3 Ways You Can Make an Exit Interview Count
Exit interview tips are a dime a dozen, and the interview itself is easy to categorize as unimportant, but that would be a mistake. To be honest, no one really loves being on either side of the desk during one. For you, it can be difficult to hear criticism from an employee. For the employee, the exit interview can be intimidating, or worse, it can seem like they aren’t being heard. When conducted properly, and with mutual trust and respect, you can get honest information from the employee that you can then use to help improve and develop the organization and reduce employee turnover. It is imperative to really listen to the feedback and use it to foster an environment that encourages honesty, which increases the potential for growth. Here are a few ways exit interview feedback can be used to improve how your company interacts with your employees going forward.
Improve Manager/Supervisor Performance
Exit interviews are a too-often untapped resource for information regarding the performance of the company's managers and supervisors. It offers a ground-level perspective that can be extremely helpful when considering their growth and performance. Sure, sometimes an employee's gripes can be petty, but one of the best exit interview tips is to look into any information you receive from employees about their superiors. You may learn that other employees are also having similar problems, and you absolutely don't want more people to leave. Using this information can help when it comes to the growth and development of your managers, and it can also show other employees that you listen and implement feedback.
Improve Internal Processes and Morale
On a similar note, using exit interviews to make positive changes within the company is one of the best ways to improve morale and organizational culture. You may know that you value the opinions of your employees and that their satisfaction is also important to you, but they may not assume you feel that way. Chances are, if the person leaving the company had problems with certain workflows or other internal processes, other employees do too. Employees will take notice and feel appreciated when you address these issues and even experiment with other ways of doing things.
When an employee feels like management actually pays attention to their needs and concerns, they are much more satisfied with their jobs. Employees realize you value them and their opinions once you have a reputation for listening and using feedback to make changes. This not only builds morale but also improves worker pride and motivation. You never know, you may even end up finding a much more efficient or cost-effective way of doing a few things.
Improve Hiring Process to Find the Right Candidates Initially
The employee's vision doesn't always mesh well with the company's vision. Ask pointed questions during each exit interview about the details of the job itself, expectations, and goals. This can be the best way to decide whether the problem really lies in your company's recruitment and hiring process. If the leaving employee doesn't feel like they're right for their position, get them to explain so that you can understand. Was it about money and benefits? Or was it because of a lack of understanding of what the job would entail? If the issue has to do with the job responsibilities in any way, receiving this kind of information is the best way to improve the hiring process to find the right candidate initially.
Hiring great staff can seem like an art form or science, and not everyone is good at it. That is why it is important to identify the essential skill set your future hires need based on the feedback you receive during exit interviews. The process may lead you to realize that you need help from staffing agency professionals. A good staffing agency understands how to reach the right talent base and craft a job listing that will bring the right candidate in the door.
Exit interviews are not at all easy - if you're lucky, employee retention will be such that exit interviews are few and far between. It's vital to the success of any business that communication and trust be a part of the atmosphere every day, not just during the exit interview. However, the exit interview is absolutely the last chance to receive that feedback, so be sure to make it count.
If your exit interviews make you wonder if your hiring process is flawed, consider an experienced staffing company to help screen potential new hires. Call Elite Personnel today for help with recruiting in DC and the greater Maryland and Virginia areas!