SM 7.10 Skilled Employment

To qualify as 'Skilled Employment' You must appear somewhere in this!

SM7.10 Skilled employment

See SM7.10 Effective 13/12/2004

1. Skilled employment is employment that requires significant specialist, technical or management expertise:
a) obtained through the completion of recognised qualifications; or
b) obtained through work experience that has enabled a person to gain a comparable level of skill to that which would have been gained through the completion of a relevant recognised qualification; or
c) developed through work experience in which that expertise was a key component.

2. An offer of employment or current employment in New Zealand will therefore be assessed as skilled employment if:
a) it is relevant to the principal applicant's* recognised qualification; or
b) the employer considers, and the NZIS is satisfied, that the employment requires significant technical, specialist or managerial expertise that the principal applicant has obtained through relevant previous work experience in which that expertise was a key component.

3. Generally, despite (a) and (b) above, employment in occupations described in the following Major Groups of the New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations is not assessed as skilled employment unless the NZIS is satisfied that:
a) there is a special case for recognising the contribution of that employment to New Zealand' s economic growth and capacity; or
b) the principal applicant's employment will enhance the quality of New Zealand's accomplishments and participation in that occupational area because the principal applicant* has an international reputation and record of excellence in that occupational field:
* Major Group 3 (Technicians and Associate Professionals) except those Group 3 occupations listed in (d) below
* Major Group 4 (Clerks)
* Major Group 5 (Service and Sales workers)
* Major Group 6 (Agriculture and Fishery workers)
* Major Group 8 (Plant and machine operators and assemblers)
* Major Group 9 (Elementary occupations).

4. Employment in occupations described in the following Major Groups of the New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations is assessed as skilled employment if it meets the requirements for skilled employment set out in (a) and (b) above:
* Major Group 1 (Legislators, administrators and managers)
* Major Group 2 (Professionals)
* Major Group 7 (Trades workers)
* Major Group 3 (Technicians and Associate Professionals) in the following occupations:

31111

Physical Science Technician

31515

Agricultural Inspector

31121

Quantity Surveyor

31516

Quality Inspector

31122

Quantity Surveyor's Technician

32111

Life Science Technician

31123

Clerk of Works

32112

Medical Laboratory Technician

31124

Other Civil Engineering Technician

32121

Agricultural Technician

31131

Electrical Engineering Technician

32122

Forest Technician

31141

Telecommunications Technician

32211

Dispensing Optician

31142

Computer Systems Technicians

32221

Dental Therapist

31143

Other Electronics Engineering Technician

32231

Physiotherapist

31144

Avionics Technician

32232

Occupational Therapist

31151

Mechanical Engineering Technician

32233

Osteopath

31161

Chemical Engineering Technician

32236

Chiropractor

31191

Other Engineering Technician

32234

Orthotist / Prosthetist

31192

Non Destructive Testing Technician

32235

Podiatrist

31211

Computer Programmer

33171

Valuer

31213

Computer Support Technician

33411

Social Worker

31331

Medical Radiation Technologist

33413

Case Worker

31332

Other Medical Equipment Controller

33412

Probation Worker

31333

Sonographer

33421

Employment Programme Teaching Associate Professional

31411

Ships' Engineer

33612

Reporter

31421

Ships' Officer (Deck) including Master

33613

Editor

31422

Launch Master

33614

Sub-Editor

31423

Other Ships' Deck Officer and Pilot

33631

Graphic Designer

31431

Aircraft Pilot and Flight Crew

33632

Fashion Designer

31433

Flying Instructor

33634

Interior Designer

31434

Helicopter Pilot

33644

Singing and Music Teacher

31441

Air Traffic Controller

33652

Dancing Teacher and/or Choreographer

31511

Safety Inspector

33662

Artistic Director

31512

Meat Inspector

33811

Acclimatisation Field Officer

31513

Noxious Weeds/Pest Inspector

33812

National Park Ranger

31514

Health Inspector


SM7.10.1 Relevance of qualification(s) to employment

Qualifications are relevant to employment if the employer considers, and a visa or immigration officer is satisfied that:

1. The major subject area of the principal applicant's* recognised qualification is directly applicable to the employment, or
2. The employment is in an occupation for which a core requirement is a qualification at th

terminated due to overrunning forum post capacity

Taffy
re:
1. Skilled employment is employment that requires significant specialist, technical or management expertise:
a) obtained through the completion of recognised qualifications; or
b) obtained through work experience that has enabled a person to gain a comparable level of skill to that which would have been gained through the completion of a relevant recognised qualification; or
c) developed through work experience in which that expertise was a key component.

I'm having difficulty getting hold of my qualification records through various reasons unanswered in a previous post (not for want of trying), however noting the above post you made, I have a question

As a joint partner as a graphic designer in a reputable design company in the UK with 20 years experience would this fit into the categories as mentioned, ie; would it gain the points that would be comparable to the qualification should I still have problems getting hold of my records.

River

Hi River,
This snippet from the book of rules means that in order to claim that your offer of employment is 'skilled', you must have at least one of the mentioned attributes.

Having experience creates its own points, but does not make up for a lost qualification.

Taffy, I can't quite believe I've only just read this sticky! So, the bit that you mention at the end when you list the occupations, does this mean that those occupations are recognised as having to have relevant experience rather than quals or are they still looking for both? i.e. dancing teacher, choreographer is on that list, something I have 20 years experience of doing but when I went to peforming arts college all those years ago you didn't leave with a degree you left with tuition. Will immigration recognise this?

I find this so frustrating - along with thousands of others I guess. With all my experience and with creative industries being on the skills shortage list if I had a job offer our EOI would score over 140 points. I have loads of peeps waiting to see me when I get there, obviously they need to see my work, see me dance and see evidence of my achievements but I have loads of testimonials, photographs and videos of performances etc. Even though Gary has a degree in Humanities because he only has a few years of relevant experience and being a contracts manager isn't on the shortage list, we only score 95 points.

Maybe it is just best to go on a VV and do everything when we get there but what should we get done before we go to take with us?

Hmmm, do yourself a favour, as someone who TOTALLY depends on my Work being classified as skilled I know how tricky and vague this whole thing is, ring Immigration and clarify your exact case. Believe me it'll be soo worth the international calling fees.

Immigration have another more comprehensive list they refer to which they basically force your job title into. i.e Dancing Tutor might not be on the list but based on the full job description they might classify it as closest to Dance Instructor which is on the list (hypothetically speaking). The experience as Taffy says will be awarded it's own points but will not also gain extra points in the qualification field. The points indicator is generic so has to have a section for each but some jobs just aren't valid for both sections by there nature. It's a bit like me saying I've worked in marketing for 5 years so can I claim my experience in lieu of a qualification...? No. Or Tottefan saying I have a degree in accounting and I spent 5 years studying so I should get 5 years experience added to my points total...? Nope.

It sucks ay but tis a hard system to crack and hats of to them for protecting there best interests. [smiley=icon_evil.gif]

I'm in the same boat as you guys so I hope that didn't come across patronisingly or smug. [smiley=icon_eek.gif]