Exit Interview

What Is an Exit Interview Template and How to Make One

Exit interviews are essential for any kind of business, especially when working with a high volume of employees. When the HR department gets to conduct exit interviews, both parties can benefit from this talk. The departing employee gets valuable insights that can be game changers in their next job, and the company can improve the workspace quality for future employees.

This kind of honest feedback is indispensable to company culture. This article will teach you how to create an exit interview template for your business easily.

What Is an Exit Interview Template

Seeing employees quit and bidding farewell to their roles is an inevitable part of owning a business. Having these exit interview forms done by the HR team is one of the best ways to understand the reason for quitting.

An exit interview template is a tool that companies use to understand more about the departing employees and why they are leaving. Moreover, the exit interview form is also used as an opportunity for the exiting employee to give feedback on how well the organization performed and how they can improve.

This makes the exit interview form a document that can impact not only the current employees but also the future ones. Every valuable insight must be considered to build a better work environment.

Why Conducting Exit Interviews Is Important

Along with contributing to the company's environment improvement, there are several reasons why exit interviews are vital in the company culture. The exit interview process helps in giving constructive feedback regarding employee engagement or employee satisfaction. Thanks to the feedback, the company can work on new measures to improve every employee’s quality of work life.

Moreover, conducting exit interview questions can be a game changer for retaining current and future employees for a longer time. Productive exit interviews can be powerful tools that will improve all aspects of a company, including employee relations.

How to Create an Exit Interview Template for Your Organization

Now that you know what an exit interview form is and why it is so important for any kind of business, it is time to start creating your own exit interview form template. We will show you the best tips for making your form clearer and more optimized, along with the main exit interview questions you should ask.

Be sure to follow each step carefully. Here are the main questions:

 

What Made the Employee Look for a New Job

 

This is one of the most critical questions to feature in your exit interview form. Here the employee will have the opportunity to discuss the reasons for pursuing a new job.

There are tons of possible reasons for the decision. Be sure to make whoever is answering the exit interview questions feel comfortable with them.

 

Equipment Related Questions

 

Another commonly asked question when doing exit interviews is about the equipment offered for performing the job. You can ask the employee that is quitting the company if they think that you provided all the necessary equipment for performing the job and about the quality of it.

This is a straightforward question but can generate many insights about what can be done to enhance the quality of work. You will more likely receive a proactive response when asking this kind of question.

 

Asking About the Company’s Culture 

 

One of the most common exit interview questions is about how the exiting employee would describe the company’s culture. This question is crucial because it can indicate different points that can become severe concerns regarding the work environment and the other employees.

Also, asking for examples can indicate possible reasons for the employee to pursue a new job. Then you can work on this point to guarantee it won’t happen again.

 

What the Company Could Have Done to Avoid the Employee’s Departure

 

This is a crucial question in your exit interview form that can provide valuable feedback on job satisfaction regarding the entire team. This objective question will give the HR manager a frank opinion on what was unsatisfactory and made the employee look for a new position in the market.

Once again, this question may make the employee feel uncomfortable. Be sure to carefully choose the words to conduct an effective exit interview.

 

Suggestions for the Company and Job Title

 

An effective exit interview will always feature this question. It is the opportunity for the employee to inform the direct manager about what changes would be good, not only for their job title but also for the entire company.

Along with building a better workplace, this question can generate numerous insights and valuable information. These insights can impact the management style and the entire work-life balance.

 

Constructive Feedback

 

Although exit interviews are already feedback, this question regards the feedback given to the employee during their work at the company. Here the employee will talk about all the lessons and constructive criticism that directly influenced their performance at work.

Everything counts from expanding knowledge to helping to choose a career goal. This is important to visualize the company's impact on its employees.

 

Chances of the Employee Return to the Company

 

In an exit interview form, it is also very important to ask if the employee would like to return one day. Sometimes the employee is not leaving because they didn’t like their job. The reasons can go from personal problems to the need to move to a different country.

This way, it is always good to ask if they would like to return one day if possible. Along with this question, it is also a great idea to ask what changes they would like to see.

 

Training and Development Improvements

 

One of the best pieces of information an employee can give when doing an exit interview is about the training. Former employees can always advise the company about which points need to be worked on.

Moreover, these development improvements are a great way to generate more employee engagement. This will make them want to stay longer in your company.

Where to Create Exit Interview Templates

When creating your own exit interview document, tons of different tools are available online. From known programs to specialized software, each one has its own tool sets and features.

Among all the available tools, we highly recommend using Microsoft Word. The software has one of the best tool sets available, allowing you to create the perfect template for your business. Word is also an industry standard, allowing you to edit every aspect of your template without the need to pay for specialized software for each task.

If you don’t have a Microsoft Office activation key, you can buy one at RoyalCDKeys for a considerably lower price. By doing this, you still have access to all the software's features and tools and save money that can be used for other parts of your business.

Ready to Use Exit Interview Templates

If you don’t want to create your own template from scratch, there is no problem. There are tons of templates that you can download and edit using Microsoft Word. 

Be sure to edit every detail of your document better to fit the needs and expectations of your business. Here are some free templates that you can use:

 

Template #1

 

Simple exit interview form. It is indicated for any kind of business and job title.


Get this template


Template #2

 

Exit interview template created by Caltech. It can be edited to fit any kind of business and features a particular field for comments about your business.


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Template #3

 

Exit interview form with answer chart. It is indicated for measuring the overall business and employee relationship performance.


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Template #4

 

Student exit interview form. It is indicated for educational institutions.

Conclusion on Exit Interviews

The interview process is indispensable when an employee exits a job to pursue a new one, and having a document for this process is essential regardless of your business type. From the questions asked to the reason for seeking a new job title, every feedback and experience can impact the insights and suggestions generated for your company. Be sure to create a precise template to guarantee objective answers and suggestions.

Now that you know everything you need, it is time to create your own interview forms. Be sure to follow each step carefully to guarantee the best results out of your document.

Any feedback you receive may impact the work environment. Ensure your employee feels comfortable while filling out the document. This will guarantee precise and honest feedback on all questions of your exit interviews.