5 common exit interview questions

Many employers conduct exit interviews when a person stops working at their organization. An exit interview gives you a chance to provide feedback and suggest improvements that the company might want to consider in the future. It also helps the company learn why someone has decided to leave a position. In this article, we'll discuss exit interviews, give sample answers to some common exit interview questions, and share tips on how to participate in this type of discussion.

What is an exit interview?

An exit interview is a survey that a manager or human resources representative conducts with an employee who wants to stop working at an organization. Supervisors can use the information they receive to pinpoint issues and problem areas. Then, they can create a plan for improvement.

Exit interviews can help prevent future turnover by giving managers ways to improve employee satisfaction. Reducing turnover also lowers hiring and training costs and lets companies retain more skilled employees. Some exit interviews happen in person, and others occur virtually or through an exit interview form. Companies often analyze the data that they collect to help them decide which changes are most important to make.

Exit interviews also give employees an opportunity to ask some questions of their own. You could ask the manager how your performance might have been better or what areas you should work on improving. You can also ask them if you may use them as a reference in the future or stay in touch for networking purposes. Performing well during your exit interview can help you quit your job the right way.

Now might be an excellent time for you to advance your career by resigning from your current position and finding a new job. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there were 10.1 million job openings in the United States in April 2023.

"When you answer exit interview questions, stay objective and focus on facts as much as possible. Keep your answers positive and avoid complaining."

Common exit interview questions

It's a good idea to be prepared for your exit interview and answer the questions politely and professionally. You can express dissatisfaction with company policies, procedures, or managers, but you still need to be polite. The people who still work at this organization could become valuable mentors or sources of networking after you leave, so it's important to maintain good relationships. Here are some common exit interview questions with sample answers.

Why are you leaving your position?

Employers often ask this question to find out whether someone wants to leave because of a better opportunity or for personal reasons, such as needing to care for a relative or child. People sometimes leave positions before they have another job offer because they feel stressed out and they need a break, or because they don't agree with company policy. If you plan to start another job soon, you can talk about the skills and experience you hope to receive there. For example, you could say:

"I've really enjoyed working here, and I learned a lot from this job. However, I feel like I've accomplished everything I can in this role. I feel that it's time to go in a different direction, expand my experience, and strengthen my abilities with a new role."

This may also be a good time to ask for a promotion. Mention that you might be willing to stay if you can start another role with more responsibilities and compensation.

How do you feel about management, and do you have any feedback or suggestions for improvement?

When you answer this question, focus on improving the company as a whole, not the actions of individual managers. If you didn't get along with someone, avoid mentioning that individual. You could say:

"Management helped make this job enjoyable, but there's some room for improvement. On some days, I didn't have much to do, and on others, I had to work overtime to meet deadlines. Allocating projects earlier and avoiding assigning tasks at the last minute could reduce the amount of overtime needed. Better scheduling could also help minimize boredom on some days and stress on others."

Was there a time when you felt proud of your work?

This question gives you a chance to talk about the positive experiences you had with the company. It can help you maintain a good relationship with the organization and let them know that even though you're resigning, you enjoyed your job. Here's an example:

"Yes, that project we completed in March was larger and more involved than the work we normally do. It took some extra effort from the team and me, but we met all the client's deadlines. After the project concluded, the client told me that they were very impressed with my work. I was proud to be part of the team."

Do you think that the training you received was proper and complete?

Making people feel prepared for their jobs and preventing errors caused by a lack of training are important to many employers. Let the company know if parts of your training were confusing or if it didn't cover everything you needed to know. For example, you could say:

“The initial training I received when I started was very informative, and the trainer was great at answering people's questions and making sure that everyone understood company procedures and how to use the software needed to perform their roles. However, software changes and updates happened frequently. Instead of getting additional training to learn to use new tools, the team needed to figure things out on their own. This reduced productivity and sometimes made meeting deadlines difficult. Some short training sessions for current employees after software updates could help people improve their performance."

Do you think that the company supported your career goals?

This question lets you talk about how the company lived up to your expectations and supported your career. You can also let management know about areas that need improvement. For instance, you can say:

"When I started at this company, I was very excited about the opportunities that were available to advance my career. Working here has helped me learn a lot about the industry. However, opportunities for additional training have been scarce lately, and I noticed that the organization hasn't hired anyone from my department for a role above my position in a while. I believe now is a good time for me to continue advancing my career by expanding my skills with another business.”

How to participate in an exit interview

When you answer exit interview questions, stay objective and focus on facts as much as possible. Keep your answers positive and avoid complaining. Take notes about what you discuss, including important information such as when you should receive your last paycheck and where to turn in any company equipment that you still have.

Before you attend your exit interview, practice answers to common questions with a colleague or friend. It's also a good idea to think about any questions you might have. You can ask the manager for a reference or tell them that you might be interested in working with them in the future if they could let you know when a higher position in your department will be open.

An exit interview can help you maintain a relationship with your employer after you resign. It also helps your employer improve the experiences of the people who still work there. Before you schedule your exit interview, you can start looking for other jobs by uploading your resume to CareerBuilder.