exit interview
employment survey
Written byThe Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica,The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaEncyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
Stephen Dwight,Stephen DwightContributor to SAGE Publications's
Encyclopedia of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (2007) whose work for that encyclopedia formed the basis of his contributions to Britannica.
Linda LeonardLinda LeonardContributor to SAGE Publications's
Encyclopedia of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (2007) whose work for that encyclopedia formed the basis of her contributions to Britannica.
See All Fact-checked byThe Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThe Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaEncyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
exit interview, typically a survey given by an employer to a departing employee, though exit interviews can also involve people leaving other types of organizations or institutions, such as an educational facility. The purpose of exit interviews is to understand why talent is leaving, what might have prevented these people from leaving, and their attitudes toward the organization. In addition, an exit interview might cover information that will be helpful to an individualâs replacement.
Most exit interviews are conducted by someone in human resources, and the departing employee is typically leaving the organization voluntarily. There are essentially three options for administering an exit survey: paper-and-pencil, Internet, or interviews, the latter of which can be in person or over the telephone. The questions address how the employee perceived his or her compensation, benefits, working conditions, opportunities for career advancement, workload, and manager quality as well as the relationships between coworkers and supervisors. The information can then be used to enhance recruiting, retention, and employee engagement efforts. However, a major drawback of exit interviews is false or misleading responses from employees.
Stephen DwightLinda LeonardDarin WiechmannThis article was most recently revised and updated by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica