How to Conduct an Employment Exit Interview

Leaving your job? Human resources departments of many companies like to conduct exit interviews as a means to gather data from departing employees in an effort to improve employment conditions. The questions they'll ask are typically related to your work environment and reasons for leaving. It is important to conduct yourself with professionalism at all times during these meetings.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Prepare for Your Exit Interview

1. Evaluate whether or not you should agree to doing an exit interview. If you are leaving under bad circumstances, an exit interview has the potential to make things even worse.
2. Decide how badly you need this job's reference for future employment. If you need it, then devise a strategy for the exit interview that is constructive and non-aggressive.
3. Find out what exactly your exit interview will entail and who will be the proxy. If a third party is the administrator, you are likely to have a less emotional meeting (which might help you leave without damaging your reputation).

Conduct the Interview With Grace

4. Conduct yourself in a reserved manner during an exit interview. No matter how much you might like to disparage your boss, don't do it. This is never appropriate behavior.
5. Dress for success. You should leave the company the same way you came in. Typically, this means business formal attire and a presentable, groomed appearance.
6. Cancel an exit interview if you feel you are too emotional to go through with it. It is better to take this action than to say things you might regret or that could land you in legal trouble.

Confirm Your Status

7. Ask what type of reference (if any) you are likely to receive from your former employer to help you with your next job search.
8. Take the high road and thank your former employer for the opportunity, no matter how or why you end up leaving.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in mind that some exit interviews are only held to prevent litigation or to record information that could later be used in a lawsuit. Think carefully about what you'll say before walking into an exit interview.
• Certain agencies are not covered under U.S. Federal law regarding prohibited personnel practices. These include, but are not limited to: the CIA, the United States Postal Service and the FBI. As a rule, though, these agencies have their own guidelines to safeguard workers' rights.

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