An interesting thread and similar to many others over the years ...
Several of the more experienced folk (eg Flying Bear, Duck Pilot, Compressor Stall; I know who those guys are and they do have lots of runs on the board) have offered good gen suggestions.
A theme which comes through, time and time again when talking with management folk, is along the line of "tell us what you can do (ie offer) which we can use over and above driving aeroplanes (or helicopters)".
That is to say, consider sitting back, over a coffee or two, and reflect on all those things which a small to medium sized operator has to do in order to function and survive. If you have similar qualifications on the flying side to those offered by your competition, and naught else, then you are at an automatic disadvantage. While you must have all the basic necessaries before you get invited through the door for a talk, those sideline skills which may be of use to the potential employer provide an opportunity to distinguish your application from those in the competitors' pile on the desk.
The following is by no means exhaustive but may trigger other thoughts relevant to your particular circumstances and history - the operator probably gets involved with activities such as -
(a) regulatory admin - do you have skills related to dealing with CASA and other relevant statutory bodies ? Do you have experience with AOC setup programs/auditing/training ? Do you have an accounting/book-keeping background ?
(b) maintenance - do you have any maintenance (especially aircraft) exposure/skills/qualifications ? Do you have any weight control skills (especially if you hold a CAO 100.28 WCA - that could save an operator out in the boonies significant labour dollars). Do you have any useful engineering skiils, such as performance work ?
(c) general - do you hold any heavy vehicle licences ? An HR endorsement covers a lot of territory. How about that fork lift ticket ? Do you have any serious IT skills ?
And so it goes on ... If something you can do or are qualified to do (if the ticket is important) gives you a step up if that skill/ticket is of use to the potential employer.
Just a thought .....