Company Exit Interviews (The Truth)

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The truth about Exit Interviews at companies- Should You Tell Them Anything?

In 2021, about 40% of US employees were about to quit their jobs. Because everyone is resigning, let's talk about exit interviews and how honest should you be with your soon-to-be ex-employer.

Exit interviews are most common in consulting firms (65%) and non-profits organizations (57%), whereas only 20% of exit interviews are conducted in utilities and educational institutions, and the bigger the company, the more likely it conducts exit interviews with their employees.

In my view, exit interviews are flawed big time and almost dead.

Why? Because the exit interview process has become too transactional which honestly doesn’t mean anything today and you as an employee will be in a much stronger position to decide if you want to provide honest feedback or decline to participate in this just one last dance with your employer.


Almost each of the suggested answers in this compilation of common exit interview questions teaches thousands of quitting employees:

1) Not to voice their real concerns,
2) Deviate from giving a straightforward answer, and
3) Keep acting as if you are a liability to the company rather than an asset.

To name a few, let's look at the 1st question which is: Why are you leaving your position, or what led you to the decision to leave? - With the sample answer sounds like this: “I have enjoyed working here, and I have learned a lot over the course of my employment. However, I feel like I have accomplished all I can in this role and need something different. While I have learned much at this job and honed my skills and experience, I feel it is time to go in a different direction. I have gained invaluable experience for the future, and I feel the time is right to expand my experience and strengthen my abilities.” Do you know why I think this is a bad help? Because it sounds very apologetic for wanting a change for the better.

The next question: How do you feel about management, and do you have any feedback or suggestions for how we can improve? - The problem here as I see it, it depends on whom you are talking to. If this is an HR representative that you have seen twice in your life- when you joined the company and when you are living your company- then providing constructive feedback is a waste of your time. If this is the direct supervisor you are talking to or in many cases supervisors and HR reps conducting it together- then you can easily give any formal, neutral, or diplomatic answer you can provide.

However, if you are talking to a senior manager, who has the decision-making power to present your views to the CEO or any talent commission that your organization may have, which is quite improbable, you may be more honest with your feedback. Again, staying concise and professional doesn’t hinder being honest with your answers.

This just makes the whole exit interview process a joke.

And the rest of these questions like What were your criteria for choosing a new employer and Would you consider staying on? - won’t change anything for you. The problem here is that the employers don’t care about their employees suddenly. It’s just too late and it doesn’t make any sense.

Now let’s see why exit interviews fail to deliver what they are intended to do:

The first reason why exit interviews fail is that during the conversation and obtaining your feedback by any way chosen by the employer, it’s too late to change your job design, improve your working conditions, work on corporate culture and magically improve management’s perception about you.

The second reason I think most exit interviews don’t work is because the questions are deemed to learn if you like your management or not.

The statistics show that 3 out of 4 companies do exit interviews but the way it's structured doesn't add up to making it really work.

✉️c o n t a c t me ✉️

#manshukkerey #thejobmarket

[InsideCorporatePlaybook]

What questions were you asked during your last interview at your work? Share your thoughts here: ⬇️⬇️⬇️

[alejandrogaga]

If you are honest about why you're leaving, what reactions do you get from HR/Manager? They don't care = I don't care.

[Kalvahnr]

Exit interviews are a waste of time. What people forget is every worker is expendable no matter where you work (unless you're a freelancer). Companies will get rid of you the chance they get to. So why would you waste your time and energy prepping for something they can do to you in an instant?

Don't worry about professionalism or your image. Do what's right for you, never for the company. No matter what you say, in the end it will be overlooked since you're participating in a Capitalist society. And companies in a Capitalist society focus solely on profit, not an employee's working conditions or their thoughts and criticisms. Once you're gone, they'll continue what they do best -- paying their worker less than they're worth and overworking them.

If you feel like you're not being heard no matter how many times you talk to the higher-ups, find a new job and leave without a second thought. Life is seriously too short to waste your time in such a meaningless interaction, so just move on.

[lisawyer]

I am glad to have opted out of an exit interview. Good advice, thanks!

[jorgescott]

I said thanks, but this was not what I expected and didnt say more about my future plans though HR asked about it.

[mrsmdub]

I love everything about my current employer. The company, the 100% remote job, the salary, the benefits, my co workers. Everything but the job itself is way much. Constantly overwhelmed with work because of staffing issues. It breaks my heart that my exit interview is tomorrow, but after 2 yrs of staffing issues I could no longer handle the workload. Should I mention this? They must know that!

[habiebiee]

As long as I dont have to do exit interview I will not do it! What's the point? You resigned, nothing in this company means anything to you anymore, you are ready to move on. You might regret if you've said something wrong.

[MB-orjs]

Don't do an exit interview. Simple. Whatever you say can only hurt you with notes HR makes during the interview and puts in your file. It is then the first HR will reveal if somebody else inquires about your performance at this former employer. Nothing you say will ever cause a change in the institution or company which you are leaving. At this point move on, politely decline the invite for an exit interview and focus on the next step in your career.

[AdrianJayeOnline]

One and only time I did an exit interview, I was leaving the retail store to follow my actual vocation, no bad mouthing, just going into my skilled job.... otherwise... no dont do it

[Arsencheginthehouse]

This is one of the best channels about careers. I enjoy them so much, quite easy to digest. Thanks for your work you put in this.

[christinayu]

Brilliant analysis! Love the way you structure your chain of ideas!

[JonDoe-gizf]

I feel like, if the company you worked for is good, leave a window open. But if it is a sh1ttty company, just walk away.

[AdrianJayeOnline]

2 points 1> you dont need to do one 2> dont there is no upside for you, no benefit for you

[njw]

Great video. I think exit interviews are a bit of a time waste.

[thetruthisoutthereyt]

I will never again do an exit interview.

[unapologetically_philly-]

Great video and a lot of informative pointers--thank you for posting this!!, but what if you wanted to do an exit interview, and want to make sure that ( hopefully ) the reasons for your departure, are due to a toxic manager ( that H.R. pushed under the rug when he was reported before--and not from me, but 3 other co-workers that I'm aware of thus far ) ? Is there someone specific you should ask for ( for future reference, ) to conduct the exit interview, that is likely to work at making sure that toxic manager can not bully, insult, undermine, and disrespect someone there again?

[tronentertainment]

Exit Interviews is a meaningless metric. It is someone trying to cover their back as to why turnover is so high. But you don't tell them the real answers, "Long hours, meaningless work, micromanagement, poor pay, poor management." because the top brass doesn't want to hear it. I know that anything I add only adds fuel to a fire with no spark. They seldom do anything.

Now we are trying to educate the employee on how to exit on a positive note and not spew their guts out. So, the answers are basically lies and meaningless.

Want to keep employees? Be proactive in hearing their complaints and addressing the real issues from the ground level people. No one wants to make the exiting employee happy. I hope I never get laid off again, but I will NEVER do an exit interview. It only helps the ego of the person demanding answers - which he likes. They heard it hundreds of times before me. Hearing it from me will persuade them not. Waste of time. ABOLISH EXIT INTERVIEWS!

[dwj]

Employers lay off employees by locking out their badge and computer. I get paid for doing an honest day's work. Nothing more.

[TheFARM]

😂 its wednesday and i leave on friday… still no word of an exit interview… doesnt surprise me that they dont care for input from my department

[phoenixrising]

I disagree with the video because you miss the main point which is to never do an exit interview.