Employees debate the usefulness of the exit interview: 'If they were interested in feedback, they would have improved things while you were still there'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Sep 5, 2024 1:00 PM EDT

Just like everything else that happens in the corporate rigamarole, leaving a job is rarely an easy process. First of all, you have to figure out what you are going to do after you leave, and then you have to give notice, and then it's highly likely that your company will make you jump through various hoops before you're allowed out the door.

One part of the process that is dreaded by many is the exit interview. It's not always easy to sit with your boss or HR and give a rundown of all the ways in which they let you down. This is a subject that was recently raised on Twitter when a soon-to-be former employee complained that she was required to do an exit interview before she left her job. Other people more than shared her pain, but others claimed that it had its benefits. Whether they will take those criticisms on board is anybody's guess.

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    Cheezburger Image 10398980096
    via Tim Gouw

    Photo does not represent real subjects in the story

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    Kelly | Frog & Moon Mama @FrogMoonMama Follow I'm supposed to have an exit interview this morning. Do most companies require this? Why do I need to provide any more feedback? If they had of listened to me to begin with I wouldn't have left. SMH.
    via FrogMoonMama
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    Kelly | Frog & Moon Mama @Fr... . 26 Aug: Replying to @FrogMoon Mama UPDATE: Interview done. Gave some constructive feedback (IMHO) that I thought if applied would help the rest of the team and me being me, was of course, polite. On to this thing called living. Freedom.
    via FrogMoonMama
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    David | Filled With Mo... @Filled With Money Replying to @FrogMoon Mama You politely decline the interview. Follow Exit interviews are not legally required.
    via FilledWithMoney
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    KJ @kwabert - 26 Aug . Replying to @FrogMoon Mama It's called Not burning bridges 25 271 257 ılı 48.1K Kelly | Frog & Moon Mama @Fr... .26 Aug : Bridge burnt already. Let it burn.
    via kwabert
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    Jake Friesen @JakeFri46727470 Replying to @FrogMoon Mama Follow It helps your old coworkers there now you can tell all the real issues
    via JakeFri46727470
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    Tom | The Savings Ca... @SavingsCaptain Replying to @FrogMoonMama A total crock Follow
    via SavingsCaptain
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    HE LAW SELF Law of Self Defense EFENS @LawSelf Defense Replying to @FrogMoonMama Follow What consultancy fee are you charging for this use of your time?
    via LawSelfDefense
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    proud of you Tricia @banjocanoe. 26 Aug Replying to @FrogMoon Mama It's only so they know how to head off any possible lawsuits 22 118 ili 9.3K ☐ ∞ . Kelly | Frog & Moon Mama @Fr... 26 Aug : I got that feeling.
    via banjocanoe
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    • Master P @optguru 26 Aug Replying to @FrogMoon Mama Companies do this. Best to be as nice as possible (never burn bridges). The truth is, in the end no one is going to do anything about it anyways.
    via optguru
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    Roberta D'Alois and Chl... @squeakrad Replying to @FrogMoon Mama Follow Many many companies have them, but it's not worth telling the truth. It never goes anywhere. Unless it's a really small company and they actually want to know because they can't keep people.
    via squeakrad
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    Paul Branham @BoilerPaulie Replying to @FrogMoonMama Follow I once left a company that wasn't doing exit interviews, so I actually requested one because they had a big turnover problem and weren't doing much to address the root issues causing it. I went into it with 4 pages (typed) of notes on things I was prepared to share if presented the opportunity. I genuinely wanted to give constructive feedback. I wasn't happy with how things went there but didn't have any ill will toward anyone and hoped
    via BoilerPaulie
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    It wasn't as productive as I had hoped, but it was also the first exit interview they had ever done. It may have been the last too, I don't know. They were not prepared to ask for honest feedback or learn anything about why people were leaving, and completely missed the purpose of the meeting. So most of my notes went untouched, knowing the feedback was falling on deaf ears. They filed for bankruptcy less than 2 years later
    via BoilerPaulie
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    MAYS O Travis @mcsuggafree . 26 Aug CLOSED Replying to @FrogMoon Mama As someone who conducts exit interviews, you have nothing to gain here.
    via mcsuggafree
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    topher. ⚫ @somegaveall 26 Aug Replying to @FrogMoon Mama As someone who does exit interviews, I appreciate when people talk to me about why they're leaving. It actually can make a difference if we get good feedback (also, helps to see patterns in depts, etc.). Yea, you don't have to do it, but it's def appreciated
    via somegaveall
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    Manny @emXCT. 26 Aug When I did mine, HR logged on and I told them I had nothing additional to add from my previous meetings and I didn't expand on else. I said thanks for the opportunities and we hung up. Whole thing lasted like 5 mins
    via emXCT
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    • girl fieri @realgirl_fieri 26 Aug My controversial take is that you should always decline an exit interview. If they were interested in feedback, they would have improved things while you were still there. At this point, all they can do for you is a good reference, which you jeopardize by a negative interview.
    via realgirl_fieri
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    Nate @NateGchi - 27 Aug I was actually looking forward to this when I left my last job and they never gave me one even though they were suppose to
    via NateGchi
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    sav @motthmansgf · 27 Aug my exit interview was handing them a 6 page double sided paper with specific examples of mismanagement and actual abuse in the workplace, name and date dropping included. told them my boss was repeatedly the reason i was leaving. she was escorted out by security months later.
    via motthmansgf
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    half empty girl @meowingabyss 26 Aug : I only have ever been asked to do one exit interview and I declined because I knew I would not be able to be reasonable and respectful lol
    via meowingabyss

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