Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Original poster

Exit interview - is it worth being honest?

32 replies

Mamma136585 · 14/06/2023 04:00

I'm pretty angry about a couple of things that led me to resign. But I gave a very benign reason for going to improve my exit package. Is there any point to the exit interview or should I decline to have it? I may be burning that bridge even if I was polite and diplomatic because I would be criticising both the person at the top and my line manager.

OP posts:
autieawesome · 14/06/2023 04:47

If it will impact in your future career I wouldn't. Do you think it will make a difference to the company are they likely to listen? Would others benefit from your feedback?

Original poster
Mamma136585 · 14/06/2023 05:38

No, I don't think it will make a difference. It's really more for closure for me - I do dwell on things I should have said.

I don't know if it will impact my career. Not sure if I want to stay on this path or not. I am looking for another job at the moment so it seems like a stupid idea to potentially burn bridges, but they may be burned anyway.

OP posts:
MantaKay · 14/06/2023 05:52

Don't. You never know. The world is fucking small.

Doingmybest12 · 14/06/2023 05:55

I felt it really was a waste of breath as no one really cared or would want to take it on board. So I'd decide if it will make you feel better /worse. I refused to talk to the person who initially was to complete this with me as I was so angry with that person, I am unsure if they knew that or cared.

Doingmybest12 · 14/06/2023 05:56

If you aren't sure it'll impact your career don't.

MushMonster · 14/06/2023 05:57

They will not care a jot.
Do what feels better for you, but without being over the top.
Or just repeat the same reason you gave already.

extramaturecheddarcheese · 14/06/2023 06:19

Sadly I would say not. I have been truthful in this way twice in my career and both times it's come back to bite me and caused more trouble than it was worth. My work related rule tends to be 'don't say anything about anything to anyone'.

PermanentTemporary · 14/06/2023 06:23

Nope. Write it down instead (not at work), put it somewhere you won't see it and go back to it in a year's time.

Reugny · 14/06/2023 06:26

They are just checking you aren't leaving in a way you can sue them, and it isn't a particular person who made you leave due to their individual behaviour towards you.

Mamette · 14/06/2023 06:31

I definitely wouldn’t. Especially as you are still job hunting.

Brefugee · 14/06/2023 06:37

I was honest in my last one in general terms about some of the things (on-boarding, lack of support for newbies, disregarding the CEO's instruction that meetings outside 9-5 must be justified)
Things that affected more than one person.
I also highlighted what they did right (good processes for HR things, attempts to improve work-life balance, hybrid working)

It was fine

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 14/06/2023 06:37

Someone recently left our team and gave a scathing exit interview. No one had any idea they felt the way they did. Why they hadn't raised the issues previously no one knows. They didn't hold back, were incredibly rude and insulting, which was totally uncalled for.

Long story short... their new job hasn't quite panned out as they'd hoped. In fact, they've asked to come back. Prior to exit interview they'd have been welcomed back. Now... those bridges have been well and truly burned.

If you've already raised the issues that made you look for another job then perhaps point that out at the exit interview. If you're seeing the exit interview as a place to vent, I wouldn't do it.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 14/06/2023 06:38

No, they make zero difference. I'd decline to do one.

RecycleMePlease · 14/06/2023 06:40

nooooo - never be honest if it's bad!

Altruism/getting it off your chest might be satisfying in the moment, but you need to play the game - the long game and never burn bridges.

Summerfun54321 · 14/06/2023 06:50

Closure is you quitting your job surely.

MrsLangOnionsMcWeetabix · 14/06/2023 06:54

I wouldn’t bother. I went to the top to alert my organisation to what was happening and absolutely nothing changed because they have no desire to actually address the environment that enables a completely toxic management culture. No repercussions for me professionally though due to the nature of the work.

SmirnoffIceIsNice · 14/06/2023 06:56

I left my job earlier this year and was the 6th person to go since Christmas. A few more have left since. We all gave detailed feedback but it hasn't made a jot of difference as those still there say nothing has changed. I went on to the Glassdoor site and left feedback about the company for the benefit of anyone else thinking to join them. The company saw it and had the cheek to reply on the site to invite me to contact HR to discuss the issues. Yeah, I tried that you idiots and you did nothing!!

ShandaLear · 14/06/2023 07:05

If you can do it constructively to help them improve the yes, it would be a kind thing to do. For example, ‘There are a number of ways in which the organisation could better support the staff. I would like to see senior staff receive additional mental health training so they are in a better position to be empathetic and proactive when a member of their team needs help. In addition, it would be a great benefit to the organisation if you were able to streamline your promotion pathways to enable improved progression in the company…’, that sort of thing. I wouldn’t go in to say, ‘My manager is a dick and the directors are all nonces. Bob from accounts smells of wee and Janine in HR is banging all the delivery guys’.

Gistbury · 14/06/2023 07:09

MantaKay · 14/06/2023 05:52

Don't. You never know. The world is fucking small.

This.

UnexpectedDaisy · 14/06/2023 07:15

Agree with PP it's a small world so not worth it...

Nothing to stop you leaving an anonymous employee review on Glassdoor though 😉

BanditsOnTheHorizon · 14/06/2023 07:51

I'm a firm believer in not burning bridges and it's stood me in good stead so far.

You can still be honest about the reasons you're leaving whilst remaining professional.

HelpMeGetThrough · 14/06/2023 08:03

Go to it and be professional. I had one leave and they were a total prick during it saying "I can now be as blunt and rude as I like, as I don't need this job anymore".

12 months later they were desperate to get back, applied for three different roles back in the team and never made it past me seeing their CV come in and binning it.

InSpainTheRain · 14/06/2023 08:14

Personally I never burn bridges or sound toxic. Hates my last place and my awful boss, went with "just decided to try another sector for a change and challenge myself".

Aprilx · 14/06/2023 08:21

Absolutely do not do an exit interview, not to complain about people anyway. The only time to do that, if necessary, is whilst you are still working there, utterly pointless after the fact.

Quveas · 14/06/2023 08:34

MantaKay · 14/06/2023 05:52

Don't. You never know. The world is fucking small.

^This x 10

Either choose a battle because you want things to improve for you, or walk away and don't pick a battle you won't win. Tt might provide "closure" for you immediately. But it also may come back to bite you horribly.

Swipe left for the next trending thread