From 70 Rejections to His Dream Role: Derek’s Story
From Air Force Technician to Aviation Consultant
Defence & Aviation“I went from constant rejection to landing my dream job because of my qualifications.”
Highest Qualification Achieved
BSB50420 Diploma of Leadership and Management
PSP50416 Diploma of Government Investigations
Other Qualification Achieved
CPP50619 Diploma of Security and Risk Management
BSB51319 Diploma of Work Health and Safety
Key Outcomes at a Glance
Derek gained qualifications, secured his dream role, and achieved career recognition and salary growth.
Aviation Consultant
Job Level
Four Diplomas Across Leadership, WHS, Risk & Investigations
Qualification
Immediate Job Offers After RPL
RPL Completion
Defence to Aviation & Government
Industry
Aviation Consultant
Job Level
Four Diplomas Across Leadership, WHS, Risk & Investigations
Qualification
Immediate Job Offers After RPL
RPL Completion
Defence to Aviation & Government
Industry
Background and Starting Point
Derek spent 27 years in the military as an aviation mechanic before struggling to secure stable civilian employment.
Previous Role
Royal Australian Air Force Aviation Technician Flight Sergeant equivalent (27-year career)
Industry
Defence
At This Point
Highly experienced but unable to secure stable civilian employment
The Journey Begins
1
Extensive Technical and Leadership Experience
Over 27 years in the Air Force, Derek developed advanced technical, operational, and leadership capabilities in aviation.
2
Challenges in Civilian Transition
Despite his experience, Derek struggled to secure long-term roles, facing repeated job rejections due to the lack of recognised civilian qualifications.
3
The Hidden Problem
Despite his experience, Derek lacked the formal qualifications required for civilian roles, leading to repeated job rejection.
Why Churchill Education?
Why Derek Keir Decided on RPL with Churchill
Turned experience into recognised qualifications and real opportunities
“I thought it was too good to be true, but it changed everything for me.
Derek
Key Reasons
Applied for close to 70 jobs with no success
Constantly blocked by lack of formal qualifications
Needed credibility in the civilian job market
Wanted a faster alternative to retraining
The Turning Point
RPL transformed Derek’s experience into qualifications that led directly to job success.
Background Journey
Derek connected with a Churchill advisor, submitted his evidence, and had his extensive military experience assessed, including technical skills, leadership, compliance, and operational responsibilities, resulting in multiple nationally recognised qualifications.
Phase 01
Frustration
After years of rejection and even working in a toxic workplace, Derek reached a breaking point.
Phase 02
Searching for Solutions
He spent over 12 months looking for a way to have his military experience recognised.
Phase 03
Discovering Churchill Education
After seeing Churchill multiple times, he decided to take action and make the call.
Phase 04
Qualifications Awarded
Derek achieved four diplomas, validating his experience at a level employers could understand.
Challenges and How They Were Overcome
Derek faced ongoing rejection and lack of recognition, which was resolved through gaining formal qualifications.
Who this is suitable for
Challenge 1: Repeated Job Rejection
Despite strong experience, Derek was unable to secure roles in the civilian market.
Solution 1: Formal Qualifications
RPL provided the recognised credentials employers required.
Challenge 2: Lack of Credibility on Paper
His experience wasn’t translating into something employers could easily assess.
Solution 2: Standardised Recognition
Qualifications created a clear benchmark that employers understood.
Career Outcome and Impact
Derek secured his dream job with higher pay and strong career progression opportunities.
Current Position
Aviation Consultant, Jacobs Australia
Defence & Emergency ServicesImmediate Breakthrough
Secured a government role immediately after gaining qualifications.
Career Acceleration
Landed his dream job shortly after, with near 100% job application success.
Financial Outcome
Earning $100K+, exceeding previous income levels.
Recognition and Confidence
Experience validated both externally (employers) and internally (self-belief).
The RPL Experience
RPL gave Derek a fast, practical way to convert decades of experience into recognised qualifications.
Initial Engagement
Connected with Churchill after seeing multiple ads.
Evidence Collection
Provided military experience and supporting documentation.
Expert Matching
Churchill identified multiple diploma-level qualifications.
Outcome
Four diplomas awarded, unlocking immediate career opportunities.
Derek’s Advice to Others
Derek’s Insights on Navigating Career Change with Confidence
“I’d spent nearly 12 months searching for a company that would truly recognise the skills and experience I’d gained during my time in the military. It often felt frustrating, as if all those years of hard work weren’t being fully acknowledged. When I first came across the opportunity, I honestly thought it sounded too good to be true—but I also knew I had nothing to lose by making that call.
Looking back now, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Gaining my qualifications not only validated my experience but also gave me the confidence to move forward in a completely new direction. Since then, I’ve been encouraging all my friends and former colleagues to reach out as well, because I know how much of a difference it can make.
It’s truly been life-changing. The doors it has opened—both professionally and personally—have been incredible, creating opportunities I never thought possible.”
Looking Back: Reflection and Summary
Derek Keir's final thoughts on their journey with Churchill Education
“I was gobsmacked with the qualifications I achieved. I didn’t think I’d end up with four. It completely changed what I thought was possible.”
– Derek Keir
Don’t Let Lack of Qualifications Hold You Back
Your experience has value, but it needs to be recognised in a way employers understand.
Take Action Instead of Waiting
Derek delayed making the call. Once he did, everything changed.
Translate Your Defence Experience
Civilian employers need a clear, standardised way to assess your skills.
Use Qualifications to Unlock Opportunity
Once recognised, Derek went from constant rejection to consistent success.
Back Yourself and Your Experience
You’re likely more qualified than you think. The issue is recognition, not capability.