How Can I Prove My Work Experience Without a Relieving Letter? Seeking Advice!

Dear friends,

I recently resigned from a consultancy in Bangalore. I worked in that organization for 1 year and left against the will of management. At the time of resigning, they said your relieving letter and full settlement will happen within 10-15 days. When approached to get the same, I was informed that you will get your full and final settlement but NOT a relieving letter as you resigned against the wish of management. I have a copy of my resignation letter (email).

My question is:
1. What are the other ways to prove my work experience? E.g., salary slips, salary statement from the bank, etc.
2. How can I get my relieving letter?

Request you all to comment on the same at the earliest.

Thank you.

Regards,
Chintan K. Doshi
chintaan@gmail.com

Against the will of the management? Did you serve the notice period? Sometimes, this is the only way to take revenge by the company.

Anyways, I suggest you send an email with a copy to the Senior Management stating that as per the resignation letter dated --/--/--, you have served the notice period and also received the full and final settlement. However, you would also like to receive the experience letter as that is required for your future. If they still don't agree, you can take the last three/four months salary slip and submit it to your current employer for verification. Please provide references from your ex-company (like Manager/senior Manager) to vouch for your performance. Be polite and try explaining the situation. It does not matter if you have to give up a little bit of your ego to get your task done.

Let's wait for some good responses and see what other members have to say about this situation.

Hi,

A relieving letter is indeed an important document to prove that you have completed all the formalities in your previous company. However, if the same is not available, a reference check by your reporting manager can be a good alternative.

Thank you for your response. The notice period was waived off. I was working in a small organization (consultancy) set up (Start-Up). The issue is that when I spoke to the concerned person, he mentioned that he won't give me a relieving letter and asked me to start my career as a fresher. It's a one-man show in that organization, with everything controlled by that one person. Even my reporting manager will not authenticate my work experience without that person's approval. He is the only person in senior management (small consultancy, a set-up), and my settlement check is also pending.

Dear Chintan,

I understand the situation.

Suggestion 1: Do you have an appointment letter? If so, use that to show your day of joining. Do you have the last month's salary slip? Take copies of the last three months (if you don't have them, take bank statements for the last few months). Now, provide this to your new company and let the HR know the situation. It's not a professionally held company, so don't lose your image and name by reacting aggressively. However, make sure you have asked them enough times. Provide references of your clients (I am sure you must know at least two to three good HRs in your client list you worked with previously). Let them speak for you! What else do you need?

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Guys,

Thanks a lot, Ravi and Asha.

Ravi, if I do the same, there will be no difference between them and me. And once started, these things will continue to go deeper and deeper.

Anyways, thanks again for your time and suggestion.

Asha,

Yes, I have the appointment letter and all my pay slips till the last month and can also get a bank statement. I will also send a couple of emails requesting my relieving letter, which could serve as proof.

Yeah, I will get references from my clients and others on my team who know what is what.

Thanks, Asha, you have clarified my doubts in the best possible manner.

Now, I will start looking for a better job. My hunt begins.

In the meanwhile, if you come across any openings in HR, do let me know.

I have 2.4 years of total work experience in HR, including:
- Recruitment & Selection,
- Training & Development,
- Client Coordination,
- Employee Relations, and
- Event Management.

I have completed my Post Graduation in Human Resource Development from St. Joseph's College of Business Administration, Bangalore.

Thanks & Regards, Chintan K. Doshi chintaan@gmail.com

Hello Chintan,

First, answer a couple of queries:

1) Why did you want to leave? - the exact reason AND the reason you mentioned to the ex-employer.

2) Why did the ex-employer [at least the reasons he gave to you] NOT want to lose you - remember the 'relieving' factor comes subsequently.

Regards,
TS

Hi Chintan,

I shall definitely keep you posted if I come across a position that matches your expertise.

As TS had asked - is there a specific reason for moving out?

My first employer, a Recruitment consultancy for US-based companies, was also not interested in relieving me. However, since the company already practiced systems and was a well-known company, they kept up with their policies. I quit due to health reasons/night shifts. This was the real reason, and I took rest for a month, searched for a job, and got another position at a reputed company.

My reason was acceptable as my health was deteriorating due to night shifts, and my performance appraisal documents served as a good help to get through interview questions relating to "why did you leave your previous company?"

What I am trying to say is it should not look like as if you left the company due to performance/disciplinary issues. Just make sure you have the right documents/records to prove yourself. Again, the clients you worked with will serve as a good point of reference.

Good Luck!

Dear Abhi, Sateesh, & Asha,

One of the main reasons for me to move out was that they were moving my profile from HR to Marketing, which I saw as a block to my professional career in HR. Apart from this, I was not sure regarding the financial stability of the organization. Moreover, the work environment was not conducive to learning new things or employee-friendly. When I joined, the organization's size was about 25-26, and within a year, approximately 23 employees resigned. Currently, there are about 12 employees in the organization, including top management.

The reason my ex-employer didn't want to lose me was that I had performed far better than others in the team in terms of generating revenue. However, the organization did not have any performance parameters or evaluators.

Regards,
Chintan K. Doshi

Hello Chintan,

You should have given all these inputs in your first posting itself, else you would have run the risk of being misunderstood. Coming to your issue, there are a few points I would like to highlight, basically looking at it from different perspectives.

1) Though your interest lies in HR, did you ever realize that you do have a flair in marketing - hadn't it been for your boss's decision? And as you said, you seem to have been effective too, the reason why he didn't want to relieve you.

2) We will always be happy with those WHO WANT US, rather than WHOM WE WANT...this is true in career or life per se, except that you need to be clear on the REASONS why the other person/company wants you - there could be cases where the other side may want to just use you. But based on what you mentioned, I think the reasons why your ex-employer wanted you were: ONE he really trusted you & TWO he was impressed with your performance.

3) In the present situation of the recession, I wouldn't blame him for moving you to marketing, especially when half the people left. In a line, HE WAS BANKING ON YOU to tide over the present tough times. You should have discussed this issue openly with him, telling him that due to the situation you can handle marketing but would like to move back to HR as soon as the situation improves.

4) I am not sure of the domain that company was in, but unless it's something in a totally down-the-tube scenario in that domain - meaning no chance of improving even after the recession is over, financial problems are pretty common all over the industry today. Did you give a thought to how your treatment would be after the recession/improving of finances? I will bet my last penny on this - it will be great and you could be one of the trusted guys in the whole company, with added responsibilities.

5) You need to have BOTH short-term/immediate goals AS WELL AS long-term goals in life. I won't say I am right, but I do have a hunch that this opportunity that came your way COULD be aiding your long-term goals in some way, where marketing exposure could be a major plus for you. Many times it happens that way Chintan, while we are in the situation, we think: what's the hell is happening. But only later do we realize the 'why' part. Quite a few times, the chance is missed.

Now coming to the question: what to do now? If this ex-boss was a man of word, basically meaning 'doesn't use people' [you will be the best judge on this], maybe you could consider going back to him and discussing your apprehensions threadbare. Be as plain as you can - after all, everyone makes mistakes, but the ones who don't hesitate to correct them are the ones who go far in life. At least, give it a shot. The max what could happen is: he will say 'forget it'. I don't want to take you again [this could be possible if you had heated arguments in the recent past]. At least you did what you could. And if you aren't welcome there, obviously you need to be prepared for the consequences for what you did, however well-meant or unknowingly.

And never ever quit a job, however lousy or whatever the situation...BEFORE YOU HAVE ANOTHER IN HAND - easier said than done, since I know HR guys doing it too - which is surprising.

Regards, TS

Thank you for the input provided by you, Taj Sateesh. I will definitely consider all the possibilities highlighted by you. Thank you very much for taking your precious time and providing such valuable input. I will certainly keep in mind the points mentioned by you before posting a query.

Regards, Chintan K Doshi

I'm Suderson. I was also a victim of a similar incident. I worked at Vishwak Solutions until yesterday. Two days ago, I resigned from my job and provided notice until Nov-26-2010. I had been working there for 7 months. The management has decided not to provide the necessary documents. Despite informing them multiple times about my notice period, they did not comply. Now, I am without my papers. What should I do now? Please avoid joining Vishwak Solutions; it can be detrimental. This company has a pattern of such behavior, citing various reasons for dismissals. Is there any legal recourse available to obtain my documents?