Exit Interviews

[PsiStar]

I was asked ... coaxed ... to sign a non-compete agreement. I said only with a significant amount of money. They declined. I declined. End of interview.

 

[ultimatebob]

Yeah... unless you're leaving the company at the VP or CxO level, nobody is going to care what your opinion of the company's management is. Why bother complaining, it isn't going to solve anything.

Of course, you probably already know that complaining isn't going to change anything. If you thought it would, you wouldn't be leaving the company to begin with!

Be civil, and don't burn any bridges. You might need these people as a job reference in the future!

 

[Lifted]

Complaining when leaving the company makes you appear to be a whiner, and everyone will be thankful that you have left as they assume you were badmouthing the management/company while there and were bad for moral.

Just flip that bitch upside down and start interviewing the interviewer.

Why do you think I'm leaving?
Do you plan on improving any of those conditions?
Do you think other workers may leave for the same reasons?
Are you doing all you can to keep your employees invested and engaged in their work?
Are there things you believe the company can do to reduce turnover?

:awe:

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I agree 100%. A company truly interested in fixing problems that cause turnover will already be paying attention to cues and clues. I've seen a lot of people go into an exit interview and sound off, all while justifying their ranting and complaining in their own heads: "I'm really just trying to help." That, of course, is bullshit.

Back in '98 (way early 20's) I worked as a Network Administrator. I was promised a promotion/raise but it kept getting delayed.

One day I got a call from a headhunter with a job/salary that matched what was promised me at my current company. I accepted the offer and left. In my exit interview, I explained how much I enjoyed the company (which was true) but it was time to take that next step. HR and my ex-boss were paying attention to the timing and undertones of my departure and did the simple math themselves.

Long story short, the new job didn't work out (I was put in charge of 14 doctors' offices and had no help). When my former boss heard, he offered me my job back, with the promised promotion. HR told me that my departure signaled to them that they had a bad habit of dragging their feet after indicating to someone they would be getting a promotion (I originally waited 3 months before I gave up). They changed their promote-from-within policies and practices as a result. Several years later when I was again promoted, I benefited from these new policies.

That company rehired me a second time about four years after that, and they contacted me again last year to see if I was available. They were willing to hire me a third time, even though I've quit several times. Why? Well, being a good employee helps... but so does shutting your face in the exit interview. Don't ever delude yourself into thinking you're helping anyone by "tactfully" outlining their problems.

Companies who are truly interested in fixing problems with turnover will figure things out for themselves. Your loyalty should be to yourself, and the best service you can do yourself when you quit is to STFU.

I would agree IF you plan on staying in the same industry. I had an excellent exit interview with Disney and am sure I could return there if I chose to.

OTOH, when I worked for Motorola building the original 7# wonder cell phone, at my exit interview I let loose all the built up angst and derision I could muster to describe how many ways their operation was fucked up.

I worked for them about 2 years and in that time things went from bad to worse. I referred to their management style as a red meat market. No one in management or R&D had any idea who, what, where or, why things happened on the production floor. When Supervisors called for more people, they threw another piece of red meat on the floor and slammed the door behind them.

 

[Lifted]

When Supervisors called for more people, they threw another piece of red meat on the floor and slammed the door behind them.

Were they hiring communists or gingers?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Were they hiring communists or gingers?

Whenever management or engineers thought they needed to speak to someone personally but didn't want to call them to their office, they would enter the production floor and stand there on the landing until a supervisor came and got them because they literally had no idea where the various sub divisions were or what production processes went on where.

The engineers were the worst. They dreaded being on the floor because their focus was so pin pointed they looked like fools speaking about anything else.

 

[shortylickens]

I'd work with gingers.

 

[Brigandier]

I'd work with gingers.

Gingers are my kryptonite, don't tell any one.

It's just because I like weird shit.

 

[Greenman]

There really is such a thing as an exit interview? This isn't some bullshit parody thing? Someone actually gets paid to interview employees that have quit?

 

[ModerateRepZero]

I had at least one exit interview; I was honest and suggested some things that could've been improved in the programs that were being used, and with training/promotion. Honest, but realistic.

 

[Stuxnet]

I would agree IF you plan on staying in the same industry.

Wrong. Execs change industries just as quickly as us peons do. Case in point: I'm working for the same VP and P today that I was working for 3 jobs ago - totally different industry.

When you start changing jobs, you'll realize just how small of a world it truly is... and that doesn't even address the issue of references. Same industry or not, you need references - best not to piss them off, regardless of their HR policy.

I have more references than I can count because I don't need to "tell 'em how it is" when I quit.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Wrong. Execs change industries just as quickly as us peons do. Case in point: I'm working for the same VP and P today that I was working for 3 jobs ago - totally different industry.

When you start changing jobs, you'll realize just how small of a world it truly is... and that doesn't even address the issue of references. Same industry or not, you need references - best not to piss them off, regardless of their HR policy.

I have more references than I can count because I don't need to "tell 'em how it is" when I quit.

I'm a renaissance man. Tell me how many electron pushers are Chefs?

 

[nageov3t]

honest, but polite.

when I left my last job, it was because of money. I didn't make any bones about it, another company offered me a lot more money + benefits, my then-current company couldn't compensate me anywhere near what I deserved, and both my boss and I knew it.

I left at a good time anyways... my boss got sacked a few months later, and within a year, the company was under investigation for fraud against the government to bilk 9/11 recovery funds (I worked for a transportation company... they increased service beyond what the demand actually required and inflated numbers to squeeze money from the government)

 

[Stuxnet]

I'm a renaissance man. Tell me how many electron pushers are Chefs?

So what you're saying is, it doesn't apply to you. The OP lives in the corporate world, as do most of us, so that's where this all applies.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

So what you're saying is, it doesn't apply to you. The OP lives in the corporate world, as do most of us, so that's where this all applies.

Leave now while you still have your health and most of your sanity. That's the real lesson. :biggrin:

 

[Stuxnet]

I left at a good time anyways... my boss got sacked a few months later, and within a year, the company was under investigation for fraud against the government to bilk 9/11 recovery funds

Hehe... six months after I went back to my original employer, the other company was RAIDED by the FBI and the SEC. I lead a fraud prevention project at a bank a couple years later, and a year after I left it was sold. While I was there, people were scared to death the bank was going to be swallowed by the BoA's of the world. We were assured 100% that wasn't a possibility. What they mean to say, was, the buyer was PNC, not BoA

 

[0roo0roo]

http://www.hrbartender.com/2010/employee/the-real-reason-for-exit-interviews/
lol at the way they try to rationalize bullshit
it gives hr another function, more time to burn, more job security.

to expect honest answers from an employee who probably now has a grudge, and needs to keep up pretences to keep the good references is just ridiculous. you get honest answers from people with nothing to lose. not with people who have everything to lose and have been kicked to the curb by you as well.