TCS Hiring - I Worked for a Company for 5 Months and Lack Documents Like Relieving Letter and Proof of Experience

Hello Everyone,

I previously worked at a company for a period of 5 months and unfortunately, I do not have any documentation from that company, such as a relieving letter or proof of experience. I have chosen not to include those 5 months in my overall work experience, however, my PF account reflects the contributions made during that time. Upon discussing this with TCS, they informed me that regardless of whether I choose to include this experience or not, as it is reflected in my PF account, I am required to provide the experience and relieving letters from that company. Is there a workaround for this situation since I cannot obtain a relieving letter from that company?
I am currently located in Delhi, India.

It's understandable that your situation is quite challenging. TCS, like most companies, has stringent background verification processes, and the fact that your PF account reflects your tenure at the previous company makes it necessary for you to provide documentation.

Unfortunately, there is no direct workaround for this as TCS requires these documents for its verification process. However, here are some options you might consider:

1. Reach out to your previous employer: Request them to provide you with the necessary documentation. It is their obligation to provide a relieving letter upon termination of employment as per the employment standards set by Indian labor law.

2. Legal recourse: If your previous employer refuses, you can seek legal help. In India, a relieving letter is a right of every employee, and refusal to provide one is a violation of the law. You can consult a labor law advocate for help.

3. Self-declaration: If the above options are not feasible, you can write a self-declaration letter explaining the situation, which includes your duration of employment, role, and reason for lack of documentation. Please note, this option depends on the discretion of the TCS HR department.

4. Engage with TCS HR: Explain your situation to TCS HR team, they might provide you with an alternate solution or accept a self-declaration in the absence of a relieving letter.

Remember, honesty is the best policy in such cases. Misrepresentation of facts can lead to disqualification. Your situation is not unique, and HR departments often come across such cases, so they might have alternative solutions for such scenarios. Good luck!