If you are a resident of Planet Earth, you are well aware that we have been in a recession. Many economists say that the recession is still alive and well. Others report that they believe it is over or very nearly over. There is almost no area of life which has not been hit by financial woes. A multitude of jobs have been lost. Companies have downsized, or closed. What types of jobs may not have been affected as strongly by the recession as others? Are there any who have remained unscathed by our world's economic crisis?

It would seem obvious that one of the first job areas to suffer during a recession would be sales. It stands to reason that when money gets tight, people have to be more selective of the things on which they spend their money. Purchases can be divided loosely into two classifications. There are luxury items and necessities. Luxury items are usually the first to get bumped off the list of pending purchases. Certain clothing purchases, jewelry and vacations would all fall into the luxury category. Food and fuel are two basic necessities of life.

A third necessity for a large majority of humans is medication. Many people literally depend upon their daily medications to stay alive. Pharmaceutical companies comprise of a multi-billion dollar business industry. These companies are working around the clock formulating, testing, improving and producing medications. They employ thousands of people whose job it is to travel around and talk to doctors and pharmacists about new types of prescription drugs, as they become available for market.

These sales representatives are highly trained in the area of sales, but also must have a vast knowledge of the products which they are introducing to the doctors. The sales representative will typically have a few short minutes out of a busy doctor's day in which to make an impact on him, on behalf of the drug company. They will have to convince the doctor that this is the drug that he should be prescribing for a particular ailment. Doctors will further research the drug before they actually prescribe it, but the sales representative must gain his interest in that drug initially.

I know a person who is employed as a pharmaceutical sales representative. She is able to work from her home most of the time. However, about once a month her company will fly her to one of several other countries to meet with a small group of doctors. At those meetings, it is her job to make presentations, answer any questions the doctors may have, and generally make them comfortable with their relationship with her drug company. Sometimes with potential customers, she must make them aware of all the many reasons why they should associate themselves with her company. Her level of travel accommodations suggests that there is no recession in the pharmaceutical industry.

For as long as there are humans, there will be ailments. That means that there will always be a need for medications, and the companies who produce them. Sadly enough, people will have to forego other purchases, if necessary, in order to be able to purchase their medications at any price. Therefore, it is a given that pharmaceutical companies will survive and thrive in any economy.