44 Exit Interview Questions To Improve Employee Experience

Employee turnover is a natural part of running a business. Though it’s unfortunate to lose employees for any reason, conducting exit interviews can help alert organizations to areas in need of improvement. 

Exit interviews simultaneously let the departing employee know that their employer values their opinions and also provides opportunities to identify and amend any problems in the workplace. 

Importance of Strategic Exit Interviews

Conducting exit interviews is a highly impactful element of the employee lifecycle, but most organizations fail to successfully implement this process. Many organizations delegate exit interviews to HR, but don’t faciliate a process of sharing actionable insights with management. 

According to a study from The Harvard Business Review, approximately one quarter of organizations fail to conduct exit interviews altogether. 

Of those that do, only a small percentage reported a specific positive change that resulted from asking ex-employees about their experience at the organization.

Key Exit Interview Questions

Employers who recognize the benefits offered by strategic questions during exit interviews have the greatest opportunity to improve their work environment and improve employee retention. 

Here are a few suggestions for thoughtful questions to ask departing employees. 

General Background and Experience 

1. How would you describe your overall experience working here? 
2. What were the most valuable skills or knowledge you gained during your time here? 
3. Were your expectations met during your tenure here? If not, what could have been done differently?
4. What did you enjoy most about working here, and what did you find most challenging?
5. Do you have any suggestions for how we can improve the employee experience for future team members?

Reasons for Departure 

6. What motivated your decision to leave the company? 
7. Were there any specific issues or challenges that contributed to your departure? 
8. What prompted your decision to leave the company at this time?
9. Were there any specific issues or challenges in your role or within the organization that played a significant role in your departure?
10. Did you feel your career goals and aspirations were supported and aligned with the opportunities available at the company?
11. Were there any unmet expectations regarding compensation, benefits, or other aspects of your employment that influenced your decision to leave?
12. Did you have a chance to discuss your concerns or reasons for leaving with your supervisor or HR before making your decision? If so, what was the outcome of those discussions?

Job Satisfaction and Company Culture 

13. How would you rate your satisfaction with your role and responsibilities? 
14. Did you feel your contributions were recognized and appreciated?
15. Can you share your thoughts on the company’s culture and work environment? 
16. What aspects of your job did you find most satisfying and fulfilling during your time at the company?
17. Were there any specific challenges or frustrations in your role that affected your job satisfaction? If so, can you please elaborate on them?
18. Did you feel that your contributions and efforts were recognized and valued by your supervisors and colleagues? Please share any examples or feedback.
19. How well did your role align with your career goals and aspirations? Did you have opportunities for professional growth and development?

Managerial Feedback 

20.  How would you describe your relationship with your immediate supervisor or manager? 
21.  Were there any areas where you felt your manager could have provided better support or guidance? 
22. Can you provide specific examples of effective leadership or areas where your manager excelled in supporting your work and development?
23. Did you feel that your manager was receptive to feedback and open to your suggestions or concerns?
24. In your opinion, what qualities or skills should the company look for in your replacement manager to enhance team effectiveness and job satisfaction?

Team Dynamics and Collaboration 

25. Did you have positive working relationships with your colleagues? 
26. How would you describe the overall teamwork and collaboration within your department or team during your time at the company?
27. Can you provide examples of successful team projects or instances where collaboration was particularly effective during your tenure here?
28. Were there any challenges or obstacles that hindered teamwork or collaboration within your team or across departments? Please elaborate.
29. Did you feel that your ideas and contributions were valued by your team members and that your team encouraged open communication and idea-sharing?
30. In your opinion, what improvements or changes could enhance team collaboration and communication within the company?

Career Development and Growth 

31. Did you feel you had opportunities for career advancement and growth within the company? 
32. Were your professional development needs adequately addressed? 
33. Did you feel that your career goals and aspirations were supported and aligned with the opportunities available at the company?
34. During your time here, did you receive sufficient feedback and guidance on your career progression and development?
35. Were there any specific challenges or obstacles you encountered in pursuing your career growth within the company? Please share your experiences.
36. Did you have opportunities to acquire new skills, attend training, or take on new responsibilities that contributed to your professional growth during your tenure here?
37. In your opinion, what could the company do differently to enhance career development and growth opportunities for its employees?

Suggestions for Improvement 

38. Are there any specific suggestions or recommendations you have for the company to improve its employee experience? 
39. What changes, if any, would have influenced your decision to stay?
40. Based on your experience, what do you believe the company could do to enhance the overall employee experience for future team members?
41. Are there any specific policies or procedures you feel the company should reconsider or revise to create a better workplace?
42. What would you suggest the company do to better support employee well-being, both in terms of physical and mental health?
43. Did you encounter any challenges with communication or information flow within the organization? How could communication be improved?
44. From your perspective, what steps could the company take to retain and develop top talent like yourself?

The Exit Interview Process

The exit interview process’s main objective is to gain insights into the employee’s overall experience, reasons for leaving, and suggestions for improvement within the organization. 

Therefore, it’s critical to identify a set of carefully prepared questions, covering various aspects of their tenure, such as job satisfaction, work environment, career growth opportunities, and compensation. 

Active listening, empathy, and an assurance of confidentiality are essential elements of the process that contribute to more honest feedback. 

The feedback collected is then analyzed to identify trends and issues, which can inform improvements in company culture, policies, leadership, and other areas, ultimately helping the organization enhance employee satisfaction and reduce turnover.