Exit interview definition
An exit interview is a structured conversation with a departing employee about their experience, reasons for leaving, and suggestions for the organization. Its purpose is to collect candid feedback and identify patterns that may improve retention, management, or workplace practices.
What an exit interview is for
Exit interviews help an organization spot repeated reasons for voluntary departures, weak management practices, avoidable friction, or gaps in the employee experience. One interview is a data point. Patterns across teams, roles, and time are more useful than treating a single comment as a complete diagnosis.
Keep the conversation separate from final payroll, equipment return, and performance disputes. It should also be separate from the operational questions used for knowledge transfer.
Exit interview example
A product manager says they are leaving for a role with clearer progression. The interviewer asks what progression was missing, when the problem became apparent, and which changes would have made a practical difference. Separately, the manager runs a handover session about the roadmap, stakeholder commitments, open decisions, and product metrics. The two conversations produce different information because they solve different problems.
Exit interview versus handover
An exit interview asks, “What was it like to work here, and what should change?” A handover asks, “What does the next owner need to continue the work?” Both can sit inside offboarding, but combining them tends to make each conversation less focused.
Frequently asked questions
What questions are asked in an exit interview?
Common questions cover why the employee decided to leave, what helped or hindered their work, how they experienced management and development, what the organization should change, and whether anything might have persuaded them to stay.
Who should conduct an exit interview?
HR, People Ops, or another neutral interviewer usually conducts it. A neutral interviewer can make it easier to discuss management or team concerns that the employee may not raise with their direct manager.
Is an exit interview part of a handover?
It is part of the wider offboarding process, but it is not a handover. The exit interview collects feedback about the employee experience; the handover transfers work and role-specific knowledge.