Worried About a 3-Month Gap on Your TCS HR Form? Here's How to Handle It

I have been selected for TCS, but I made a mistake in filling out the HR form as I did not mention my 3-month employment gap. Could this be a problem in the background check? How do I correct it?

Career gaps of 3 to 6 months are quite normal in many cases. The issue arises when there is a gap of 1 year or more in service. I don't think you would face any problem.

Dear Giri, I would suggest you speak to your HR. Since you had no intention to fudge documents and entered the data entirely by error, you have fewer reasons to worry. Wish you all the best!

Regards

These days, there are many instances of people working for short periods of time and then absconding (the term used in the IT industry), i.e., disappearing without any notice or resignation. This is a major problem for the IT industry.

If there is an unexplained gap, the usual assumption is that there must be something to hide, and therefore, concluding that you could be an absconder. Hence, there is a chance (especially since companies like TCS are inundated with applications of people wanting to join them, so they can pick and choose) that they could decide to ignore your case—even though there is, as you say, a genuine error on your part.

The BG Verification company will check your background and comment against the gap of 3 months, that they have not been able to verify any details—which could be held against you.

It is always best to come clean and be honest. If there is a gap which you have omitted, it would be a good idea to reach out to the HR person in TCS and request permission to fill in the gap so that your record is complete.

Regards,
R. Bhatnagar

If there is a gap of 2 to 3 months in your employment and it is considered as absconding, it could create a problem in the future. The best advice is to clearly explain to HR why you have that gap. You might have been searching for a job during this period, so go ahead and tell the truth to HR.

As far as I know, it shouldn't really matter. Now, what caused the gap is only what you really know. Like someone has suggested, you could have been searching for jobs, whereas people in HR of IT companies can also feel that you did work in some place for those three months, and maybe you got this from TCS and so you quit the previous job, didn't go through with the normal exit process, and you just stopped going, you didn't even take the relieving certificate, maybe you even sacrificed your salary to that extent, etc. The possibilities of such guesses can go on endlessly, but that's really their worry, not yours.

Do not volunteer to provide information, even if you know you are honest. You have only your conscience to answer. The more you speak, the more fodder you'll give them to explore. Just make your statement if they ask you and do not go further to explain. Be precise and to the point, nothing more, nothing less, and just forget about this after that. You've got to be smarter than them.

Best wishes and warm regards,

Regards

Thank you very much for your valuable suggestions. Actually, my gap was between my first and second company. As my first company employment was a direct contract for a particular period (2.4 years), there was a 3-month gap before I secured another job. Now, I am transitioning to TCS from my second company. If I explain the same reason to HR, wouldn't it be considered a performance issue? Additionally, I have another concern. This position requires 3+ years of experience. If I disclose this 3-month gap, I will need an extra 1 1/2 months to reach 3 years of experience. However, one month will be covered by the notice period. I am now worried about the remaining half a month.

Please suggest the best way to address this situation.

Thanks,
Giri

Despite the policy, if you've been assessed as technically good for the position, I don't think it should really matter.

Best wishes,
TSK. Raman

3 months is just fine. No need to rock the boat. However, if you still want to go ahead with that, contact your HR. They will do it for you.

I got shortlisted in the TCS walk-in interview. I have a two-year gap in my education, but in the call letter, they mentioned that a two-year gap in education is okay. I have already submitted my documents to them. I even received an email from TCS about filling out the online application form.

So, how much time will it take for my background check, and when will I get my offer letter?