Explanation Letter (no employment letter from unskilled job) - plz proofread

[sorrymontana]

Hi all,

Last question, I promise Have all docs ready except for that letter from infamous jerky-jerk employer that I worked for as a Receptionist. I have prepared Explanation Letter to submit instead.

Can you guys look at my Explanation Letter and comment on it: does it sound professional, or not that much?


Dear Immigration Officer:

I was employed by XXX Windows Inc. from the period of December 2, 2011 to May 11, 2012. I worked part-time (approximately 30 hours per week) as a Secretary-Receptionist.

My responsibilities as a Secretary-Receptionist included:

• greeting clients in person and by phone and providing with information about products and services (windows, doors and installation services)
• taking and relaying phone messages
• preparing and managing correspondence, invoices
• maintaining schedules and calendars , arranging and confirming installation appointments
• setting up and maintaining filing systems and databases
• making travel arrangements for the business owner and the salesman
• keeping office space clean and tidy.

During my employment I was paid on an hourly basis at the rate of $19 per hour. During my job interview it was verbally agreed that I will be paid $19 per hour. I was not provided with a paper contract but the employer assured me that he would take care of tax paperwork.

My gross earnings per year were as follows:
• December 2011 $XX (xx hours)
• January - April 2012 $xx (xxx hours)
January 2012 $xx (xx hours)
February 2012 $xx (xx hours)
March 2012 $xx (xx hours)
April 2012 $xx (xx hours)
May 2012 (60 hours)- I was not paid for that time period

My relationship with this employer ended on bad terms: after I informed my employer about my decision to quit on April 30 and worked the last 2 weeks, I was not paid May salary. The employer ignored my emails and phone calls in the spring and summer 2012 when I requested my May salary, T4 and Record of Employment (see attached copies of emails). Having spoken with the lawyer, I decided not to file a formal complaint against them as I was worried this might jeopardize my future employment.
When later I attempted to request an employment verification letter for immigration purposes, unfortunately my former employer has ignored my emails (see copies of these emails) up until today.

Although I realize, my employment with XX Windows is an example of unskilled work experience and cannot be counted towards my class A or B Canadian experience, in order to prove my legal employment with this company, I would like to provide:

1) copies of cheques with pay deductions to CRA sent on the behalf of my employer (I took copies of them before sending them off to CRA)
2) copies of T4s that I created when I was filing my taxes
3) copies of my emails that I sent requesting information from my employer.

Unfortunately, this is the only evidence I can provide so far but I am still attempting to receive information from my employer.

Their contact information is the following:
XX XXXXXXX, owner, phone number
XX XXXXXXX, Sales Manager, owner, phone number, (780) xxx-xxxx
Office address: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, phone (780) xxx-xxxx
website address: xxxxxxx.ca, email address: info @ xxxx.ca.

Thank you for your time,

Regards,

SorryMontana

 

[InfoSeeker12]

Hi Montana, (is it hanna montana?)

Im simply confused as to why would you submit a detailed experience letter for a job that is not in 0,A or B category. CEC stream only considers experience gained in 0,A or B.

Yes - I understand that you want to keep things straight and want to inform them that you were employed for a year in this job. So a simple employment letter, with your title, date of employment, supervisor's signature, or just name title and phone/email contact below would suffice. I guess that would be enough.

But since im not an expert on this (or anything else!), i'll strongly recommend to wait for a response from one of the Champion/VIP Members.

 

[jes_ON]

Im simply confused as to why would you submit a detailed experience letter for a job that is not in 0,A or B category. CEC stream only considers experience gained in 0,A or B.

Because the document checklist says to submit a letter for ALL employment in Canada in the past 3 years. It does not say "all SKILLED employment." The instructions for submitting letters of employment are different than the instructions for listing skilled work on the "Schedule 8 - CEC class" form.

 

[jes_ON]

hey sorrymontana,

Overall I think the letter is fine, although probably "too much information." I think you should put the reason for writing the explanation at the top of the letter so that the VO can quickly decide what to do with the info, and then cut some of the details. But it's up to you - Below is just a suggestion on how you could revise it - I understand you want to have your say as well as cover yourself, but this is not a court of law - you need to focus on what this letter is for, and make sure that this info will not create concern or confusion for your CEC application, and the VO is looking for certain things and won't spend a lot of time on the rest.

Dear -

I was unable to obtain a letter of employment from one of my employers in the past three years, so I am submitting this letter of explanation instead. I realize my employment with XX Windows was in an unskilled occupation and will not be counted towards the work experience requirement for the CEC program.

I was employed by XXX Windows Inc. from the period of December 2, 2011 to May 11, 2012. I worked part-time (approximately 30 hours per week) as a Secretary-Receptionist. During my employment I was paid on an hourly basis at the rate of $19 per hour.

My responsibilities as a Secretary-Receptionist included:

• greeting clients in person and by phone and providing with information about products and services (windows, doors and installation services)
• taking and relaying phone messages
• preparing and managing correspondence, invoices
• maintaining schedules and calendars , arranging and confirming installation appointments
• setting up and maintaining filing systems and databases
• making travel arrangements for the business owner and the salesman
• keeping office space clean and tidy.

My gross earnings per year were as follows:
• December 2011 $XX (xx hours)
• January - April 2012 $xx (xxx hours)
• May 2012 (60 hours)- I was not paid for that time period

My relationship with this employer ended on bad terms: after I informed my employer about my decision to quit on April 30 and worked the last 2 weeks, I was not paid May salary. The employer ignored my emails and phone calls in the spring and summer 2012 when I requested my May salary, T4 and Record of Employment (see attached copies of emails). THREATENED YOU? Having spoken with the lawyer, I decided not to file a formal complaint against them as I was worried this might jeopardize my future employment.

When later I attempted to request an employment verification letter for immigration purposes, unfortunately my former employer has ignored my emails (see copies of these emails) up until today.

Their contact information is the following:
XX XXXXXXX, owner, phone number
XX XXXXXXX, Sales Manager, owner, phone number, (780) xxx-xxxx
Office address: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, phone (780) xxx-xxxx
website address: xxxxxxx.ca, email address: info @ xxxx.ca.

Thank you for your time,

Regards,

SorryMontana

 

[CEC2013]

Agree with Jes on this! Too much information friend... Really, all you need to include is what you would included in all your other letters - position, pay, hours, length, duties and so forth. The last paragpraph to me is just too much info. Coming from the public sector...if I received something like this, when its not even counted towards your eligibility, it would annoy me.

If you want to make it a point that they are unwilling to provide a letter...then just state that. Right to the point! Nothing about lawyers and all that other bla bla. If CIC asks for more details, then you provide it. Since its not counted, it is unlikely they will care.

Just my thoughts! Good luck...