Should freelancers share contacts A guide to protecting your work

Should freelancers share contacts A guide to protecting your workShould freelancers share contacts A guide to protecting your workIve been freelancing for nearly 15 years. Though it has ebbed and flowed, grown and changed over many seasons, Ive created a few solid rules that define my working style and lifestyle. One of those is an attitude toward networking. Whether it is the owner of a new hotel opening for a travel piece Im writing, or one of the many executives I interview for stories on this very blog, staying connected and updated is a core part of my job description. This also requires a positive dynamic with publicists who represent various brands, people and places, and beyond. And of course, last by not least, other journalists.Perhaps because wordsmith minds think alike, but Im lucky to have developed many close relationships with other writers, and we serve as each others sounding board, gurus and reality checks.Even so, one of the more complicated aspects of my gig to na vigate is referrals. Its a natural part of any industry, but one that can be tricky for freelancers since our income is all based on the clients we serve. When you share their information, you risk losing some of that steady flow of cash that deposits into your bank account each month. Even so, some moonlighters swear by the power of connection, believing it stimulates more work for both parties.Though everyone has their own philosophy, understanding what youre willing to share or trade is a fundamental part of how you operate. Personally? I have a very small list of who Im willing to discuss contacts with - especially when Im recommending another person for an opportunity. I do subscribe to the concept of bringing together good people - but I have to know wholeheartedly they are an impressive candidate before passing them along to someone I respect.Here, other freelancers share how they network while protecting their clientsBe mindful of who you are bringing togetherFreelance wri ter Isis Briones votes yes to sharing contacts since she considers herself someone who relies heavily on networking.I strongly believe in good karma. In my experience, people never forget those who help them out, she explains. Its simple if you share contacts The other person is likely to reciprocate - and maybe even with a connection you need. Plus, it never hurts to have someone owe you oneDoes that mean Briones hands out information willy-nilly? Definitely not. She stresses the importance of being mindful of who you are putting in touch. While you may want to lend an extra hand (and hope they do the same for you one day), understanding their expertise and experience will ensure you protect your reputation. To do this, keeping company with others in your same realm can be meaningful.I recommend surrounding yourself with like-minded freelancers. Without even asking, writers tend to follow my lead once I start sharing contacts. People who have been doing this a long time know the v alue of community and we look out for each other, she adds.Dont give away what youre sellingPrincipal and publicist Sarah Doheny says sharing client information isnt a recommended path, depending on your industry. For public relations, it can be a tricky slope, since its vital to maintain control over your relationships with media and to foster those often delicate foundations.Many journalists do not appreciate being contacted repeatedly, and many dont even like it if you reach out via phone. Anyone in PR knows this, but the average client may not understand or respect that, she explains.Though she might be available to offer advice to budding publicists or another agency once her work with a client has passed, she urges freelancers to remember why youre being paid. If you give out the information, the services or the goods youre hired to create - they no longer need you.You took the time to sell you and your company along with your knowledge to the client, youre hired now. Why wou ld you give away proprietary information? she continues. If you do that, you can sabotage yourself and your integrity to the industry.Trade Just dont sharePresident of NB Talent Services, Nicole Pomije, has a philosophy toward freelancing trade. While giving away an email or making an intro with nothing in return can sometimes make you feel like youre left hanging and unsure of what will happen next. Or, if youll be given something beneficial in return, when you work with another respected freelancer to both scratch each others back, its much more comfortable.I dont think there is any harm in helping one another as long as its a two-way street. If I have a contact who I know would be interested in a friend or colleagues client I definitely share because I am helping all parties, she explains. In my experience, they have always been there to help me in exchange. Sometimes its an email introduction and other times its simply sharing an email address and they can do with it as they pl ease.Keep track of who you knowMost importantly though, Pomije says what will help freelancers the most is managing their contacts in whatever way works for them. While she tends to be more old school with an excel sheet, apps like Circleback or Full Contact make it easier and digital.When you first meet a new contact in person, shoot them an email right away, so you are fresh on their mind and you have their information stored. You want that card on the backburner - because, you never know

Top Jobs for Biology Degree Majors

Top Jobs for Biology Degree MajorsTop Jobs for Biology Degree MajorsMedical school isnt the only option for graduates with a bachelors degree in biology although you may still have to invest in additional education beyond a four-year degree to get started.A biology degree opens the door to many career possibilities. If youre a student who loves science and is intrigued by the study of living things, a biology degree might be the perfect choice to launch you on your career path.Just ask your college career center or alumni office for a list of alumni who were biology majors, and you will be amazed by the variety of options pursued by graduates within that discipline.Wondering what some of the career options are for a biology major? Read this list of 10 common career choices for biology majors plus, a description of the skills youll gain during your studies. 01Biological TechnicianBiological technicians use the laboratory skills and techniques that biology majors learn in their labs, academic research, and collaborative research with faculty.Technicians must carry out studies that yield accurate results. They document results and perform calculations just as they have done when compiling reports as a biology major.Many new graduates who choose not to go on to graduate school or want to postpone graduate study find technician positions with researchers at medical schools, government agencies, non-profit research centers, or pharmaceutical/biotechnology firms.Additional InformationBiological Technician CareersBiological Technician Salary02BiochemistBiochemists play a key role in the fast-growing fields of biotechnology and biomedical research. Studying biology equips them with the laboratory and scientific research skills and knowledge to design and execute studies to develop new products. (Note fruchtwein jobs in this field will require an advanced degree.)Knowledge of anatomy and physiology helps biochemists to understand the impact of drugs and biotechnology s olutions on the human body.Presentation and writing skills cultivated as a biology major help them to present proposals and findings to colleagues and potential funding sources.Additional InformationBiochemist CareersBiochemist Salary03Genetic CounselorGenetic counselors assess the genetic makeup of clients and communicate with them about the risk of transmitting a genetic disease or disability to their offspring. They might also work with adults who are concerned about the chances of showing symptoms of genetic disorders later in life.They must have an advanced aptitude in biology to complete the required masters degree in the discipline.Genetic counselors must be able to express scientific concepts in everyday language. Like a biology major, they must be able to think quantitatively to assess the likelihood of various outcomes based on the genetic predisposition of the patients.Genetic counselors must have advanced knowledge of the scientific method to evaluate the usefulness of a rapidly growing body of research about the human genome.Additional InformationGenetic Counselor CareersGenetic Counselor Salary04Health Communications SpecialistHealth communications specialists are responsible for educating communities about health concerns, particularly public health issues, including communicable diseases, health management, and healthy living.Often employed by hospitals or other healthcare companies, health communications specialists may also coordinate the institutions public relations campaigns, marketing strategies, and community involvement.This career requires strong writing, and interpersonal skills as health communications specialists are responsible for discussing topics related to human health and disease to a wide audience.A biology major provides a strong foundation and may offer an edge over other individuals who lack a background in hard science. Unlike many jobs on this list, health communications specialists can get started on their career with j ust a bachelors degree.Additional InformationCommunity Health Worker CareersCommunity Health Worker SalaryPublic Relations Specialist CareersPublic Relations Specialist Salary05Health EducatorHealth educators teach people about certain practices and behaviors that promote wellness. They must have scientific knowledge to digest information and gesangsknstler research about public health concerns. They use the scientific method to assess the needs of their constituents so they can design relevant programs.Health educators need a solid understanding of human biology as well as verbal communication skills to convey scientific information in a language that their clients can easily comprehend.Health educators, like biology majors, write about scientific topics like nutrition, safe sex, substance abuse, and stress reduction. They, therefore, need strong written communication skills. Employers may also require the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential in addition to a bac helors degree.Additional InformationHealth Educator CareersHealth Educator Salary06Pharmaceutical / Medical Product Sales RepresentativePharmaceutical or medical product sales representatives sell medical supplies, IT products, medicines, and more to hospitals, clinics, and other medical practices.Pharmaceutical sales representatives must have a strong knowledge of chemistry, anatomy, and physiology so that they can explain to doctors how a new drug will affect their patients.These workers need to have the technological knowledge to explain how a product works. They also need the scientific knowledge to be able to explain how this product will benefit both doctor and patient.Pharmaceutical or medical product sales representatives need strong communication and interpersonal skills as well. A bachelors degree is often enough education to get started in this occupation.Additional InformationPharmaceutical / Medical Product Sales Representative CareersPharmaceutical / Medical Product Sa les Representative Salary07Physician Assistant and Nurse PractitionerPhysician assistants and nurse practitioners are in high demand as front-line service providers. Biology provides an excellent foundation for graduate work in these similar professions.Physician assistants and nurse practitioners must have a sound understanding of human biological systems, anatomy, and physiology to diagnose medical problems. They also need a biology majors advanced knowledge of the scientific method to interpret emerging research about various treatment options and medications.Physician assistants and nurse practitioners must have an aptitude for learning and remembering scientific and medical terminology. These careers require at least a masters degree.Additional InformationPhysician Assistant CareersPhysician Assistant SalaryNurse Practitioner CareersNurse Practitioner Salary08Medical and Health Services ManagerMedical and health services managers spend much of their time interacting with health service professionals and must be equipped to communicate with them about scientific policies and procedures.They must be able to interpret scientific regulations related to medical services, and modify programs accordingly.Medical and health services managers often hire, supervise, and evaluate health professionals and researchers. They must be able to understand the nuances of their credentials and performance as they assess candidates and employees.Additional InformationMedical and Health Services Managers CareersMedical and Health Services Salary09AttorneyBiology majors can excel in many areas of the law that draw on scientific knowledge and reasoning. Patent and intellectual property lawyers need to understand the science behind biotechnology products, drugs, and medical instruments to process applications for patents and defend clients against infringement.Environmental attorneys support and contest environmental projects and policies based on an understanding of how they wil l impact the ecosystem.Medical malpractice lawyers must have the scientific knowledge required to analyze medical interventions and judge whether health professionals have acted ethically and correctly.Biology majors learn to gather evidence to test a hypothesis. Litigation and criminal lawyers must do the same as they build a case for a client.Add to that the technical nature of physical evidence such as DNA samples, and it is easy to see why man biology majors decide to go on to law school.Additional InformationBecoming a LawyerHow Much Do Lawyers Make?10Financial AnalystFinancial analysts evaluate stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other investments for clients and businesses. Biology majors can use their advanced mathematical skills to help assess the success of various investments.Most analysts focus on specific industries, and biology majors are particularly well suited for working as analysts in biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical products, health services, and environmental companies.Financial analysts, like biology majors, use computer-based resources to gather and analyze data to draw conclusions. They must have the writing skills to generate reports summarizing their findings. A bachelors degree is often enough to get started in a career as a financial analyst.Additional InformationFinancial Analyst CareersFinancial Analyst Salary11Skills and Abilities Gained With a Biology MajorBiology majors learn to apply the scientific method, set up experiments, and use scientific equipment. They learn laboratory techniques and procedures along with how to gather, organize, and analyze data.Biology majors can carry out complex mathematical and statistical computations. They understand scientific concepts and master scientific terminology. They also learn to present research findings both orally and in writing, using charts and graphs to illustrate results.As a result, biology majors sharpen their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Biology majors lea rn to be precise, systematic, and detail oriented as they carry out their research and laboratory projects. The skills that biology majors acquire can be applied to both scientific and non-scientific jobs after graduation.12Biology Majors Skills ListHeres a list of the skills that employers seek when hiring biology majors. Skills vary by job, so also review these skills lists for a variety of different occupations.Highlight the skills you acquired during your studies, internships, and jobs held during college in your cover letters, resumes, and job applications.If you are not aya what career you want, look at this list and highlight the skills you possess. Then look back at the list of biology careers, and see which ones require the skills you have.A - CAccepting constructive criticismAccuracyAnalyzing dataApplying dyes and indicators to cellsAttention to detailCalculusCollaborating with laboratory and research groupsComposing lab reportsComprehending complex scientific reading mate rialConducting quantitative researchCreating charts and graphs to represent findingsCritical ThinkingD - NDeductive reasoningDesigning methodology to test hypothesesFlexibilityGathering dataIncorporating concepts of physics into researchIntegrating principles of chemistry into researchInvestigativeKnowledge of laboratory techniquesLeading group discussionsMaking approximationsManual dexterityMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordMultitaskingNote takingO - SObservationalOrganizationalPerforming quantitative measurementsPowerPointPrecisionPredicting outcomesPreparing slidesPresenting scientific research findings to groupsPrioritizingProblem solvingProject managementReceiving and giving constructive feedbackResilienceSASSequence genomesSPSSStatistical analysisStress managementT - Z TaxonomyTeamworkTest takingTime managementUsing electron microscopesVerbal communicationWorking independentlyWriting essaysWriting scientific research papers

Surround yourself with people who hold you to a higher standard

Surround yourself with people who hold you to a higher voreingestelltSurround yourself with people who hold you to a higher standardTheres some interesting research in social psychology explaining how most people form their peer groups. Especially as children and adolescence - but often as adults - people select their friends based on proximity mora than anything else.Even in a college classroom, who are you going to make friends with? Its not those who have similar personalities and interests. Its the people you literally sit next to.As a general rule philanthropisch behavior is almost always based on the path of least resistance. If its convenient, it often happens.Socioeconomically, there is loads of research showing a persons social mobility - or ability to upgrade their economic status - is highly determined by the county they live in. In certain counties, your chances of improving your financial situation are very good. In others, like the one our three foster children came from, your chances of improving your financial situation are slim-to-none.Put most simply, what stands in nearest proximity to you has enormous implications. As Jim Rohn has wisely said, You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Similarly, Tim Sanders, former Yahoodirector, said, Your network is your net worth.Your input shapes your outlookYour input determines your outlook. Your outlook determines your output, and your output determines your future. - Zig ZiglarQuite literally, you are what you consume.You are the product of your environment and experiences.While growing up, there is a great deal you cannot control in your life, when it comes to your environment and experiences. As economist, fruchtmark Caine, said, The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself.Very few people grow up unscathed from the experience of growing up. Many people - if not most - go through deeply t raumatic experiences. Very few people do the deep work of solving those internal thorns, but instead build their life around them in the form of reasons.Dan Sullivan, founder of Strategic Coach, has said, There are two types of people, those who get results and those who have reasons for not getting results. Dont be a person with reasons.If youre the product of your situation and experiences, then what are you to do?You absolutely do have agency - or the ability to make choices.Without question, external influences matter. But it is your responsibility to shape those external influences and experiences.It is your job to shape the garden of your mind.It is your job to shape the people you surround yourself with.It is your job to create life-transforming experiences.If youre waiting for your external situation to change on its own, then youre being a victim to circumstance. In other words, youre being an object which is being acted upon.As a human being, you have the innate ability t o not only react to your circumstances, but to impact your circumstances and make them a product of you.It starts with the decision to change.You must proactively choose to start changing your life, your surroundings, your inputs, and your experiences.You need to raise your standards for yourself and your life.You raise your standards by improving the external inputs you let it. You start listening to better music, learning from better sources, surrounding yourself with better friends.Overtime, youre going to adapt to whatever you consistently interact with. This is a concept in biology known as structural coupling, which means that with repeated interactions, two things become more closely alike.As psychologist, Dr. Wendy Watson Nelson, has saidStructural coupling involves two entities having interactions with each other over a period of time. Each interaction between the two triggers changes. Through this history of interactions, the two distinct entities become less different fro m each other - they become more alike and there is an increasingly better fit over time. Like feet and shoes, like two stones rubbed together, they change in concert with each other.When you realize how flexible your brain, identity, and life are - you begin to be very thoughtful about how you live your life.You begin to think about how every thing you allow into you life has an influence on you.Structural coupling is a real thing.Therefore, the more elevated your standards become, the less willing you are to let low-quality inputs into your life, knowing they could have a negative effect. As BaseCamp founder, Jason Fried, said, Im pretty oblivious to a lot of things intentionally. I dont want to be influenced that much.If Youre Feeling Stuck - Upgrade Your SurroundingsWho are the people in nearest proximity to you?How did they become your peer group?Was it on purpose or based on convenience?Do these people hold you to a high standard?Or, do they hold you to an even lower standar d than you hold yourself?If you want to improve and succeed in your life, you need to surround yourself with people who have higher standards than you do. As Tony Robbins has said, your life is a reflection of your standards, or what youre willing to tolerate. Most people are willing to tolerate unhealthy relationships, poor finances, and jobs they hate. If not so, those things wouldnt be in their lives.Recently, Ive been getting help from Ryan Holiday, author of several books, on a book proposal Im working on. Personally, I welches extremely satisfied with the manuscript several iterations ago. Yet, every time I send him a draft, he shows me why and how it could be 10X better, and he holds me to that standard.Looking back now at the product I was formerly satisfied with, I actually cringe. Wow, my standards for my work are so much lower than Ryans standards for my work.The same is true of my Ph.D. research adviser. Ill send her a research paper Im satisfied with and shell not be sa tisfied at all. Shell then challenge me to rethink things and go much deeper. Although this is challenging and even frustrating, its how you get better.This isnt true just in working relationships.What about your romantic partner?Do they hold you to a high standard?Do they help you become more than you currently are?Do you help them?The 80/20 rule applies to people and peer groups. 20 percent of the population is moving forward, 60 percent of population reactively mimics whoever they are around at the time, and 20 percent of the population is moving backwards.Most people are a direct reflection of those around them. If the people around them have lower standards, they drop theirs as well. If the people around them have higher standards, they raise their game.Youve been around people who, simply by being around them, elevated your thinking and energy. Those are the kinds of people you need to surround yourself with. Those are the kinds of people you need to be like yourself, so that others are better simply by being around you.The quality of your life and the quality of your work is determined by the standards you have for yourself, and the standards of those around you. If youre fine doing mediocre work, than those around you are as well.If you genuinely want to become better, you must surround yourself with people who will hold you to a higher standard than you currently hold yourself. You want to be around people with a higher and better vantage-point than you have, so that you can quickly learn from them.Your level of talent and potential are irrelevant if youre surrounded by people who dont help you realize it. We all know many people who have unfulfilled potential. Dont let that be you.Who you surround yourself with has huge consequences. You cant ignore this. What are you going to do about it?Ready to upgrade?Ive created a cheat sheet for putting yourself into a PEAK-STATE, immediately. You follow this daily, your life will change very quickly.Get the ch eat sheet hereThis article first appeared on Medium.

NASA Now Accepting Proposals for its Leading Edge Aeronautics Research Program

NASA Now Accepting Proposals for its Leading Edge Aeronautics Research Program NASA Now Accepting Proposals for its Leading Edge Aeronautics Research Program NASA Now Accepting Proposals for its Leading Edge Aeronautics Research ProgramThe NASA Aeronautics Research Institute is currently accepting proposals from multi-institutional teams for its Leading Edge Aeronautics Research for NASA (LEARN) cooperative research program. Proposals to participate in LEARN must clearly articulate an innovative, broadly based research topic addressing strategically important aeronautics technical challenges that have the potential to mature into technologies of interest to the space agencys Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate or to commercial aerospace companies.The official announcement can be viewed on the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) website at https//nspires.nasaprs.com. Teams must send a notice of intent to submit a proposal by June 14. A pre-proposal briefing for prospective participants will be held June 25, and proposals will be due July 30.More information on the LEARN program and updates to the schedule will be posted on the NSPIRES website. Registered NSPIRES account holders will be automatically notified by e-mail with updates for this solicitation and announcement of other research opportunities. To register, go to https//nspires.nasaprs.com/external/aboutRegistration.do.

What Is So Fascinating About Maintenance Worker Resume?

What Is So Fascinating About Maintenance Worker Resume? This completely free maintenance worker cover letter sample is just four paragraphs long, and you would like your own to be about precisely the same length. Any skills you add to this totally free maintenance worker cover letter sample needs to be regarding the area of general maintenance. If, however, you would like a cover letter professionally written only for you, then test out our cover letter builder. Keep in mind that you will require a cover letter to have the greatest chances of landing employment. The Maintenance Worker Resume Chronicles Some maintenance workers, especially those who have administrative responsibilities, are liable for developing and implementing a routine maintenance program to maintain a facilitys equipment ready to go. An overall maintenance technician resume should concentrate on all relevant skills associated with the particular subject of maintenance a candidate is considering. Excellen t understanding of operating characteristics of the entire variety of heavy equipment employed in the assigned area of work. Collaborates with other maintenance workers to find out the ideal strategy for required tasks. Maintenance Workers are predicted to have a fundamental understanding of facility systems like HVAC and plumbing. Maintenance mechanics are liable for diagnosing the main cause of a mechanical dicke bretter bohren mssen and applying a solution. Maintenance workers have to be in a position to work quickly under pressure in order to keep production levels. They do not require any formal education. In bigger companies, you are going to want to keep up the equipment you use to clean and keep the buildings and grounds. The business will depend on you to keep up the continued stream of operations and uninterrupted untersttzung. There are lots of explanations for why maintenance personnel are hired by a business. Utilize broad skills in construction to take part in e xcavation, site-preparation and several other building processes. The Downside Risk of Maintenance Worker Resume It is crucial that your resume skills section needs to be composed of general maintenance abilities and thoroughly specific regions of technical expertise. Naturally, each job will call for unique abilities and experiences, so make certain you read the job description with care and concentrate on the skills listed by the employer. Being part of a team demands unterstellung attributes in addition to flexibility and robust communication abilities. Be certain to include job particular skills. As an example, in your present employment, youre already handling supervisory and managerial responsibilities like handling teams and conducting training. Any extra computer skills you have is only going to boost your resume. Theres no special training needed to develop into a warehouse worker, but theres preference for people that have a high school education. Theres no typical education required from the other side of the maintenance field, as stated by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Yes, employers want to understand you have the standard hard skills for work, but if youre a quick learner, you can expand your skill set as time passes. My experience for a recreation worker previously has prepared me for this new prospect. An outstanding Maintenance Worker resume, like this example, will incorporate a variety of important skills your employer is searching for in a candidate. Because youre an expert janitor, its very likely that youve developed many skills that could assist you in finding new employment quickly, or help you attain a greater position elsewhere. A lot of the occupations require working outside, and dont involve lots of paperwork or working closely with other individuals. If youre a self-employed handyman you may just require a C-3 license to do the job. The maintenance associate only needs to use them a few times to comprehend th e method by which they operate. Then grab a tough hat and seriously look at a job for a construction worker If you wish to create a good resume, it is wise to find some samples first. After youve checked that your private information is correct, concentrate on writing a summary statement that is likely to make the employer want to keep reading. Finding the ideal job is never simple, but if you create a memorable resume, you are going to discover the practice is quite a bit more enjoyable. To help support your work search, you must have a good foundationa well-built resume.

What Everyone Else Does When It Comes to Top Resume Writing Service Reviewed and What You Should Be Doing Different

What Everyone Else Does When It Comes to Top Resume Writing Service Reviewed and What You Should Be Doing Different Your comments also signify a good deal. Remember our reviews are completely unbiased. The reviews might not be taken as the crucial aspect for making the selection of the resume writing tafelgeschirr the reviews may at times be already outdated, sometimes lack some important info, and so forth. When you employ a professional writer to assist you with the application documents, the results will differ. The service utilizes an individual approach for writing all sorts of personalized documents, including cover letters and other kinds of employment-related correspondence. When you compare various reviews, you will be able to discover the top resume services that satisfy your standards. The totally free review is really free, hassle-free, and doesnt demand a credit card to start. How to Choose Top Resume Writing Service Reviewed An excellent professional resume w riting service is the best option for everybody who needs help with applications. In addition, the organization offers career planning assistance and interview advice. If thats the case, its an indication theyre a good resume writing service to employ. Ask to see samples of earlier resumes, which can help you get a sense for the grade of the services work. For starters, though the company has done a good job in making the site design and content, theres a severe absence of service options on it. If you need a plain resume and you may write your own content, the tool will provide you the format. If you see a service we havent evaluated, dont hesitate to drop us a message and were going to take a look whenever possible. A simple online resume builder will supply you with decent results if youve got great writing skills. Simply enumerating your abilities and experiences isnt enough. Its team contains recruitment specialists, a lot of whom have postgraduate degrees and over 20 decades of experience in employment services. Whether you are a newcomer to writing resumes and cover letters or your written resume doesnt appear to secure you invited on a lot of interviews, were right here to assist you. Vital Pieces of Top Resume Writing Service Reviewed Furthermore, you might want to enhance your LinkedIn profile. Once you get your Resumes Planet custom resume, you can ask for revisions free of charge within 30 days. If youre on a budget and require a professional resume, Cheap Resume Writing Service is the best way to go. In the event you want to go started, its quite simple to order from Resume Writers.