironic?). If they wanted to be responsible for the revenue of the business, they wouldn't have enrolled in the MBA program in the first place, because contemporary MBA programs do not teach you how to run your own business, they teach you how to "fit" the corporate culture and how to climb up the corporate ladder; people with MBA degrees generally look for a "safe" and “prestigious" environment with large corporations, taking risks and working on commission is not their cup of tea. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, but it takes time to test the waters. So even though we would be glad to use the services of educated MBA graduates, we don't want to invest our energy in a short-term affair. So we decided not to approach MBA graduates. However, we are still very interested in MBA students, especially those who just started their program.
There was another group of candidates, first or second-year undergraduate students who had very little work experience. Being an undergraduate student is not a minus, it's a plus, at least in my view, but if you are a student or a recent graduate, you should market yourself as such. Avoid using statements like "directed and launched marketing campaigns to promote brand names". This is usually done by VPs of Marketing or people of similar level. Saying that you "participated in the launch and development of 3 start-up companies" almost sounds like you are competing with Terry Mathews, the founder of Newbridge or Michael Cowpland, the founder of Corel. If you are a recent graduate, be simple, precise and honest. List only specific skills (do not make general statements, such as "excellent management skills" and "extensive research experience". Do not use long and complex sentences and do not be afraid to look inexperienced (you are inexperienced and this will be evident no matter how complex your sentences are and how many outstanding adjectives you'd use to describe yourself). Emphasize your willingness to learn and your enthusiasm about the job in question. Ask for a chance to be considered. Imagine yourself hiring a new grad...how would you want them to approach you?
In the end, out of 40 candidates, we selected and interviewed 2 candidates so far. Even though we do need people to help us, we will not accept a new member on board, simply because we could not find the right match at this time. We will continue looking until we find the right people.
To conclude, when you apply for a job, read the job description very carefully, review company profile and write a good cover letter. In your cover letter, provide evidence of your suitability for this particular position point by point. Do not talk about anything else. The same is true about your resume. When you are applying for a job, your goal should be to "entice" your reader: by showing them that you seem to have all the qualities and skills they are looking for. And to figure out what those qualities are, read the job description again and use your logic and common sense.
On the other hand, a person who took time to prepare each job application carefully and wrote targeted cover letters and resumes, got 5 interviews with 4 employers and 2 job offers in 4 weeks And this person is not a nurse but a software programmer (there are hundreds laid-off and unemployed programmers looking for jobs right now, the competition is fierce in this field). My point is that it really pays to do your home work and learn how to present yourself best!
In the next issue: common sense and why newcomers to Canada do not get the jobs they want.
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Interesting links
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This site provides quality material. The biotechnology section presents good information for a novice reader. As with all information on this site, the material in this section is arranged in an old-fashioned structured way, which makes it easy to remember.
· Distance Education in Canada
This is a link to the distance learning resource page provided by the Canadian Ministry of Education. This link is an excellent source of information, if you are looking for any type of online courses.
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Conference announcement
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·
Pharma License Exchange™: Bio and Pharma Partnering Event
April
3-4, 2003 Pan Pacific Hotel, San Francisco, California, USA.
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- The End -
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To give me your feedback or ask a question, write to me at anna@pulsehr.com. I personally reply to all questions in the hope that my information and advice will be of help to people seeking employment, i.e. means to advance in life while supporting themselves and their loved ones. If you send me an email and do not receive a reply from me within two business days, there might have been a communication error or our server may have rejected your email, in which case please re-send your message.
Anna Tulchinsky
PulseHR Co-founder
+1 (613) 231-6308
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