Relevance of Work Experience to Skilled Employment (SMC)

[Unkikonki]

At the moment I'm working in IT, but when I was overseas (not a comparable labour market) I worked almost 6 years as a Court Clerk in a Court of Criminal and Federal Matters. Lots of the responsibilities I had would match those listed in the ANZSCO list for COURT AND LEGAL CLERKS (599211)

Could I claim points for work experience in a skilled job that is NOT relevant to the skilled job I'll have at the moment of applying for the SMC?

SM11.10 Requirements for recognition

Work experience is recognised and qualifies for points if it meets the requirements set out at (a) and (b) below:

An immigration officer must be satisfied that work experience is:

...
...
iii. skilled, because it required, or enabled the principal applicant to gain specialist, technical or management skills and experience relevant to an occupation that is included in the lists of occupations held at Appendix 6 or Appendix 7.

Regarding the comparable labour market:

Work experience must also have been gained in a labour market that is comparable to the New Zealand labour market unless:
...
the principal applicant has current skilled employment in New Zealand or an offer of skilled employment in New Zealand (see SM7).

According to this, it seems to me I could claim points for that overseas work experience. What do you reckon?

[param912003]

Hi there, are you planning to submit an EOI under the new policy?

[Unkikonki]

Hi there, are you planning to submit an EOI under the new policy?

Yes. I don't think the criteria regarding this will change much, apart from the way points are assigned

[Unkikonki]

Hate to insist but I really need some enlightenment on this:


Could I claim points for work experience in a skilled job that is NOT relevant to the skilled job I'll have at the moment of applying for the SMC?

[JandM]

See what ChrisMwn the LIA says, but I don't think so. Looking at the rest of that page of the operational manual that you are quoting from https://www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/30570.htm, there is a lot of emphasis on the relevance to the qualification the applicant is proving, and/or the skilled job s/he holds or has been offered. I have seen other people who have applied with details of two careers they are qualified for, but they have had difficulties - that approach seems to puzzle INZ, and COs seem to feel that, rather than being quite impressive to hold two lots of qualifications and experience, it somehow makes the person less good at either job. It also means the application takes longer than average to process, because of all the extra evidence which has to be verified.

[Unkikonki]

...there is a lot of emphasis on the relevance to the qualification the applicant is proving, and/or the skilled job s/he holds or has been offered...

I could manage to prove the relevance my previous job had on obtaining essential soft skills but definitely no technical knowledge is related between the two positions

[ricardochina]

I could manage to prove the relevance my previous job had on obtaining essential soft skills but definitely no technical knowledge is related between the two positions

Have similar situation:

I used to work as overseas office's representative, and now working as hotel service supervisor, this position requires 3 years relevant experience plus qualification to apply residency; I believe my previous job's duties can match at least 70% of description of "hotel service manager" and the key soft skills such as coordination and supervision enable me to take current job. But the only concern is that the experience had not been obtained in "hotel"... anyway I claimed it as part of 3 years relevant experience when submit eoi. My immigration advisor is quite confident but he mentioned that the only difficulty of my case is showing "relevance".

Received letter of concern 2 months ago regarding this issue and CO required more proofs...

SPC now, waiting for result...

[Unkikonki]

Have similar situation:

I used to work as overseas office's representative, and now working as hotel service supervisor, this position requires 3 years relevant experience plus qualification to apply residency; I believe my previous job's duties can match at least 70% of description of "hotel service manager" and the key soft skills such as coordination and supervision enable me to take current job. But the only concern is that the experience had not been obtained in "hotel"... anyway I claimed it as part of 3 years relevant experience when submit eoi. My immigration advisor is quite confident but he mentioned that the only difficulty of my case is showing "relevance".

Received letter of concern 2 months ago regarding this issue and CO required more proofs...

SPC now, waiting for result...

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience, it's really helpful.

What kind of proof have you submitted so far? And what else are you planning to add?

I talked with a well reputed Licensed Immigration Adviser today who told me the experience must be relevant to the qualification is being assessed against. Not an encouraging news...

[ricardochina]

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience, it's really helpful.

What kind of proof have you submitted so far? And what else are you planning to add?

I talked with a well reputed Licensed Immigration Adviser today who told me the experience must be relevant to the qualification is being assessed against. Not an encouraging news...

Not a good news...good luck for me.

reference letter, emails from previous job that match the current job description, payroll, NZQA report etc. I think to judge "relevant" or not is really subjective. My experiences gained in hotel, in a comparable country that case officer did not recognize as "relevant", even NZQA indicated it is a full time, paid internship to fulfil the qualification's requirement; Regarding hotel experience gained in my country, I only submitted a reference letter, case officer accepts.

while, fortunately you work in IT industry, sooner or later you will be qualifed, be positive!

[ricardochina]

Not a good news...good luck for me.

reference letter, emails from previous job that match the current job description, payroll, NZQA report etc. I think to judge "relevant" or not is really subjective. My experiences gained in hotel, in a comparable country that case officer did not recognize as "relevant", even NZQA indicated it is a full time, paid internship to fulfil the qualification's requirement; Regarding hotel experience gained in my country, I only submitted a reference letter, case officer accepts.

while, fortunately you work in IT industry, sooner or later you will be qualifed, be positive!

Check the status today. its approved.