Navigating Job Transitions: Should I List My First Job Without a Relieving Letter?

Hi all,

I graduated from college with a good GPA in 2020 and joined my first company, A, in June 2020, where I worked for 1 year and 1 month. After a 6-month probation period, I became a permanent employee. Subsequently, I received an offer from company B on August 17th, with a requirement to start on August 23rd. I informed HR that I would resign and be willing to compensate for not serving the notice period. However, I was informed that the company does not provide a relieving letter if I leave without serving the notice period.

At that time, I was not aware of the importance of a relieving letter, EPFO history, BGV, etc. Consequently, I submitted my resignation via email on the 17th, completed all necessary formalities, and commenced my employment with the new company on the 23rd. I also received a Full and Final settlement letter from company A.

I possess the following documents from Company A:
1. Offer letter
2. Payslips
3. Full and Final settlement
4. Bonus letter

Would this situation be considered as absconding? Should I omit this experience from my resume or include it?

Thank you.

Hi, If you had paid money in lieu of the shortfall in the notice period, then your ex-employer should have issued the proper relieving letter. While the offer letter, payslips, FNF, and bonus letter stand as proof of your past employment, they cannot substitute for a relieving letter. Your relieving from the employment can only be proved through a proper relieving letter. So, please check with your HR department of the ex-employer for the relieving letter. Insist on the same as you had paid money in lieu of the notice period.

I haven't paid any amount. HR mentioned that it's not in their policy to provide a relieving letter if I didn't serve the notice period. They don't want to give a relieving letter even if I pay the amount.

I sent an email to HR to inquire if there is any chance, but she didn't respond.

Hi, you are supposed to serve the proper notice period as per the terms and conditions of your past employment. In the absence of the proper notice period, the employer has the right to deny the relieving letter. You may remove this experience from the resume provided no PF/ESI is deducted in your last employment. Also, please note that if you remove this experience, your 1.1 years of experience will become meaningless.

I'm ready to let go of that 1.1-year experience, and I'm not going to mention it on my resume. However, in EPFO history, this company is present. How do I convey this to a new HR if I apply for a job?

You have all the documents necessary to prove your employment with that company.

Any new company you apply to, if selected, make it clear to them that you do not have a relieving letter from that company but you have an F&F letter, which should be enough for most people. Whether they will hold your not serving notice period against you, I am not in a position to comment on.

I decided not to mention this company or experience in my resume because I'm thinking they might be against me. How should I handle this situation? Will this affect my career?

Hi, if PF history is available, it's better not to hide it. However, provide some convincing reasons for not serving the notice period. Never complain about the past employer.

If you hide this, they are bound to consider that you have something to fear, and automatically you lose.

If it is a large company, possibly the HR person may not even be there to remember that they have a grudge against you. You took a conscious decision not to complete the notice period because the next employer insisted on it. The decision is going to stay with you.

The reaction of each new employer will be different, and you can't predict it. But as Lakshmi says, if the evidence is there, hiding it is a bad idea.

Thank you for your help. Will this affect if I want to pursue an MS abroad?