Stuck in a Job Agreement: How Can I Navigate a Job Change Without a Relieving Letter?

I'm working as an HR Trainee in a service-based company for the past 6 months. Due to family issues, I'm in a situation where I need to look for a job in my native location. The issue is that I have signed a 1.6-year mutual agreement, and according to company rules, I need to serve a notice period of 90 days. Additionally, I am facing a challenge in obtaining a relieving letter during the probation period (1 year).

Kindly provide me with suggestions regarding a job change. What should I do now? I will base my decisions on your replies.

Thank you.

Regards.

Hi Priya, yes, there might be a slight impact from that. You will not be able to show 6 months of experience as you have not completed the relieving formalities.

You resigned for certain reasons, which is okay. However, I would like to know the responses to your request for an experience/relieving letter from them or the problems you are referring to. I agree with Sharmila Ji. I also want to know whether your resignation has been accepted. If it has, you can ask them to provide you with an experience letter, including the details as explained by her earlier.

Furthermore, the Full and Final (F&F) statement can also assist you in this matter as it always includes the work period of an employee. The most crucial aspect to consider is how you handle the demands and questions from your new recruiters or employers regarding the same. Be prepared to explain your current employment details or provide an experience letter when asked. Therefore, it would be advisable to convince your current employer through a humble request and by providing a valid reason for your resignation.

The Importance of a Relieving Letter

A relieving letter is a formality, and in reality, your "experience and learning" on the job that you are about to leave is more important than the said letter per se. In the present-day world, a new employer will want to be certain that they are not taking on board a deserter, traitor, a dishonest employee, or an incompetent employee, and there is nothing wrong in such expectations. But a "relieving letter" or at least a "resignation acceptance" letter assures the new employer that you do not belong to the above-mentioned categories. It is therefore in your interests to not go into a frenzy and desert your present job carrying a "liability" of not being able to convince new employers of your credibility. Competence without credibility will yet be a problem now and in the future!

However, if you state the facts and the new employer accepts these, you could leave the present job successfully without getting your profile/prospects tarnished!

Follow the Custom for a Safe Transition

A safe approach will be to follow the custom and get relieved properly. If you wish to either take a chance or if you have to take a chance, the outcome will remain unpredictable with greater chances of things going against you than for you! Three months is not so long a period that you should risk your career for this deemed urgency. It is perhaps better to find ways and means to contain the urgency than to stake a career!

Your decision will depend on your situation, which only you know best. We can only wish you well!

Regards,
Samvedan

December 5, 2012

Just talk to your HR team and apprise them of your problem. I am sure they will take a sympathetic view if you need to leave due to family issues. Follow their suggestions on how to resign and serve the notice period. No sane company will want to force a person to work when they don't want to, but fulfilling a notice period is essential.

In the worst-case scenario, you will not have a relieving and experience letter. You may not be able to show the experience at this place. It's not the end of the world, but I still think serving the notice period is essential.