Member Articles

Do good works... but don't over-volunteer. As women (and those of who are moms, too), the chance to finally have some time at home apart from a 12-hour-a-day work grind might open the door to all the extras we always wished we could do. Volunteer more at school. Take on a scout troop. Plan a fundraiser. Again, a great opportunity. But choose well. Don't over-commit and find yourself without enough time to do what you really need to do -- find a job -- and what you want to do -- spend more time with your family or devote more time to getting healthy and in shape.

Keep some shopping bags handy. OK, this is a humorous piece of advice from my very funny friend who seriously kept Abercrombie & Fitch shopping bags in her Wall Street desk. Why? So when the day came -- and, yes, experience told her it would come -- that she was laid off and told to leave immediately Wall-Street-style, she could put her belongings into shopping bags rather than a Xerox box. Out on the street, she looked like she'd just hit a good sale rather than being hit with a pink slip. No stares. No AP photos. Brilliant and prepared.

Now, I know many of you have been in transition, too. Maybe you are right now. So please: Add your wisdom to the mix.