You may be able to claim points for your previous work experience. However, your experience must be relevant. It must be:

• in the same field as your recognised qualification, or 
• in the same field as your current employment in New Zealand/your offer of skilled employment in New Zealand.

Another way you can get points for your work experience is if the work experience required, or helped you gain, specialist, technical, or management skills and experience. Those skills and experience must be relevant to an occupation that may be considered skilled employment.

What if I do not have a job/job offer?

If you do not have a skilled job or job offer in New Zealand, any work experience you claim points for must have been in a comparable labour market.

We may award points  for work experience in countries that are not 'comparable labour markets', but only if you were working:

• for a multinational commercial entity domiciled in one of these listed countries, or 
• in an area of absolute skill shortage.

Points

Bonus points

You may also be able to claim bonus points on top of your points. For example, you get a bonus if your work experience is in New Zealand, or in an area of absolute skill shortage.