Certificate of Employment question...

[gtrwizrd]

I am one of those who submitted under the Simplified Process, which was before the new policy (38 priority NOCs) was implemented. My AOR was on Feb 2008. There just something that's bothering me regarding the submission of Employment Certificates.

You see, I have worked for a total of 14 years for 3 different industries. These are the breakdown:
- 12 years under Telecommunications as Engineer (1997 to present)
- 1 year for Electronics Manufacturing as Technician (1995 to 1996)
- 1 year under Instrumentation as Technician (1991 to 1992)

In my application, I declared my NOC in relation to my telecommunications experience. My question is: Do I need to submit Employment Certificates for my previous work under Electronics and Instrumentation?

[windtunnel]

You have to submit letters of experience for all your employments. If any document cannot be obtained, you must submit a written explanation.

[gtrwizrd]

You have to submit letters of experience for all your employments. If any document cannot be obtained, you must submit a written explanation.

Ok. I did get the Employment Certificates from my previous jobs but those are dated at the time of my resignation from each company (1996-Electronics and 1992-Instrumentation).  Do you think these are acceptable? Or should I still get new certificates?  I am concerned about this because the instrumentation company I worked with in my first job is already closed.

[windtunnel]

Companies closing down is a normal occurrence and I am sure they will understand. Please attach a note explaining this.

As for other companies which are still operational, it's better if you get fresh letters from them, specifically mentioning the requirements set out in CIC Website/EG7 guide.

[BobbyB]

You have to submit letters of experience for all your employments. If any document cannot be obtained, you must submit a written explanation.

Ok. I did get the Employment Certificates from my previous jobs but those are dated at the time of my resignation from each company (1996-Electronics and 1992-Instrumentation).  Do you think these are acceptable? Or should I still get new certificates?  I am concerned about this because the instrumentation company I worked with in my first job is already closed.

That's OK. In fact that is the time you actually get an employment certificate i.e when you leave a job ( be it after resignation or termination of appointment). That should suffice.
However, note that you will need one for the current job which should have a current and be up-to-date.

[gtrwizrd]

Thanks for the reply guys!

I've another question...

For the Letters of Reference, I am thinking of drafting the same format in the general body of the letter (info that states the information required by CIC) for my current job and previous jobs. I can just talk to my previous superiors about the CIC requirement and make them just sign the Letter of Reference that I drafted, after their approval of course, this way I wouldn't be taking too much of their time :)

Would the CIC accept these similar reference letters from different employees? Of course the job descriptions would be different depending on the type of work.

[windtunnel]

Yeah why not? They will be verifying with your employers anyway.

[gtrwizrd]

Thanks windtunnel...

Do you think this is common practice for an applicant to draft similar Letters of Reference for different work experiences?  In your case, did you draft your reference letters from the companies you worked with? Or did you let them make the letters for you?

[windtunnel]

I told them the requirements. They drafted the letters accordingly. The wording may be different but the content is essentially the same

[gtrwizrd]

Thanks windtunnel!  As you mentioned that...

You have to submit letters of experience for all your employments. If any document cannot be obtained, you must submit a written explanation.

...If I am not able to provide reference letters from my previous employers in my 2 older work experiences (Electronics & Instrumentation), would the reason "Reference letters not provided because work experience is not related to the NOC I declared in my application" be acceptable?

Please note that I do have certificates of employment from these employers.

[windtunnel]

Is that the real reason or are u having any other difficulties?

The requirement is to provide letters from all employments in the past. If you have a credible and valid reason and supporting documents, I dont think u will face a problem. But that's just my opinion.

[Albularyo]

FYI. i saw an AOR only identifying the work experience that corresponds to your NOC that are in the 38 NOC list. You can make assumptions that only those jobs that you have pointed out on the form that corresponds to your NoC that are needed.

Another friend's AOR only asked for the recent 3 employers only considering it corresponds to 5 years of work experience that is under the NOC even though he had about 9 years of working experience with the same NOC.

I assumed that only most recent Work Experience that gives you the max points (4 years or more) will be required to provide the reference letters.

hth

[gtrwizrd]

Well, the answer to your question is, both.

It IS the real reason, because my work in both instrumentation and electronics are not supporting the NOC (telecommunications) I declared in my application.  

And also I am having other difficulties, such as contacting my previous employers as I am currently out of my home country and I have no idea if I still have any colleagues/supervisors working there who could provide reference letters.

That's why I'm thinking of reasons that would explain why these documents cannot be provided.

Is that the real reason or are u having any other difficulties?

The requirement is to provide letters from all employments in the past. If you have a credible and valid reason and supporting documents, I dont think u will face a problem. But that's just my opinion.

[gtrwizrd]

FYI. i saw an AOR only identifying the work experience that corresponds to your NOC that are in the 38 NOC list. You can make assumptions that only those jobs that you have pointed out on the form that corresponds to your NoC that are needed.

Another friend's AOR only asked for the recent 3 employers only considering it corresponds to 5 years of work experience that is under the NOC even though he had about 9 years of working experience with the same NOC.

I assumed that only most recent Work Experience that gives you the max points (4 years or more) will be required to provide the reference letters.

hth

Thanks for the input Albularyo. This is exactly what I wanted to know.

AOR is Acknowledgment Of Receipt right? I already got mine last February 25, 2008, just before the cutoff for the new policy (38 priority list), would you believe it haha.  Anyway, it didn't mention anything about the documents to be submitted. Is this the same AOR you mentioned?

[Albularyo]

it was the document that requested for the submission of full documents after the initial assessment of the CIO. I thought AORs should provide the list. Its the document prior to request for medicals.