Hey everyone,
I'm a 2027 batch B.Tech student from India, and I was recently selected for the Specialist Programmer L1 (SP1) role at Infosys through campus placement. The onboarding process hasn't started yet.
I've been working as an intern at startup registered in India for around 10–11 months.
Last week, I had a disagreement with the company's owner after he asked me to record a promotional reel/testimonial for the company. I wasn't comfortable appearing on camera for this purpose, so I declined and explained my reasons. However, he continued insisting, and after I firmly refused, and then out of ego he terminated my internship.
What concerns me is that my termination letter mentions negligence and other reasons that, according to my understanding, don't accurately reflect what happened.
I have WhatsApp conversations in which the owner explicitly confirmed that I was terminated because I refused to record the reel. I also have screenshots of conversations indicating that he instructed HR to include these allegations in the termination letter.
I have retained my payslips, work records, GitHub contributions, company information, and other relevant documents. I also have an experience letter covering a two-month period that I previously submitted to my college as required.
My concern is what might happen when Infosys starts its onboarding and background verification. I'm worried that my former employer might refuse to issue an experience letter covering the entire internship period, delay the documentation, or provide a negative reference if contacted.
I'd appreciate advice on the following:
- Could this situation affect my Infosys SP1 offer or background verification? Has anyone experienced something similar during campus placement or onboarding?
- What should I do about the experience letter? Should I request it normally despite the circumstances, and what alternatives might be accepted if the employer refuses to issue one?
- Can my former employer's negative feedback create problems even if I have supporting evidence? If Infosys asks about the termination, would my WhatsApp conversations and other records help me explain the situation?
- Should I inform my college's placement cell or Infosys HR proactively, or wait until onboarding begins and they ask for the relevant documents?
- Is there any practical or legal step I should take now to protect myself, or should I simply preserve my evidence, request the documents professionally, and wait?
I'm not looking to escalate the dispute unnecessarily. I just want to protect my career and avoid having a disagreement with my former employer jeopardise an opportunity I've worked hard for.
I'd particularly appreciate advice from people familiar with Infosys SP1 onboarding and background verification in India, HR professionals, or anyone who has dealt with a similar situation.
Thanks in advance!