Starting Over at 64
At 64, Chris Irvine faced one of life’s biggest challenges. After relocating from Darwin to South Australia to support her aging mother’s transition to care, Chris found herself navigating an unfamiliar job market. Despite having “high profile and amazing careers” throughout her working life, finding the right fit proved more challenging than expected.
After a brief period in a role that wasn’t the right match, Chris found herself experiencing self-doubt for the first time. She realised she needed to develop new skills in presenting herself professionally and understanding modern job application processes. That’s when she discovered the skills development support at the Fleurieu Study Hub.
Learning New Approaches
Working with Emma, the Student Support Officer, proved to be exactly what Chris needed. “From my first meeting with Emma my spirits lifted as she believed in me wholeheartedly,” Chris recalls. It wasn’t just the professional expertise that impressed her, but the genuine commitment to helping Chris develop the skills she needed to achieve her career goals.
The learning began with developing professional presentation skills through resume writing. While Chris had extensive experience and impressive qualifications, learning how to present them in a clear, professional format that would catch an employer’s attention was a new skill area to explore. Working collaboratively with Emma, Chris gained insights into effective resume structure and presentation. Through this collaborative process, Chris learned about restructuring and highlighting strengths and achievements she had undervalued or wasn’t sure how to showcase effectively.
This skills-focused approach extended to interview preparation as well. The Study Hub taught Chris about portfolio development for interviews – an idea she hadn’t considered before. Learning how to curate and present tangible examples of her experience proved valuable, with interview panels commenting positively on having concrete examples of her work and experience to refer to during the conversation.
Building Confidence Through Skills Development
Chris describes Emma and the Study Hub staff as “very, very supportive and in tune with how I was feeling.” This understanding and empathy was exactly what Chris needed as she worked to rebuild her confidence through developing new professional skills.
When asked about her outlook before and after working with the Fleurieu Study Hub, Chris’s response shows the impact of this skills development:
Before: “I was filled with self-doubt and would take whatever I could get.” After: With newfound confidence in her abilities and skills: “I am worthy of the great position that I secured… I feel worthy and confident.”
A Successful Outcome
The results speak for themselves. Chris secured her ideal position, and her new employers are “very happy and excited” that she’s joining their team. “It finally feels as though I’ve ended up where I should be,” she says.
For Chris, the biggest achievement wasn’t just getting the job – it was developing the skills and confidence to recognise her own worth after a challenging period.
Chris’s Advice
Chris’s advice to anyone considering registering with the Fleurieu Study Hub ? “The services are excellent and I have no hesitation in recommending them.”
She’s so impressed with the service that she’s actively promoting it in her community.
Her final message? “Thank you – you are absolute SUPER STARS!!!!”
