Facing a Dilemma: Should I Risk a New Job Offer by Completing My Notice Period?

I am a software engineer with 3 years of experience. I have worked with 3 companies, the third one being my current position. I have been there for 1 year. The employee agreement states that an employee has to serve a notice period of 60 days; failing which, he/she is liable to pay 2 months' salary to the company. I recently resigned from the company via email (as my work location and company location are in different states). I received a call from the company's HR stating that I have to serve the full 60 days notice period and that they won't provide a buy-out option. Despite my efforts to negotiate, I can only serve 30 days, not 60.

Consequently, I will not receive a relieving/experience letter. I have my Offer Letter, Appointment Letter, and all my Pay Slips. I have received an offer from a CMMI Level 4 MNC, and they are willing to accept me based on my previous appointment letter (as they have already completed my background check).

I seek advice on the following:
1. Should I complete the full 60 days notice period to obtain a relieving/experience letter, risking the new offer from the MNC?
2. Should I forgo the relieving/experience letter and proceed with the new offer?
3. Are relieving/experience letters from all previous companies required for passport and visa processing? In other words, will not having some of these letters hinder my ability to work abroad in the future?
4. Considering that some companies request all past employment certificates while others only need the previous one, will it be crucial to have a relieving/experience letter from my current company when I leave my fourth company in the future? By then, I will have around 5 years of work experience. Will the absence of the letter from the third company impact me, provided I can manage the background check from there and have cleared everything with the fourth company?

I am in a difficult situation and would greatly appreciate any valuable advice or thoughts.

Hi N.P.V...

I don't see a point in why you are thinking so much. You already have an offer in hand so you can proceed further with that. The background check is done, and they are ready to hire you. Why this dilemma then?

Now coming to the answers to your questions:

- You have said that you have an offer, why worry about this question then? You can talk it out with your Boss or HR people to relieve you in 30 days' time and pay for the next 30 days if you can.

- Have already replied, you can take relieving, just talk it out.

- I'm not sure about this part. I will confirm and come back to you with the answer.

- It's perfectly fine if you have all other things such as an appointment letter, payslips, and a copy of the resignation letter. I don't think it will create any problems in the future. Most companies do a reference and background check these days. You have cleared it already, so just prepare for your next venture and get going. But make sure you don't fall into the trap of joining early without an experience letter next time also.

I hope it clarifies most of your queries. If you have any further doubts, pen them down here.

All the Best

I endorse the views of Archna. Go ahead and join the new company if they are willing to absorb you without a relieving letter from your previous company.

Pon