You've decided that it's time to move on from your current job.
And in your exit interview, you're
asked, why are you leaving the company?
Yeah, saying goodbye is hard enough.
Having to explain why can be incredibly nerve wracking.
So is there a proper way to answer this question?
And what else can you expect in an exit interview?
Hey there, and welcome back to Indeed's career tips.
I'm Sinéad.
And coming up in this video, I'll
explain what an exit interview is, why companies conduct them,
and how to prepare for this conversation.
And you've got to stick around until the end
because I have saved the best for last.
Four common exit interview questions
and example responses.
All right, now let's get to it.
So it's your last week of work, and your manager,
someone from leadership, or human resources
sends you an email asking to schedule an exit interview.
But what exactly is an exit interview?
An exit interview is a conversation
between a departing employee and someone
from the company who's looking to gain an employee
perspective.
This meeting can be an opportunity
for you, the employee, to provide feedback and offer
suggestions.
What worked well during your time of employment,
and what areas do you feel need improvement?
Now, your reason for leaving could impact your perspective
going into this interview.
If you're leaving voluntarily, that
means you made the decision to leave
and you may feel in control of your situation.
However, if you're leaving involuntarily,
your termination may have been abrupt or unexpected,
and all of this might be an emotional experience.
If this is you, do your best to approach the exit interview
with as much professionalism as possible.
Either way, knowing the purpose plus what to expect
can help ease any nerves that you may be feeling
going into the situation.
Now before we move on, please be sure to give this video a big
thumbs up so we know it has been helpful to you.
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What is the purpose of an exit interview?
An exit interview is designed to improve employee retention,
process flows, and efficiency.
An exit interview is also designed
to enhance the company's reputation and culture,
and to identify trends in turnover.
So many of us perceive this discussion
as an uncomfortable conversation,
especially if your choice to leave
was motivated by a negative experience.
But it really doesn't have to be.
Business is business.
An exit interview allows you to share valuable feedback
with the company.
Maintaining your positivity and professionalism
can keep the door open for future opportunities
with the company.
Now I know what some of you may be thinking.
Do I really have to participate in my exit interview?
That is a fair question.
And in short, the answer is no, not necessarily.
However, participating in an exit interview
can show a sense of high integrity
and show that you're capable of leaving
on good terms, no matter the situation.
Agreeing to share your experience and feedback
can also highlight your ability to remain objective and compose
yourself.
This is always important.
But even more so if you've lost your job
due to an unforeseen circumstance, like a layoff.
Now there may be unique situations
where declining an exit interview is more appropriate.
If there are larger issues at hand
and you feel you may jeopardize your career
and future professional opportunities
by agreeing to this meeting, you may choose
to turn down the request.
If you want even more advice on how
to quit your job on good terms, just check out
this video right up here.
Now you may be processing many different feelings leading up
to the exit interview.
But keep in mind, you want to avoid burning any bridges.
If there was a negative experience or maybe
some takeaways that you would like to leave the company with,
feel free to express that.
Just be sure to do this with kindness, honesty,
and sincerity.
Remember, companies are looking to grow from this interaction.
So it's important to share your story, professionally,
of course.
All right, now let's get you ready for your exit interview.
Write down a list of the feedback you'd like to share.
From your list of topics, circle 4 to 5 items
to address in the interview.
Try to have one or two positive acknowledgments.
You can mention what you've learned, how you've grown,
and attributes of the company culture.
Prepare your responses and do your best
to keep them professional.
What you say during this interview
will be documented in some way.
So it is so important to remove emotion when possible.
Exit interviews and letters of resignation
also go hand in hand.
So if you do need any help writing
a letter of resignation, we've also
got you covered right here right now with this video.
All right.
Now let's go over four common questions
that you may be asked during an exit interview.
And of course, we have covered with some really great example
responses.
Overall, a good rule of thumb is to focus on
what's pulling you to the new organization
rather than what's pushing you from your current company.
And again, just try to keep your responses neutral and free
of emotion.
And if you can provide some positive feedback along
with your constructive criticism, go for it.
This first question pertains to those of you
who are leaving voluntarily.
Why are you leaving the company?
With this question, employers are
trying to identify problems or events that may
have initiated your departure.
Maybe you outgrew your role, or the company
made an organizational decision that had
a direct impact on your role.
Or maybe you're just ready for a new challenge.
So, how should you answer this question?
You could say something like, I've
learned so much over the past year,
and I'm proud of the work I've contributed during this time.
I feel I've accomplished great things in this position,
and it's time for me to progress in a new direction.
All right, question number 2, did
you have the necessary resources to do your job?
Employers may ask this question to identify possibilities
to keep you at the company or increase retention
for their current employees.
They may not be able to sway you from leaving,
but they can at least take this information
and improve for future employee experiences.
So you could say something like, most of the time
I felt equipped to do my job.
Although, there are many data visualization tools
that could greatly enhance process flow, client reports,
and business proposals.
These tools could make the company more
competitive in the current market,
and allow employees to improve their technical skills.
This response gives insight to the employer
on how they can improve productivity
and business for current and future employees.
Question number 3 may require a more delicate approach.
How do you feel about leadership?
This question is used to acknowledge what's working
and what's not working with their current leadership.
Remember, responses may be kept on your company record.
So you should navigate this response very carefully.
So if you'd like to share constructive criticism,
lead with positivity.
Your response may sound something
like, overall, the leadership team
has done an excellent job of communicating.
They keep the team up-to-date and they make themselves
accessible for questions.
However, I believe there are opportunities
for more follow through.
With such a heavy workload, some items
were overlooked or forgotten.
Notice how we start by mentioning what leadership
is doing right, and then we close
by acknowledging areas of improvement.
Finally, this last question, again,
is for those of you who have found a new opportunity
and are leaving the company by choice.
Question number 4, is there anything
that could have been done to change your mind about leaving?
This question helps employers to recognize gaps
that they may need to fill to avoid future turnover.
So let's focus on facts and neutral topics.
You may say something like, while I learned
a lot during my time here, the opportunity
for more advancement and growth may have extended
my time with the company.
I am still thankful for the experience
that I was able to gain, and would definitely
consider returning for the right opportunity in the future.
And if you're looking for ways to say goodbye
to your colleagues, you may want to check out
this video right up here.
Best of luck to you navigating through your next exit
interview.
If you found this video helpful, please
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And for more, we've got you covered
with this playlist and video.
I'm Sinéad.
Thank you all so much for watching,
and we'll see you next time.