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I got a job after my Masters, and worked there for 10 months. I had some issues with my supervisor so I left the place without giving proper notice. Naturally, I did not get the Experience Letter from the company. After 11 months, I got another job at a small firm where 10 people worked. They did not insist on the prior Experience Letter. I worked there for 10 months and then got another job. They only asked for the latest Experience Letter which I did have.

However, I think lately the background checks have become stricter, and I recently lost an amazing job opportunity due to not being able to produce the Experience Letter from my first job.

Obviously, I cannot show the first job on my resume since background check requires the relevant Experience Letter. As a result, I now have to show nearly 2 years gap after my Masters (10 months of employment at the first company followed by 11 months of unemployment).

I have nearly 4 years of continuous work experience. What explanation could I give for the gap of 2 years?

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    Glad to meet you ... did you have a question?
    – Masked Man
    May 31, 2015 at 16:15
  • yes i my problem is i cant seem to figure out what should i explain in an interview about what i did 2 years after my masters.since i dont have experience letter from first job i did for 10 months then i was unemployed for 11 months thats nearly 2 years gap.Its quite frustrating since i want to change the job but 2 years gap right at the start of my resume leaves a big hole and recruiters wont miss it
    – Sam007
    May 31, 2015 at 16:32
  • You tell them that you were employed for 10 months but don't have an experience letter, and then you were unemployed for 11 months. By the way, if you did not have another job offer lined up, why did you quit the first job without proper notice?
    – Masked Man
    May 31, 2015 at 16:36
  • 5
    Which country is this?
    – CodesInChaos
    May 31, 2015 at 17:14
  • 3
    What is an "experience letter"?
    – LindaJeanne
    May 31, 2015 at 20:04

2 Answers 2

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Obviously, I cannot show the first job on my resume since background check requires the relevant Experience Letter [..] What explanation could I give for the gap of 2 years?

I don't think there is a good explanation for the gap, apart from the truth.

If you leave a gap in a CV, the first thing any decent HR person / interviewer will do is ask about it (if they do not just dismiss your application). They will ask because any gap looks like you are trying to hide something, and that might be something relevant for the job (maybe a time in prison).

So I agree with Joe Strazzere's assesment: Tell the truth. Maybe something like:

January-October 2012: data entry specialist, XY corp. Employer declined to provide experience letter.

That is honest, without going into too much detail, and without badmouthing your former employer (which is important).

Of course, a new employer may still decide that they absolutely, positively must have an experience letter. Then there's nothing you can do. However, that way at least you do not have a gap, and if your CV passes the first round, you can explain in the interview exactly what happened.

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Try to get an experience letter from the HR department of the company instead of from the manager. The HR department might be willing to give you an experience letter showing the information they have about you such as the start and end dates, job title etc. Often this is sufficient for a new employer.

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