For 15th month, eurozone private sector shrinks; Dow 15,000 and the big disconnect; Worst countries for childbirth; What makes you unique?

1 For 15^th month, eurozone private sector shrinks (Rupert Neate in The Guardian) The eurozone's private sector shrank for the 15th consecutive month in April – suggesting the single currency area will fall deeper into recession. Germany, the powerhouse of the eurozone, also suffered a contraction in business activity during the month, which could send a worrying signal for the rest of the bloc.

An official indication of eurozone GDP is due next week and the president of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, stressed that the policymakers would be ready to cut rates again after taking a quarter of a percentage point off the benchmark rate to a record low of 0.5% last week. Tim Moore, a senior economist at Markit, said prospects for Germany's service sector were increasingly gloomy. "A renewed slide in services output during April, alongside falling manufacturing production, raises the risk that the German economy will fail to expand over the second quarter," he said.

Howard Archer, chief UK and European economist at IHS Global Insight, said: "The latest data and survey evidence fuel concern that the eurozone is headed for further GDP contraction in the second quarter after highly likely suffering a sixth successive quarter of contraction in the first quarter of 2013."

2 Dow 15,000 and the big disconnect (Jeff Sommer in The New York Times) It’s a ho-hum economy, at best. Four years after the end of the Great Recession, gross domestic product appears to be growing at a lackluster pace, labor productivity is lagging and, despite a slight improvement last month, the unemployment rate is still a painfully high 7.5%. Yet in the financial markets, it’s a much happier world. An epic rally in stocks has been roaring ahead, with the Dow Jones industrial average on Friday briefly surpassing 15,000 for the first time.

In short, it’s been a giddy time to be an investor. But while the financial markets are soaring, the real economy appears to be mired in an endless slog. That discrepancy raises a troubling question: How long can financial portfolios continue to swell if wages, employment and corporate revenue remain constrained? Unfortunately, there is no clear answer.

“The beauty of economics is that we are still arguing about the causes of the start and the end of the Great Depresssion” said James W Paulsen, the chief investment strategist at Wells Capital Management in Minneapolis. “We’ll be debating these questions for the rest of our lives.” He says the stock market rally can continue so long as the economy keeps growing at what he prefers to call a “modest” pace, rather than a disappointing one. And, he said, it’s robust enough for American corporations to churn out solid profits that will bolster stock returns. That provides no comfort for people who are out of work or earning inadequate wages, he said, but it may reassure investors and be useful for public policy. 

A sharp drop in sales and profit margins might be an early indicator of an outright recession. That would bring untold pain to many people, not just stock investors. It may not be a great economy, but the financial markets are partying on. 

3 The worst countries for childbirth (Sarah Boseley in The Guardian) The worst place in the world to give birth is the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a woman has a one in 30 chance of dying as a result – while the best is Finland, where the risk of death is one in 12,200, according to a new analysis. The top end of the table is dominated by European countries and Australia. The UK manages only 25th place, although it is ranked higher than the US at 30th.

"The 10 top-ranked countries, in general, are among the best countries in the world for mothers' and children's health, educational, economic and political status," says the report. "The 10 bottom-ranked countries – all from sub-Saharan Africa – are a reverse image of the top 10, performing poorly on all indicators. Conditions for mothers and their children in these countries are devastating."

In the bottom 10 countries, which include Nigeria, Gambia and Somalia, one woman in 30 is likely to die of a pregnancy-related cause. In these countries, one child in seven dies under the age of five, compared with one in 345 in Finland. Children get between two and nine years of education at best, whereas in Finland they can expect 17.

4 What makes you unique? (Kim Thompson in San Francisco Chronicle) The first question an interviewer will likely ask you is “Who are you?”  The answer to this question is what sets you apart from candidates who could have the same credentials and background. These are your soft skills. One of the best ways to address the question is by writing a strong resume summary. A summary helps you focus on what makes you unique and will improve your resume and help you gather your thoughts before an interview, as well.

Not many say what they really do that makes them stand out from a group. They rely on frequently used phrases without much thought. Here’s the point: During a job search, interviewers want you to tell them who you are by using your own words not phrases that blend in with everyone else. If you struggle with talking about yourself — and most people do — ask someone close to you to list three of your strengths. Their answers can help boost your confidence and give you a more-objective view of yourself.

In today’s job market, you can’t rely on interviewers to draw answers out of you or to read between the lines on your resume to discover the hidden value you bring to a company. If you can’t verbalize what sets you apart from another candidate, you probably sound like everyone else. Employers are interested in hearing how well you present your skills and what makes you unique and memorable.