Worried About Past Job Feedback? How It Might Affect Your New Government Role in India

I have done two jobs till now:

Experience in a PSU and a Private Sector Finance Firm

One was in a PSU, and the other was in a private sector finance firm. In the first job, I did not like the work culture and left after giving my resignation. However, during the last few days, there was an altercation with seniors as well. I was not issued any memo or charge sheet for my behavior, but I am not sure if that was recorded in my personal file or not.

Performance and Resignation in the Second Job

In the second job, I resigned after one year, but my performance was poor. I did not receive any written warning for my poor performance, but my seniors were clearly not happy with it. They even told me verbally a few times. My relieving letter doesn't mention anything related to performance; it states that I have left the job on my own.

Concerns About Joining a Government Job

Now, I am going to join a government job, where I have to mention my past job history. Most likely, they will cross-check my past character in these jobs as well. I am really worried about the feedback that they will receive. Do past employers give bad character remarks in India even though it is not mentioned on the relieving letter?

Government Job Verification Process

In government jobs, the verification is not conducted by private HR agencies doing background checks but by the police. Unlike private companies, the verification for government service does not involve any 'performance issue' verification. The police verification will not cover any 'performance issues' in your private establishments; only the criminal background of the candidate will be assessed. Your service records from private establishments are merely like pieces of paper when you secure a government service job.

However, if service in a Public Service Unit is considered as experience for any weightage for salary or increment, then it will be checked.

Employment Verification and Character Assessment

Okay, sure, but they could ask about my behavior and character. Also, will employment verification be done by the police? I think they can directly write to the HR of past organizations. They can still give a bad remark.

No, never. They will come to your locality and just ask a few questions about you; it will be a casual inquiry. When your experience with a private organization is not at all relevant for your selection to a government position, the conduct certificate issued or comments made by the private company are of no value.

Conduct Certificate from PSU

And what about the conduct certificate from PSU? It is a government entity.

As already stated in my first reply, the same would be considered for the appointment in government service, whether for service weightage or pay increment (increment to basic pay at the initial stage of fixation itself).

Considerations for Government Service Appointment

If the reason for leaving or ending the contract of employment with that PSU has been dismissal from service as a punishment followed by an inquiry, then it could pose a problem. Suppose the application to the government service was submitted through the PSU before your charge sheet was issued or the inquiry started; in that case, there would not be any negative remarks about the inquiry. However, if it was sent after the commencement of the inquiry, it would be construed that the same would have been mentioned in the forwarding note itself.

Impact of Misconduct Charges

You have mentioned that you were not charged with misconduct, and there are no remarks available in the service records. Therefore, there is no relevance for 'misconduct.' Even if some verification has been conducted, in the absence of any records, it will not be reported. If reported at this point, the blame will be shifted to the head of that PSU, and he would be held accountable for releasing you without conducting an inquiry into the incident that occurred in the office.