Journalist Rene Lynch's career advice is simple, succinct and damn good: "Figure out what you really want. Then figure out your dream way of doing it. And then work backwards."
Her bottom line: You're unlikely to be given a plum assignment, so go out and take it.
Rene took a bit of her own advice when she worked out her current gig as a national staff writer and assistant food editor at the Los Angeles Times. The Times' web editor was looking for writers and editors who wanted to be on the front line of news stories, writing for the website's blog Nation Now. Rene loved her job in the paper's Food section, but her interest was piqued. The Times agreed she could continue to write for Food on occasion, and voila! She has the best of both worlds.
Read on for more about Rene's work, her take on the journalism industry and some seriously great career advice. We particularly love Rene's take on the challenges facing working women — and even more so, the opportunities she sees for that group ahead.