Can anyone advise whether work experience can replace formal qualifications for Office Managers?

I have been an Office Manager for over 10 years but have no formal qualification though I am in my final year of a Bachelor of Commerce which I assume would provide me with the qualification required. The difficulty I have is that I turn 50 in 16 months so it will be cutting it fine to finish the degree and make an application.

Any advice appreciated.

Jill

quote:

Originally posted by JillT:
Can anyone advise whether work experience can replace formal qualifications for Office Managers?

I have been an Office Manager for over 10 years but have no formal qualification though I am in my final year of a Bachelor of Commerce which I assume would provide me with the qualification required. The difficulty I have is that I turn 50 in 16 months so it will be cutting it fine to finish the degree and make an application.

Any advice appreciated.

Jill

Hi Jill

I've been hoping that Alan Collett would reply to you, so I've avoided trying to do so myself until today.

I know a bit about visas for Oz but I am not a Migration Agent. Alan Colett is and his information would be more reliable than mine.

http://www.gomatilda.com/contact.cfm

FWIW, I'm not convinced that you are asking the right question. You seem to be asking whether you will need to obtain a formal qualification in order to obtain a Pre Migration Skills Assessment from Vetassess? I believe that the answer is "yes." Where the ASRI list talks about relevant experience in lieu of a formal qualification, it means relevant experience gained in the workplace in Australia.

http://www.immi.gov.au/asri/

That said, if you complete your qualification first you might get a skills assessment but would you also be able to get enough Points for a GSM visa?

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled...bility-applicant.htm

If you would not be eligible for a GSM visa then the only alternative would be to find a willing and eligibe employer-sponsor out in Australia and to get an employer-sponsored visa instead:

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/skilled-workers/

However the likelihood of an Office Manager being able to find an employer-sponsor is tiny unless you have been managing a very specialised Office of some sort and even then, it is not a huge possibility in my view. With this particular occupation, Mateship tends to be the name of the game. Do you have any relations or close friends in Oz who might have a Mate who could be persuaded to hire you and sponsor you for a visa?

With employer-sponsored migration, your age is not important. There is no upper age limit with a temporary subclass 457 visa and with a bit of judicious tweaking, an exemption from the normal age limit can sometimes be arranged later on.

As I understand it, someone aged just under 50 would be eligible for GSM migration but s/he would not be able to get any Points for their age. This might mean that the idea is not viable for you?

Cheers

Gill

Hi Gill


Thank you for your reply. I more or less guessed that was the situation but was clutching at straws!

Fortunately, in the meantime, someone was given my husband's CV and he is now in the interview stage. So here's hoping.

We have been at this for almost 5 years with one disappointment after the other so have not got our hopes up yet.

Regards

Jill

Job offer received! At long last. Next hurdle the visa...employer is going to sponsor for the RSMS.

Thanks for everyone's advice and support.

Jill

Hi Jill

Well done, that lady! I am so glad to hear that persistemce has paid off.

Please keep in touch and let me know when your visa has been granted?

Cheers


Gill