with all due respect to moderators and senior members, i am taking the liberty to share some relevant information hoping that the new and current members could have a useful guide about how to maximize their success for getting points in some sections of the hsmp application.
The following is the result of some brilliant people's efforts, ideas, tears, research and hard work donated to this forum. All i have done is edit all this bits of information from all the posts i could humanily read in the last weeks and put them together in one piece.
ALL are quotes assembled together in a simplified, easy-to-read (hope) text. this is similar to what i do when i edit a film and i put scenes and takes together to tell a story. some of the advice was given to me so please subtitute my field with yours.
It is my payment back to this forum from which i have learn so much!
TIPS quoted from MANY dear forum members:
WORK EXPERIENCE
This position requires a degree�WHY?
�On further discussion, I explained to her (caseworker) that mine is a highly specialised industry and there is no scope of my job being less than graduate level. I also asked her if it would suffice for me to get my ex-employer to give me an Experience certificate stating it is a graduate level job. The response was that it is not sufficient if you put in the words "graduate level". The responsibilities mentioned should convey that it called for a graduate level knowledge.�
Letters described my duties in as much detail as possible and clearly included a statement, "This position required a minimum of a bachelor's degree." Yes, I had it explicitly stated in all my experience letters that the position required a degree. you cannot assume they would know that. You have to really think about that and come up with a way of explaining that to someone who has no knowledge of your industry. If you can show that the job REQUIRED a graduate degree at the outset, I think they'd have a hard time disqualifying you on that basis.
In my letters in which I explain �graduate level� work, I make sure that they not only say that, yes, I have a master degree and that a master degree was required for the position, I in addition assure that it is carefully explained why the job requires a master degree, and why it would be inappropriate for someone without a master degree to perform the job. In addition, my �graduate level� letters contain job descriptions which clearly show job activity requiring master level skill /knowledge / expertise. How have you demonstrated in the position through your job activities, duties and responsibilites that you are using a sophisticated level of skill and knowledge?
HSMP wants to see evidence that the position for which you are claiming graduate level points normally requires a degree. My understanding is that they also want to know why the position would normally require a degree -- what it is about the position that requires the skills and knowledge base that is usually aquired through university-level degree. (The degree must also be the equivalent of a UK degree).
But, ultimately, if your position is not one in which university level degree and skill/knowledge is required for competently and safely performing the job, you will not be able to claim the points for "graduate level", in my opinion. The caseworkers will most likely have a checklist and as they go through the letters, they will compare it against their list to see if it has all of the required elements. If they don't, then no points.
your academic skills applied to real life �
If you had not had University degrees, would you have been eligible to apply for these jobs? Why or why not? If you had not had University degrees, would you have been able to perform these jobs competently? Why or why not? And the University-gained knowledge was absolutely neccessary to the successful execution of your film concept, yes?
HOW your academic background was of benefit, in very specific terms, with examples. skills/ knowledge/ theory you learned in either your bachelor or master degree
making a list of skills you learned in school that you've used in different jobs is a good idea. try looking at the school's current curriculum for the coursework required for your degree. It will often describe in great detail the skills the student is expected to develop during the course. You can then take those descriptions (I'd send them with the HSMP application) and write a summary of how you use those skills in your many positions in the industry.
You could also print out job adverts for the types of posts you've held (or will be applying for) showing that those particular skills are what is required in a successful job applicant. In doing these things, you will give the HSMP caseworker a more full picture of why a degree is preferred and how your degree has played a role in your work.
You could write a letter explaining these -- with examples that show relationship to University-learned ideas-- then you could get one or two third-party endorsements of what you wrote in your letter, from others respected in your field and who are familiar with your film.
In University, did they teach you how to prioritize these task? What are the potential pitfalls and problems that you did not experience in this position that someone without a University background would have encountered??
just the fact of having a degree makes the worker more organized, more resourceful, more facile at problem solving, more skilled at expressing him/herself via speaking, reading, writing; more willing and able to follow directions of a supervisor; more capable of objectively evaluating his/her performance
Concentrate on the job tasks that required you to make decisions, and for which your University training helped to make those decisions. What were the decisions? What were the skills/ ideas/ theoretical models you used to make those decisions?
But the key issue for you seems to be providing evidence that your previous positions encompassed skills and knowledge that would not be possessed by someone without a degree. What are those skills and areas of knowledge? What are some examples of you demonstrating these in your employment position/s? terminology associated with scene setting that you and the directors used to communicate with each other?
explanations in some of the �graduate level� letters of why some of the jobs were of short duration (i.e.,some of my jobs were of short duration because of volatility in my area of work; however, the quality of my work is always high and acknowledged as such by my current and former employers.
Given the fact that yours is an industry in which the use of university-gained skills is not well understood by those not in your industry, it is very important for the details you wish to present to be very specific, and with examples. think more in terms of skills, and eventually create a nice long list of skill areas and knowledge areas that I have used in my work life
Attach newspapers/website advertisement for the similar positions from UK and Equador, which demands a graduate qualifications.
Selling your skills
Can you generate a list of skills and knowledge that you did gain in your degree?
Highlight 4-6 key graduate level tasks in which you specify the graduate level skills you are applying to each task.
List of duties and responsibilities 12, 1-2 sentences per duty. Tell that from a graduate level perspective. Stonger first.
Emphasize the goals, techniques, methods, theories, approaches of filmmaking which you use and define them briefly.
Can you link these skills and knowledge areas to things you have done in your work positions? Can you give examples of instances in which your graduate level abilities were key to solving certain problems in your work situation? Can you get verification of these things from former employers and/or your university professors and/or the organization that you found on the Internet?
The HSMP caseworker will be asking herself, �Why, if a degree is not required for this industry, would a university offer a master degree, and why would someone undertake the master degree? What is the advantage of having a degree in a field in which a degree is not needed?�
PSR
Problem, Solution, Result. Be sure to keep your PSRs concise but descriptive, and specific.
Describe the problem. Then � what was your solution, and what were the University-learned skills, etc you have that you applied to create that solution? Then � what was the result? How did your graduate-level thinking benefit your employer.
Have your former employers help you
The best way to handle all of this, is to either write the letters for the employer, making sure it has everything that HSMP is asking for and have the employer review it, print it out on their letterhead and have them sign it -- or if you don't feel comfortable asking them to do that, you have to explicitly state EXACTLY what needs to be in the letter. Provide the employer with a bulleted list and ask them to be sure that they have all of that information clearly stated in the letter. Make sure that they use the word "graduate" in the letter.
you may have to rely on some previous employers to write more detailed letters as to why they hired you with your degrees, rather than someone else, and the ways your education enhanced the job post/resposibilities.
�I did use graduate level thinking in this job, and I would not have been able to benefit your organization in these ways without my academic background. Dear former employer, would you now feel comfortable in saying in writing to HSMP that my graduate degrees were a must for this job??"
it is also very IMPORTANT to say �FULL time position� printed on their letter headed paper from the company.
3rd party info will benefit you
If you can show job descriptions that are equivalent to postions you've held and the jobs all require univ educations, then that could only be helpful to your case.
Is there a way you can show that you supervised staff, led the direction of the company/film/project, or in any way made senior-level management decisions?
The objective third-party explanation of the work you do in your industry(ie., the website) looks like an excellent resource for you.
I explain some of my professional jargon and goals of my profession as it pertains to my application and the issues I am proving ( graduate level, specialist, senior). I do this explaining quite briefly.
Show the demand in the field and recent Market Surveys.
SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT
How to prove that my work is considered influential?
Any letters you can get from professors and industry people testifying to your ability and awards will be helpful.
Try to get press write-ups, print out any reviews on websites, etc. Let them see your work firsthand.
Did it get nationally recognized?
How has your work benefited your field?
In this section you MUST get as creative as you can, ask your collegues, friends, family, senior people for ideas on how to prove your talent!!
The more the better!
It is your talent you will sell to the caseworkers and later to your future employers so might just give it its real importance and time!
Application assembly
The documents were organized in the following manner:
1. Binder portfolio cover listed my name, 28+ application, and contact information.
2. Application
3. Cover letter: request for review, reason why applying, notice of duplicate copies behind originals.
4. Inventory of Supporting Evidence: outline of all documents housed in Introduction, Application Documentation, and Additional Documentation sections.
5. CV w/ references
6. Notarized color copy of passport (photo and signature pages)
7. Original college transcripts (Bachelor of Arts) with accreditation information
8. Original transcript of Masters of Arts (in process) with accreditation information.
9. Employer letters of reference from past two employers (10 yrs). FYI: I wrote these letters and had them signed by the appropriate parties and put on company letterhead. That way I could ensure format and content was appropriate for HSMP requirements
10. Client letter (endorsement regarding project I managed)
11. Income conversion summary sheet
12. Xe.com currency conversion results (US dollar to pound)
13. Original 2003 earnings statement
14. Original 2003 federal income tax statement (W2)
15. Original 2003 compensation summary statement (includes bonus pd in 2004)
16. 2.8 English language skills: statement of US public and private school education and work experience all in English
17. 2.9 Relevant Qualifications: Statement that no licences/designations are required for my field of experience
18. Several job postings in my field from different online recruitment agencies
19. Email copies of invitations to interview w/ contacts in London
20. 2.13 Evidence Regarding Expected Earnings: market analyses from www.reed.co.uk and references to earlier job postings listing salaries.
21. Summary of Personal Assets: liquid and illiquid (house, car)
22. Bank statements, letter from estate agent/mortgage statement showing value of house and amount owed on mortgage, and Kellys Blue Book statement of estimated value of car, notarized copy of car title
23. Projected Budget: housing, utilities, food, transportation
24. Proof for budget: letter regarding free housing/utilities/food from my fiance. brochures showing train commute expenseses.
GENERAL TIPS
Make a list, organized by area, of your supporting materials. Then, go through each piece of evidence and make brief notes about them.
put a cover sheet with every single section -- explaining what was included in that section, and explaining why it was included and anything in particular out of the ordinary that we thought needed more explanation. Do something similar. If you need extra letters explaining how the industry works and what your qualifications and achievements are, get them.
Use tabs to separate sets of evidence, include the annotated table of contents, and include any piece of evidence you can come across to support every assertion you make in your application.
Try going over your documents with a critical eye, completely dispassionately -- using the HSMP guidelines to see if you can tick off each requirement. If your documents don't show that -- get new letters or whatever you need to prove it. Then, explain, explain, explain. Even add post-it notes if you have to.
Make sure you spend some time making sure your language in the letter is not too aggressive and conveys a positive message.
when you get testamonials or references from top people in the field, make sure that in the cover sheet for that section, that you say who these people are and explain who they are and why their opinion means something. Don't assume that a case worker will necessarily know who a well-known director is.
Points + eligibility the most important things
Make your application as self explanatory as possible
Provide ALL (the more the better) evidence, documentations and an explanations to the caseworker of what it all means.
Checklist to proofread experience letters
Cover sheet to EVERY section, explaining what, why were the documents included.
Letters of how the industry works and what my qualifications are.
use the search function of the board to find a few more bits of info, and you'll get there.
Some relevant assumptions
My assumptions as I construct my HSMP application:
1. I assume that the HSMP evaluators know nothing about my profession, its terminology, its goals, its expectations. So, in some places I explain some of my professional jargon and goals of my profession as it pertains to my application and the issues I am proving ( graduate level, specialist, senior). I do this explaining quite briefly.
2. I assume that they will look at my application with skepticism. So, I make the case for my integrity by addressing issues which could potentially raise questions, such as a name change I underwent years ago; a yearlong gap in my employment history; explanations in some of the �graduate level� letters of why some of the jobs were of short duration (i.e.,some of my jobs were of short duration because of volatility in my area of work; however, the quality of my work is always high and acknowledged as such by my current and former employers). In cases where the former employer is no longer in business, I am providing tax documents which show that the employer did exist at one time, and that I had an employment relationship with them. (I have been successful in tracking down former supervisors from employers that no longer exist, however.)
3. I assume that I must picture myself taking that poor, overworked HSMp evaluator by the hand and walking her through my application, leading her to each section, carefully and as simply as possible making my case for each issue I am striving to prove. So, I am hoping to create a logical progression of ideas, which will be presented in a clear straightforward manner � I want to create a �user friendly� completed application. See Melyni�s post at
http://www.immigrationboards.com/viewto ... ght=melyni
For some very helpful ideas about the physical structure of her application � I find this to be very helpful.
4. I assume that that same overworked, tired HSMP evaluator does NOT want to have to contact me for more information! So I try to anticipate what her questions might be (hard to do) and then I strive to proactively answer /address them in the application.
5. Where there are gaps, or issues in my situation not addressed in the application form, I include brief explaining letters. (Why is not there a section in the application form for �Additional Information�, for relevant information or issues not specifically asked for in the application??)
There may be more that I am not thinking of right now. HSMP is proving to be the most complex application for anything I have applied for, ever. I have said it before, but it bears repeating: this board has been a treasure trove of information and support. I hope also to be a source of support to others.
How to write better letters
Writers have a saying :"Spare the reader, not the writer" -- in other words, writing should be constructed in such a way that the reader can easily "get' what the writer is hoping to communicate.
Just make sure that you start by writing a strong clear sentence or two about the purpose of the letter and its main ideas, and what you want the reader to do -- why you are writing the letter. Put those 1-2 sentences in the opening paragraph.
Then --- everything else that follows should be in the service of providing information in support of the main ideas and/or what you want the reader to do for you. Anything that is not directly related to the main ideas should be for the purpose of background information only, in support of the main ideas. Do not get distracted with other, interesting but irrelevant (to your main ideas) information! Be ruthless in this!
BEST for all of you
Jhonny
