In this post, we’ll help you to understand what an exit interview is, why they are often held and some helpful advice to help you navigate it in a professional and constructive manner.
What is an exit interview?
An exit interview is an opportunity for the company to conduct a final meeting with an employee who is leaving the business. It’s an important part of the offboarding process for HR, designed to help uncover any areas where the business can improve or change.
You may have your exit interview with your manager or someone from the HR department, or possibly both. It’s a normal part of working life for people to leave jobs for another opportunity, and the exit interview is a great way for your current business to understand what they could be doing better to retain staff.
Exit interview format: What to expect
An exit interview can be performed in a number of different ways, although it’s common for it to be a face-to-face meeting. However, you may be asked to complete a survey or questionnaire, have a phone meeting or in some cases, even a more informal goodbye lunch or coffee.
In any case, exit interviews are not a legal requirement but can help to increase retention rates and get a wider understanding of the current business culture. The interview should be confidential and a space to have an open and honest conversation, and can typically take place during your final week at the company. You may also find the interview takes place on neutral ground such as a separate meeting room.
Tips for your exit interview
It’s really important that you plan ahead of time for your exit interview and ensure that you approach it in a calm and constructive manner, particularly if you are leaving due to frustrations with the business. Whatever your circumstances, the exit interview is a chance to frame your opinions and offer useful feedback where possible.
An exit interview can be helpful in making sure you leave the company on as good terms as possible, so that you can move on to your next opportunity knowing that you have offered professional feedback and pointers as to why your current role was no longer a fit for you.
Above all else, it’s important to remember that it’s reasonable to discuss the negatives and offer input on why or how you felt your skills or ambitions weren’t met, but don’t forget the positives too.
Common exit interview questions
As mentioned, it can be helpful to spend some time preparing for your exit interview to ensure you get the right information across in the right way. Here we introduce just some of the most common questions you may be asked in an exit interview, so that you can spend some time thinking in advance of your answers and how you’d like to steer the conversation.
Why did you decide to leave the company?
You might be asked this question if you have left suddenly or voluntarily. Typically, this gives you a chance to offer insight on whether there was an incident that triggered your resignation, or if it’s something that had been building for some time. It can be a helpful question for the business to understand whether your role had any shortcomings or issues that need to be resolved before they think about hiring a replacement.
How was your relationship with your colleagues and management?
This is an incredibly important question as your manager and colleagues can play a huge role in your duration at the company. You can offer insights here as to what your key relationships were like, and if any leadership areas need to be addressed. What’s more, it can start to give the business an insight into the culture, which they may ask more about later.
What did you like and dislike about your role?
It’s important to remember here that you can offer criticism and point out anything negative, especially if it will help the business to improve in the future. After all, if there’s something you really didn’t enjoy, it’s important that you don’t let someone else go through the same thing. However, it’s also a chance to highlight the positives of your position and let the business know what they got right.
How would you describe the work-life balance here?
The work-life balance is a huge factor for many employees and it’s crucial that businesses get it right. If you felt that something was unbalanced, it’s key that you mention it here. It can help businesses to understand how they can improve this and increase employees’ happiness and satisfaction. On the other hand, if you feel like the work-life balance was spot on, be sure to mention it as this can be a great boost for the company.
What do you think of the company culture?
There are a number of questions in your exit interview that can build a picture of the culture at work, but an outright question like this can really help to uncover the ins and outs of it. If there’s something you don’t like or feel could be better, be sure to deliver it in a constructive way with possible suggestions, instead of just criticising what doesn’t work.
Do you have suggestions to improve the company?
If you’ve gathered opinions during your time at the business of what could be different, be open and honest in your exit interview and offer some suggestions. This could be anything from the onboarding process to the development of your role, as well as areas across the wider business. Be sure to only offer genuine and helpful suggestions and if you don’t have any ideas, that’s okay too.
What do you think about the way the business and teams are managed?
This question can be a great way for you to let the business know whether you feel like your role and department was valued and understood, or if things were missed. You can explain here if your expectations were met and if you had an appropriate development path, or if you feel like things could have been handled differently.
Would you recommend others to work here?
This a testament to the employer brand and helps the business to learn whether you are leaving on a good note, or if there are some further issues that need fixing. It’s important to be straightforward in your answer here and offer thoughtful insights, or if you have any specific things that make the role or business attractive.
All in all, an exit interview is more important for the business than it is for you, giving them the chance to uncover areas of improvement and better its processes ready for future employees. However, remember that it’s an opportunity for you to retain good professional relationships and leave your role feeling positive in being able to air your concerns or thoughts.
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