Does anyone know much about work references? Do you need to supply a reference from every employer you've ever had or just for the period of recent work experience (i.e. last 4 years)? If so, do you need to supply references for jobs not connected to the occupation in demand that you are going for on a skilled visa? I've worked in research for 6 years, but now I am a Careers Advisor/Counsellor for a council and have been for the last 3 and a half years. Do I only need the reference from this job?
Hi Emma
No such thing as a silly question!
I can only speak from our own experience. OH has just got a reference from his current employer. Which job did you apply on. The research one or the counselling one?
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Started STNI Application 01/05/05, Enineering Qualifications approved 19/01/06, STNI sponsorship Adelaide 22/2/2006 (we lost the plot for 6 months here!!!!) Visa application lodged 5/10/06, Medicals requested 16/2/07, Medicals started 28/3/07, Police Checks sent 31/3/07. Meds sent 17/05/07, VISA GRANTED 4/6/07
From our point of view, my hubbies CV was like war and peace and because he is an old chappie some of the firms where no longer there. So we couldn't get references from them. Therefore our agent told us it would be a good idea to get statements from people who he had worked with at those places. Then he managed to get refernces from some of the others even though he hadn't worked there for years. The ones that we couldn't get references for we managed to find old wage slips, contract statements things like that. It took ages though, but it was worth it. :D
Well I am going on the Careers Counsellor role and my OH is the primary applicant as an IT Systems Specialist. His RPL application for skills assessment is a bit of a nightmare! Not much to go now though. The problem is with our references that most of the companies have closed down that we have worked for (I don't think it's a reflection on us!) and we haven't got old contracts or payslips. Well if you've had your police checks and meds requested and completed I am sure that it is okay for a reference from the current employer. We have both been in our current jobs for over 3 years, so that should cover the recent work experience part. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.......
not sure which assessing body you will be dealing with, but my CV was a bit of a mess, only one of my previous employers still trading etc, and not having worked in the job i was applying for. so i asked the TRA and recieved the following reply.
The third party corroborative evidence can be things like copies of
payslips, letters of employment, statements from co-workers, tax
documents etc.
With the jobs that are not in the industry you are applying for you only
need to list these under employment history.
I had to supply 5 statutory declarations and supporting evidence from co-workers. i did get a reference from my current employer but this was not relevent to the job i as applying for.
It takes a lot of effort, but is worth it in the end.
Well I am going on the Careers Counsellor role and my OH is the primary applicant as an IT Systems Specialist. His RPL application for skills assessment is a bit of a nightmare! Not much to go now though. The problem is with our references that most of the companies have closed down that we have worked for (I don't think it's a reflection on us!) and we haven't got old contracts or payslips. Well if you've had your police checks and meds requested and completed I am sure that it is okay for a reference from the current employer. We have both been in our current jobs for over 3 years, so that should cover the recent work experience part. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.......
Emmy,
Recent work experience (for basic requirements): 12 out of 18 months - evidence for this needs to be provided in the manner acceptable to DIAC.
Specific work experience (for the points): 3 out of 4 years in your OH's case - evidence for this needs to be provided as well, and can be "combined" with the recent work experience evidence in your case.
RPL application: you'll need 6 or 8 years of documented professional IT work experience depending on your personal circumstances. May or may not overlap with the two points above, but the ACS has its own slightly different criteria when dealing with work references.
Thanks for advice! So it looks like I can just submit my current work reference as a Careers Counsellor/Advisor as I have worked there for the last 3 and a half years, without having to submit references for my previous jobs as a Researcher (which is not my nominated occuaption). Also, my OH can submit his current reference in IT as he has worked there for 9 and a half years, which would cover the 6-8 years experience for RPL. Would he need to submit references for the other 3 companies he worked for previously in IT? Perhaps Peter would know?
Thanks loads for advice.....it's really good to know others are on hand to help and you can help other people going through the same stuff!!
my OH can submit his current reference in IT as he has worked there for 9 and a half years, which would cover the 6-8 years experience for RPL. Would he need to submit references for the other 3 companies he worked for previously in IT? Perhaps Peter would know?
Emmy
Work references are extremely important for the RPL process. I've seen enough cases where a DIY'er has come to me with some unfortunate result from the ACS because either their initial advice from an "expert" agent was inaccurate, or their work references were totally inadequate.
So, I really can't comment on your question unless I see specifics, which can't happen in an online forum like this; well, not in my books at least.
