I’m on my fourth career – or is it my fifth? My first was as a journalist in Melbourne and I travelled overseas, working as a reporter.

I worked as a senior media adviser in Canberra (God help me) and before that I was the head of the writing programs at RMIT. I taught people how to write simply. In another faculty, I taught organisational systems.

I worked for the Australian Public Service in Canberra in labour market strategy and career advice, as a communications expert. I focused on some of the toughest unemployment areas in Australia after the GFC. I also worked for the Royal Flying Doctor Service and in the outback.

My skills lie in persuasion and story-telling. Much of my resume writing and employment services work comes from people in Adelaide and Wollongong, because I know those areas. Of late, I have been getting requests from international clients.

I’ve written more than 3000 resumes and cover letters with a 65-70 per cent short-list rate.

I still work as a freelance journalist and I write occasionally for local media and for South East Asian newspapers. I recently went to Sri Lanka to do a story on ocean plastics.

I surf (badly) and enjoy rock fishing. I live with my wife, Kate and our old black Labrador, Georgy, down the beach.

I’ve been writing short stories for some years. I’ve lived much of my life near the sea, so the stories sometimes have ocean settings.

My work isn’t a job. It’s a privilege.