Navigating Legalities: Can I Get My Experience Certificate After Absconding from TCS?

I worked for TCS for 1.5 years. Then, I started my entrepreneurial journey. I went absconding from the company since I had money (60k) either to invest in my business or pay them as I was under a bond of 2 years. Things did not work out well, and I am looking for an experience certificate from the company. My HR said to pay 60k and get your experience certificate with absconding status. What's right legally?

You made a mistake by absconding from the job without informing them. You should have informed them about your decision to leave and could have paid the notice period buyout amount. Even if you receive the experience certificate with the absconding status, it won't help you in your future career. I would request the seniors to clarify this matter for me.

Regards,

Agree with Vani. The experience letter is only issued when the notice period recovery is paid off. In the absence of the same, the experience letter will not be issued. Also, if you join another company and the background verification goes to this employer, then the response might not be positive, and this will impact your future career progression.

Vani is right. But frankly, you can take solace in the fact that you aren't alone in such a situation. Many make the same mistake—mainly through overconfidence and an "I am always right" attitude. I know this hurts, but that's the fact. There's a saying in the Bible: "As you sow, so you reap."

And please note that "legally," TCS is right to take the stand they took. In fact, be happy that they didn't file any absconding case against you—they would have been within their rights even if they did.

Options Moving Forward

Now coming to the issue at hand, I can see you have two options. Please note that I am not going into the feasibility issues here at all:

1. Continue with your entrepreneurial journey—if not in the area you started with, maybe something else. But, just remember that "there's nothing called a free lunch in life." One needs to work like hell when on their own—much more than while in a job.

2. Restart your career all over again, forgetting you worked with TCS. You may need to explain the gap between your degree passing and the present as being on your own. Even though one would call this "bluffing/lying," I guess you leave yourself no other choice. Maybe there's truth in what someone said: "A lie needs an accomplice, a truth none."

I also suggest that you learn the lesson from your mistakes—you committed two mistakes, not just one by leaving TCS the way you did (the focus being on "the way" and not on "leaving").

All the best.

Regards, TS

Thank you, Vani, Rananeer, and Tajsateesh. I appreciate your writing and helping me with my query. I admit that I made a mistake; however, it was an honest mistake as I really wanted to start my enterprise as soon as possible, and waiting for the agreement period would have delayed the proceedings by 6 months. Anyways, I can't undo the past. Now, since my venture has failed, I want to pursue an MBA first as I have realized that I need to learn management before starting something again.

Considering an Absconding Letter for MBA Interview

So, would it be a good idea to submit an absconding letter for the personal interview, highlighting my entrepreneurial nature, and trying to convince the panel that my previous attempt was driven by high spirits to pursue my dreams and passion?

There's nothing absolutely wrong in wishing to start an enterprise. But what and where you went/did wrong is the way you left TCS—which I already mentioned in the earlier posting. Maybe waiting for another 6 months would have been much better—looking in hindsight? Unfortunately, we humans don't have that capability of looking into the future. But the minimum one can do is to 'adhere to the rules of the game'—which usually always would turn out for one's benefit rather than a disadvantage in the long run.

There's another aspect of your thinking process that you may need to correct—your 'view' that it was 'an honest mistake'. Most likely, more than your eagerness to start off early, it was your lack of concern for the organizational rules and interests that drove you towards that decision. If you really had the interests of TCS in mind along with your interests, you would have informed them of your decision or delayed the process by 6 months. Just give it a thought from this perspective.

Your plan to go for an MBA is definitely quite good and practical too. But I am not so sure what you would be achieving by using the Absconding Letter. I suggest you discuss the requirements of admission into an MBA with those who know better in that aspect—maybe the experience letter may not be needed at all. So why create a situation when you can avoid it altogether?

All the best.

Regards,
TS

Hi Tajsateesh, thanks again! I think you are correct in saying that I had a lack of concern for the organizational rules. I repent my decision.

Showcasing Work Experience in MBA

In an MBA, one needs to showcase all work experience. Since TCS is a big name to be associated with, I would like to mention that I worked there. I want to know what impression my decision would have on the interview panel. I request others also to share their thoughts.

Regards,
Ankur

No doubt, TCS is a big name to get associated with or to use for one's advancement in their career. However, I am not so sure in your case, since any letter from TCS to you will also mention the absconding aspect. What if it mars your chances for admission into an MBA at a good college? You wouldn't be able to correct the situation then—it would be too late, and the damage to your admission efforts would be done by then.

Consider an Alternative Approach

Why not show your experience as an entrepreneur and tell them that you realized that an MBA would be better to take this effort further to success? Many MBA colleges accept that logic and reason.

Looking at this issue from another angle, it's only in small companies that one gets to learn much more than in a larger company—where your role and responsibilities are limited to one or two areas.

Like I mentioned earlier, suggest discussing this aspect with others too—what would be beneficial and what's not with respect to the admissions.

All the best.

Regards,
TS