Dear readers and job-seekers, today's post is the final chapter in series on women making career choices, rising from the ashes of lay-offs, and finding positive outcomes from situations that seemed less-than-optimal. I've found these stories inspirational and impressive.

Wendy (Portland, OR) -  I left a job and it was a really positive experience! I was working in a very conservative suburban community and felt out of place, but was trying to make a go of it. However, my supervisor began to make it very uncomfortable for me. It felt like she was going out of her way to find fault with my work and attack me for things that others in my position also struggled with, or that hadn't been considered a problem before. Co-workers told me that in the past she'd picked people to scapegoat, and suggested that I save my career and leave. Eventually my union became involved. My union representative said this supervisor had gone after employees before, and one day the union was going to be able to take her down. Unfortunately, I was imperfect and naive enough, and the supervisor was skilled enough, that the union didn't feel it had a rock-solid case against her. So even my union representative suggested that I save my career and leave (ouch!) So I gave notice and walked away, without another job lined up. It was a huge relief, I drove to the main office to hand in my letter of resignation singing along with my car stereo at the top of my voice! I found a job that wasn't quite what I wanted, in a friendly, urban, more tolerant environment, in hopes of transferring to something more appropriate, but I've grown to love this position and am finishing my fourth year here. Also, oddly, the woman whom I replaced at my current job took my old suburban job. I hear she's moved on since then...

Jasmine (Seattle) - In 1997, I was doing my best to fit into the non-academic world. I was on contract at the Port of Seattle, Economic and Trade Development and really wanting to stay on. But, I had to take a required break in service. That summer, I was recruited to work on my first contract at Microsoft. I loved it, and have been contracting there for 11 years.

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In coming posts, you can read about finding positive and creative outlets for your time, while laid off, and I'm hoping some executives will talk to me about their work/life balance challenges during this economic downturn.

Taking a staycation, or a daycation, this summer? Try these templates: Family travel itinerary, Scrapbook page collection, and you can let everyon know how fun it was with Family vacation newsletter.

Stay tuned,

- Ed