Exit interviews are a really good idea.
They help you to better understand why someone is moving on and to gain feedback on the organisation as a whole. Getting feedback on how things can be improved can be very helpful for retention strategies.
Here’s a helpful template to help you formulate your own exit interview for the next time an employee leaves the business.
You can download the template for free - and keep it handy for when you might need it.
Getting the most from an exit interview
An leaving conversation should ideally take place before the employee has left the business. Who conducts the interview will be dependent on the relationships held, but in many cases it can be useful if this is conducted by a neutral party, such as a member of the HR department.
In order to get the most benefit from the meeting, a formal set of questions should be put together in advance, to ensure that all of the areas get discussed.
Ideally the employee would complete this in advance of the meeting, and this forms the basis of the discussion which can be explored further during the meeting.
How to set exit interview questions
Exit interview questions should be open questions that are carefully considered. They should be the same standard questions that are asked in all exit interviews to ensure they could not be interpreted incorrectly (for example, questions that could potentially be of a discriminatory nature).
It's the role of the person conducting the interview to listen, collect the feedback and remain impartial.
What to avoid asking in an exit interview
Before arranging an exit interview, you should always make the employee aware that they don't have to participate, and the feedback is optional.
It's important to let the employee know how you want to use the information - whether it's for feedback to their line manager or helping to shape/evolve the employee experience within your business.
Most importantly, it’s vital to ensure that you’ve given the employee the option to keep your discussions confidential and not share their personal views further.
Disclaimer: This template has been provided for informational purposes only.
Free exit interview template
Disclaimer: This template has been provided for informational purposes only.
Joining the organisation
| What attracted you to the company and role when you started? (interesting position, career progression, remuneration, location) | |
| What did you think about the way we recruited you? | |
| How did the reality alter from your expectations when you first joined us? | |
| How could we have improved your own recruitment? | |
| How could your induction training have been improved? | |
| Would you recommend us to friends as an employer? |
How would you describe your working relationships with:
| Colleagues | |
| Reporting manager | |
| Department manager | |
| Tell me about a time/ highlight of your time with them? |
Your time at the organisation
| Tell me about your role and how it’s evolved? What skills are absolutely essential to it? | |
| Could you comment on your workload? Did you have a positive work/life balance? | |
| What did you like best about working with us? | |
| What did you like least about working here? Are there any ways we could improve? If so, how? | |
| How would you comment on the work environment and culture? | |
| Do you have any suggestions on how we could make it even better? | |
| How satisfied were you with the remuneration and career progression of your role? | |
| Did you feel valued and recognised in your role? |
Leaving the organisation
| How long have you been considering leaving the company? | |
| What could have been done early on to prevent the situation developing/ provide a basis for you to stay with us? | |
| What can we do to enable you to pass on as much of your knowledge and experience as possible to your replacement/ successor prior to your departure? | |
| What has been good/ enjoyable/satisfying for you in your time with us? | |
| What has been frustrating/difficult/ upsetting to you in your time with us? | |
| Would you work with us again? | |
| Are you happy for me to share this interview with your direct manager and department manager? | |
| If leaving for another role, what was the attraction to that position? | |
| Have you successfully done a handover with someone/ or have you planned a handover? | |
| What were your motivations for leaving the company? (career change, health issues, remuneration, working relationships?) | |
| Are there any other comments you would like to make? |
| Completed by: | Title: |
| Employee signature: | Date: |
The Company works within the General Data Protection Regulation which applies from 25th May 2018 and supersedes the Data Protection Act 1998. This exit interview will be retained by the Company for a reasonable period after your last day with us. If you have any queries, please contact your last manager.
Disclaimer: This template has been provided for informational purposes only.