Why are exit interviews important?
16 / Jul / 2024
When it comes to recruitment, a lot of attention is given to the early stages, be that the initial screening, applying or interview process.
Craig Elvin
Five questions to ask at an exit interview, Craig explores the impact of a positive experience.
The benefits and importance of treating someone well as they leave a company are rarely discussed. There are five crucial questions you should be asking.
Why are exit interviews important and how should you approach conducting an exit interview?
1) If you want the business to grow and develop, you need to conduct exit interviews. The answers given at an exit interview will give you real insight and help the business to move forward.
2) Make sure you ask the same questions in exit interviews – this ensures consistency. I’ve included some stock exit interview questions you can tailor for your organisation below.
3) Jim Collins in his book Good To Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t, says, “Productive change begins when you confront the brutal facts.” Be prepared that you won’t like what you are going to hear every time, but if you want to make a positive long-term change – you are going to need to listen to the person’s points.
4) Treat people as well in their exit as you did on their first day. Put as much emphasis on offboarding as you do onboarding and create advocates, the business world can be surprisingly small and you never know when you might meet again.
5) Action the points that were raised in the exit interview. You’ve got feedback, treat it as a gift and use it to your organisation’s benefit.
Exit interviews have a reputation for being a wholly negative experience, but I’m a huge advocate for making them a positive experience for both parties involved.
Leave emotions at the door, listen to the feedback and use it constructively to gain a competitive advantage in moving your organisation onwards.
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