Frequently new opportunities aren’t created unless someone leaves a company. One of the best ways to figure out why an employee has decided to move on and address any underlying issues within your organization is to hold an exit interview. The exit interview gives the resigning employee an opportunity to express why they’ve chosen to leave the company and gives your team an excellent chance to get candid feedback. Even when it comes to employee surveys, oftentimes current workers aren’t as honest as they would be if they were severing ties with an organization. The exit interview provides the perfect venue for this kind of constructive and truthful feedback.
One of the best ways to prevent turnover in an organization is to find out why people leave. And one of the best ways to that is through the exit interview. But you have to make sure you’re asking the right questions to get useful answers. Ask questions that will get the employee to open up and provide thoughtful insight into any improvements you can make. Here are some great examples:
- Why are you leaving?
- What is the company doing right? Poorly? Very Poorly?
- How can we improve working conditions?
- What did you like about working here?
- What would you change about working here?
- What do other employees think about working here?
These are just a start. There are lots of ways to gain insight from an employee that’s leaving through an exit interview. But why is it so important to hold these possibly uncomfortable meetings with an employee who’s decided to move on?
- Employee Development. The knowledge you gain from an employee who’s leaving can help you pinpoint exactly what you need to do to retain employees through things like employee development. Workers want to feel like they’re succeeding and growing with a company. If you don’t have an effective employee development program, then you’re not doing yourself any favors.
- A View on Internal Issues. The exit interview could shed light on a management issue that you didn’t even know was happening. Oftentimes employees are afraid to speak up at an organization they hope to stay employed with for fear of retaliation. The exit interview is the perfect opportunity to ask about any possible issues happening that no one has brought up.
- Leaving on Good Terms. The decision for an employee to leave a company is often difficult. The exit interview offers an open and safe space for two-way feedback and can leave both parties on good terms. An exit interview shows that your company cares about its employees, even those who’ve chosen to move on.
If you have questions about exit interviews or are looking for a new candidate, contact us. We know the business and can match your open position with the perfect employee.