Top 10 Exit Interview Questions Every HR Team Should Ask
The right exit interview questions uncover actionable insights. These 10 questions are designed to reveal patterns in why employees leave and what you can do about it.
1. What prompted you to start looking?
This question identifies the trigger event — not the reason they accepted a new offer, but what made them open to leaving in the first place. Often reveals systemic issues.
2. What could we have done differently?
Direct and actionable. Departing employees are often more candid than current ones. Look for patterns across multiple responses.
3. How would you describe the team culture?
Culture themes are the #1 predictor of future attrition. Track how culture descriptions change over time and across departments.
4. Did you feel you had growth opportunities?
Lack of growth is consistently the top departure reason across industries. This question quantifies the gap between perceived and actual opportunities.
5. How was your relationship with your manager?
People leave managers, not companies. This question surfaces management issues that current employees may not feel safe reporting.
6. Was your compensation competitive?
Compensation is rarely the sole reason, but often a contributing factor. Track which roles and levels cite it most frequently.
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