22 Jan The Office: Should I Be Honest inMy Exit Interview?
Dear EW:
I’m scheduled to have an exit interview before leaving my job for a new position at a different organization. How honest should I be?
Signed,
Truth or Lie?
Dear Truth:
Exit interviews can be stressful, particularly if a negative experience with the company or a manager has contributed to your decision to change positions.
But striking a balance between providing constructive criticism and maintaining professionalism is important if you want to avoid burning bridges, says Jasmine Escalera, career expert for employment website LiveCareer. It’s perfectly fine to be honest. “You can talk about the reasons that influenced your decision to leave, framing feedback in a fact-based way,” says Escalera. “For example, rather than criticizing individual colleagues or the company culture, you could talk about how a lack of career advancement opportunities or misaligned values sparked your decision to leave.”
When you’re going through the exit interview, Escalera suggests you remember it’s ultimately the company’s leadership team that is responsible for company culture. It’s not your duty to point out—or solve—the company’s problems. “Providing feedback is great, but you don’t have to carry the burden of organization-wide change,” she says. Conclude the interview by expressing that you hope your feedback supports the growth and success of the company, team, and manager. “This approach will allow you to speak honestly and freely about your experiences within the company while maintaining the best relationship moving forward,” Escalera adds.
