Exit Interview
A structured conversation between an employer and a departing employee to understand why they are leaving and gather feedback to improve the organisation.
An exit interview is conducted when an employee resigns or is laid off. Its primary purpose is to understand the reasons for departure — whether that's compensation, management, career growth, company culture, or personal circumstances — and to gather candid feedback that can improve retention and the employee experience.
The value of exit interviews depends entirely on what happens with the data. Companies that aggregate exit interview feedback and act on recurring themes see meaningful improvements in engagement scores and turnover rates. Those that conduct exit interviews as a formality without acting on the findings gain little.
For remote employees, exit interviews may be easier to conduct with honesty since there is less social pressure from being physically present. Virtual exit interviews, or anonymous exit surveys, can surface more candid insights than in-person conversations in a traditional office setting.