Hands‑on job‑search execution for Project & Tech talent

This isn’t your generic coaching. It’s execution.

I started The Shortlist Coach after seeing too many capable professionals get overlooked. Contractors, delivery leads, and emerging talent.

Not because they lacked skills or aptitude, but because they didn’t know how to frame their value in a way the market actually responds to.

When you’re between contracts, every day off the tools costs you. The money hurts, but the real damage is to your confidence.

Once self-doubt creeps in, it clouds your judgement, stalls your momentum, and shows up in your applications and interviews.

I’ve spent over 20 years delivering major transformations across Australia’s leading banks, telcos, Big 4 consultancies, and government agencies.

I worked my way from junior tech SME to Program Director, leading programs worth over $100 million, and rarely spent long between contracts.

I’ve chaired hiring panels, reviewed thousands of CVs, and hired for some of the most competitive roles in the country.
I’ve helped grads to executives land jobs they didn’t think they could get, often faster than expected.

When you’re up against twenty or more strong candidates, the difference between getting selected or overlooked often comes down to the smallest details.

Clarity, positioning, and confidence matter. Getting the fundamentals right isn’t optional.

The rise of AI has made the hiring process noisier and less forgiving. If you’re not using it strategically, you’re invisible.

I help you cut through the noise and stand out. That way, you get shortlisted faster for the roles that matter and get back to where you want to be.

REAL-WORLD JOB SEARCH HELP. NO FLUFF.

My Approach

The Shortlist Coach offers hands on, real-world job search support for tech and project professionals who want to stand out in Australia's increasingly competitive market.
No fluff. No vague advice. Just hands on help and guidance based covering how hiring actually works, and what it really takes to get shortlisted

- Simon Darmody

MBA (UNSW AGSM), CISSP, CISM, PMP

Let’s Work Together

Sessions available online or in-person (Sydney)

This isn’t one of those post-redundancy packages where you’re handed a workbook and a pep talk from someone out of touch. I don’t deal in vague advice or recycled templates. I show you what works right now in the Aussie job market.
Not sure what you need? Start with a Discovery Session.
I'll map out where you are, where you want to go, and how to improve your traction.
There’s no pressure to continue after that.

📩 SIMON@SHORTLISTCOACH.COM.AU

Testimonials

"I was between contracts and bleeding cash. Paying for help felt like a gamble ... but Simon rebuilt how I was showing up. CV, pitch, the way I talked about my experience, he flipped it. I landed 3 interviews within a week. It completely changed the game for me."

— Aidan, Network Architect in Banking

"After I took a year off to help [my daughter] through her HSC I figured getting another role wouldn’t be a problem. I’d run major programs, managed national infrastructure, but nothing was landing. No callbacks, no interviews. I was starting to doubt myself to the point, honestly I was even considering early retirement. Simon helped me reset. We repositioned my experience, updated how I approached recruiters, and got the "story" straight. It wasn’t about starting over, it was about making sure the right things came through. It's genuinly made a big difference to how I hold myself and the market is responding”

— Sandra, IT Executive in NSW Gov

🔍 Stand Out — Before You Even Apply

Optimise your CV – recruiter-ready, search term optimised, and phrased like someone who’s already in the role. The amount of amazing candidates I work with who don't know how to sell themselves is mind blowing.

Optimise your LinkedIn – turn a flat profile into an inbound lead generator.

Tailor your Cover Letters – Streamline and scale your cover letters to maximise their impact.

🎯 Target Smarter, Not Harder

Pinpoint high-fit roles quickly – using keyword frameworks that align with how recruiters search

Send recruiter DMs that get replies – no more generic intros. Learn what triggers interest and how to avoid instant archive

Position for promotion-level roles – even if you’re not “100% there” yet

🚀 Apply Like a Pro

Automate your applications and job tracking - Save hours, stay organised, track your progress, move faster.

Demonstrate your value - We want the hiring manager seeing you as the solution, not a risk.

Leverage AI - Don't fall behind. Utilise effective AI prompts and automation to accelarate and improve your application process.

🎤 Interview Like You Belong

Practice for real-world interviews – Gain feedback on practice interview scenarios. Prepare for what to expect.

Handle curveballs, silence, and bad interviewers – so you keep control

Build answers that land – Be grounded in your story, not over-rehearsed fluff.

🧠 The Influence Layer

Reverse-engineer recruiter psychology

Learn what triggers yes/no decisions before your CV is even opened
Apply influence strategies to messaging, formatting, and sequencing
Use psychological framing to overcome gaps, career pivots, or soft spots
Craft messages that don’t sound desperate but still compel a response
Leverage The “status shift” method for moving from seeker to opportunity creator
Narrative Mapping - Structure your CV, LinkedIn, and comms to all say the same thing: “This person gets it.”

At the end of the day, you don’t need more inspiration. You need strategy, traction, and momentum.

Let’s get you shortlisted.

MENU / PRICE LIST

⚙️CORE PACKAGES

One on one tactical support sessions to stay ahead of the pack and land roles faster. Places are limited.

Intro & Discovery Session

$50

A 30-minute working session to get a read on where you’re at and what’s holding you back. We’ll look at your CV, talk through your goals, and challenge your current approach. You’ll walk away with clear next steps—and a better sense of whether this service is the right fit for where you're headed.

🟢 Ideal if you're unsure where to start or want a no-pressure introduction before booking the full session.

🟢 Recruiters: Visit the Partner Portal for dedicated referral flow.

The Shortlist Session

$545

The core offering. In this 3-hour deep dive, we’ll:

Define and articulate your unique professional edge
Rebuild your CV, LinkedIn and pitch to reflect your real value
Position you strategically using recruiter insights and AI analysis
Reframe gaps, detours, or neurodiversity into strengths hiring managers seek
Map smart outreach and training strategies that actually move the dial

Together we're crafting and presenting a story hiring managers can’t ignore.

🛠️OptionaL Add-Ons

Customise your support or boost traction after a session.

Mock Interview + Feedback sessions

$145

A full 60-minute simulation to test your narrative, presence and decision-making under pressure.

Covers behavioural, technical and scenario-based interview flow
Practice reframing curveballs, gaps, or role pivots into confident strengths
Includes a tailored debrief with strategic feedback and an improvement plan

Ideal prep for any upcoming interview

Second Pass – Repositioning Deep Dive

$245

A follow-on session for those with more to unpack.

Not everyone needs this—but for clients facing complex pivots, nonlinear paths, or longer-tail questions, this session offers space to go deeper.

In this 90-minute strategic session, we’ll:

Refine your role-fit direction and market positioning
Update your CV and LinkedIn to reflect new focus
Reframe gaps, detours or “too broad” profiles into strengths
Plan next steps and outreach with clarity and intent

Express - When you need help NOW

$995

Burning through your savings waiting to land the next role? Missing out on $1000–$2000 per day is expensive.

This is the same 3-hour Shortlist Session—delivered faster, with priority access.

Next-business-day booking if confirmed before 2pm AEST
After-hours or weekend availability by request
I’ll clear the decks to help you bounce back ASAP.

All core sessions include takeaway tools, async polish, and access to future updates. Sessions are online unless requested otherwise. Contact for in-person availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Reach out to me at simon@shortlistcoach.com.au if you cannot find an answer to your question.

Do I need a polished CV to start?

Not at all. Most clients come to me with something outdated—or nothing at all. That’s part of the process.

Is this only for Tech & Cyber roles?

Nope, whilst I specialise in the nuances of Tech Contractor Delivery roles (think Change Managers, Project Managers, IT Architects etc), I’ve helped engineers, doctors and even clients from a number of manufactoring industries land their next big role. So much of what I do is universal.

Will this help if I haven’t applied for years or am considering breaking into a new sector?

Absolutely. I’ll show you what’s changed, what still works, and how to show up with clarity and intent—even if the market’s evolved.

Job search support for cyber professionals, project managers, contractors and early-career tech talent in Australia.

Specialising in CV optimisation, clearance-ready applications, job tracking tools, and recruiter engagement strategies.

Real-world experience. Tactical advice. Get shortlisted with confidence.