The applicant’s work experience plays an important role in the Express Entry profile. The previous work experience can help in deciding :
- If an applicant is eligible or not
- If the applicant has a strong profile.
If the applicant has made any mistakes in their work experience, it can cause the following :
- Lower the CRS score
- A visa application can be rejected
There are three types of programs under the Express Entry system, namely :
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
The work experience rules vary for each program.
Your work experience also affects your points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which is separate from eligibility.
This article will explain the common mistakes people make and the rules behind them, helping you protect your work experience for Express Entry.
Two questions you need to ask about every bit of work experience
The applicants need to ask two important questions before they start checking about their work experience. This will help them in gaining the following information:
- What is needed to become eligible
- What can help them increase their CRS score
Even those who have submitted their Express Entry profile need to follow it. So, before directly moving to the work experience stage, make sure to carefully follow all the steps. Otherwise, it may cause issues later when their application is reviewed.
When any applicant is in the stage of gaining work experience or wants to include their work experience, they must take into consideration the following 2 questions :
- Does this job help me qualify for a program?
- Does this job earn me CRS points?
Common Mistakes made by Express Entry candidates
Choosing the Wrong NOC Code
This is one of the most common mistakes applicants make. IRCC does not consider the applicant’s work experience while considering their job role. They mainly check if the applicant has the skills and knowledge for the job applied under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.
So, the job title an applicant applies for and the NOC code do not always match. So, if the applicant focuses on the NOC code, they may face any issues. It may lead to issues like :
- Profile may become invalid
- The applicant may even be asked to return their Invitation to Apply.
This is very important for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, because the applicant’s work experience must match one main job.
To avoid this mistake :
- Applicants must read the NOC description fully.
- Applicants must be careful and select their work experience based on NOC codes.
- Applicants must check what duties are not included in that NOC and make sure the job does not fall under those excluded duties.
Work Experience While Studying
It is noted that many students often make this mistake.
The work experience is calculated in different ways for the following :
- Checking eligibility
- Calculating the CRS points
For the CEC and FSTP category:
The work experience gained along with studies in Canada won't be valid.
For the FSWP category:
The work experience gained while studying will be taken into consideration if :
- If full fees are paid for the course
- If an applicant is pursuing full-time
- If the applicant follows all rules.
For CRS points:
If the applicant is from Canada and has gained work experience, doing full-time studies won’t be considered. But if the applicant works outside can be considered.
One job may be counted for one purpose, but not for another.
Simple tip to follow for applicants :
Check your work experience separately for eligibility and CRS points.
First, make sure you qualify and then think of how to increase your CRS score.
Wrong Work Hours or Time Period
IRCC usually calculates the applicant’s work experience eligibility for every program in hours, rather than months.
So, for one full year the applicant must have worked for about 1,560 hours. It will be equal to 30 hours per week.
For FSTP, the applicant must have worked for about 3,120 hours in two years.
The applicant must finish the work within a specified time period. Because for every program, the time limit may vary.
Some errors that may occur:
- Some applicants may think they can earn more or get recognized if they work more than 30 hours per week. Usually, IRCC follows only 30 hours per week and calculates the applicant’s profile based on that. So, working more than one hour will not be added.
Your work experience must also be within a fixed time period:
- For CEC: work experience gained in the last 3 years
- For FSWP: work experience gained in the last 10 years
- For FSTP: work experience gained in the last 5 years
So, any work experience gained which is not matching with this time limits will not be accepted.
Simple tip:
Check your work hours and make sure your experience falls within the correct time period for your program.
Note:
For CRS points, work is counted by months, not by hours, so the rules are different.
Claiming Work That Is Not Valid
Work experience or achievements are not taken into account. Some jobs in Canada are not recognised for program eligibility and CRS points.
If you are unpaid or act as a volunteer, your job experience cannot be taken into account for CEC or CRS points. In Canada, you have to do legally authorised jobs to get work experience.
Canada has a separate set of rules for people who are self-employed. So, an applicant should know the program rules and apply for jobs to gain more CRS points.
Assuming Work from Home Counts as Canadian Experience
Basically, for an applicant to gain proper Canadian work experience, they must be eligible under CEC. IRCC will accept that the applicant is eligible for proper Canadian work experience based on :
- The applicant should have been in Canada during the work experience
- They must work for a proper Canadian employer
Any applicant who works for a Canadian company from another country will not be considered for Canadian work experience.
Similarly, the applicant who works for another foreign country may not gain experience.
Simple tip:
If any applicant wants to have work experience in Canada, they can only gain it by working in person in Canada. It is important to decide whether your work experience will be valid or not.
Not Meeting All Work Experience Requirements
Any applicants who qualify under a special Express Entry category have the chance to get an Invitation to Apply. Even if they have a low CRS score is not a problem, but the work experience must match certain rules. There are some eligibility criteria to be followed for category-based draws, like:
- The applicant should have 12 months of work experience in the same job.
- Should be either full-time or part-time work experience.
- The work can be from Canada or another country
- The work does not need to be continuous
We followed simple ways to avoid mistakes:
- Check your job that matches the category you applied for
- To verify that your work experience counts according to the rules of Express Entry.
- Make sure your work experience is legally authorised
- Check the counts of part-time and non-continuous work properly.
- Carefully count your work experience and verify the job match and ensure everything is valid before demanding it
Avoid Express Entry Mistakes with Croyez Expert Guidance
Applicants must be very careful not to make any mistakes while applying for the Express Entry application. Any mistake can lead to the following consequences : Delay in getting the application
The application may get rejected
If you reach out to Croyez Immigration, we will help you with the following services :
Provide clarification on rules
Help select the correct NOC
Guide in submitting the work experience properly
Croyez supports you at every step, making the process easier and helping you apply with more confidence.
