Yesterday Brighton’s Media Jobs and Skills fair was a huge success. We talked to hundreds of potential freelancers from the recently redundant and looking to start a new career to students wanting to go straight into freelance — avoiding the traditional desk job altogether. It was really inspiring to see so many people interested in freelancing and we had over 100 new freelancers sign up for our ‘Go Freelance’ guide during the event.

The day was rounded off perfectly by academic, BBC filmmaker and Guardian journalist Dr Aleks Krotoski talking to an audience of students and staff at the Sussex University Enterprise Thursday’s event — and the good doctor was very happy to extol the virtues of Working for Yourself and Working from Home.

Video: Dr Aleks Krotoski on Working For Yourself:

When asked to talk about her ‘Big Break’ Dr K bounced around the stage telling the eager audience how they can get ahead in academia, media and publishing. Krotoski advised students to be prepared… it’s no good telling an editor you have great ideas if you’ve got nothing to show when they ask ‘let’s see what you’ve got’.

For those who don’t yet have anything to show Dr K’s advice was simple. “Make stuff!”

“Write a blog, show your expertise, be specific, go out there and do it. And make it unique and different. You also need to come up with great ideas, but you need to be immersed in your area of expertise so you know what’s good and what’s not”.

And, when it comes to ‘getting a foot in the door’ you just need to “make those calls and emails” and “be prepared” when opportunity comes your way.

For future Enterprise Thursday’s events and to play their brand, new game ‘Hooked on Enterprise’ go to http://www.sussex.ac.uk/enterprise/