What is an exit interview?
As ominous as it sounds, most companies conduct exit interviews when an employee voluntarily resigns from the company. If there is an involuntary separation, usually the employer and employee have had prior discussions pertaining to the event. Some companies have a formal interview with a series of questions about your time at the company along with explanation of benefits such as COBRA continuation and other benefits that are portable or need attention from you. Some are less formal but contain similar elements for discussion.
Prior to the exit, the preparation is a written resignation letter (to your supervisor and copied to Human Resources).
- Be professional
- Indicate the effective date of your resignation
- You may say something positive about your experience at the company, or not.
- It is professional to give a two week notice.
As with your initial interview to get the job, prepare for the exit:
- Be on time
- Be professional
- If you are comfortable about talking about your company experiences, please share.
- If not, be polite and wish the company well.
- Ask questions about your benefits if you are not clear.
- Always leave the door open, you may need a reference or you may want to be re-hired down the road.
- Don’t burn bridges, employers remember.
Whether you are looking for a job or resigning from one, the interview is an important means of professional communication. It is still a showcase for you to prove how you could be an asset to join a company or how you have professionally grown within that company. How you EXIT represents your respect and pride in your work and your thanks to the company that hired you in the first place.
Job Etiquette By Paula 