say things like 'Beth and I were just discussing ... ' They hate it." When you're just starting out or changing careers, seek out women in your industry and build relationships with them. It sometimes seems easier to ask for quick favors, but often that will not be well-received. Roussel recommends -- particularly to women starting out in a new industry -- finding a woman who is doing exactly what you want to do and offering to work for her for free. While this may not be feasible over a long-term period, try helping a woman you'd like to shadow once a week. Not only will you be obtaining a free education, but you also are likely to come away from it with a stellar relationship. 6. Keep personal life personal In most modern work environments, the line between friends and co-workers is often blurred, and before you know it, your entire office knows about your marital woes or your chronic insomnia. Mandell advises against revealing too much about your personal life in the workplace. "Be it romantic life, home life or health," she said, "if you say you have a headache, guys are going to think, 'Oh, it's that time of the month.' " Gushing about your personal problems will give colleagues an altered perception of who you are as a person. The relationships will seem more frivolous and casual. And while there's no problem with being friends outside of work with your co-workers, refrain from talking about last