Exit Interview Questions: What You'll Be Asked and How to Answer

An exit interview is a conversation with HR (or sometimes a survey) when you leave a job. The company wants to learn why people leave and what it could do better. For you, it's a chance to leave on good terms and share useful feedback, as long as you keep it professional. This guide covers the questions you'll likely be asked, how to answer them, what to keep to yourself, and a list of exit interview questions for HR teams.

Part 1: If you're leaving

Before the exit interview

• Decide what you want to say. Two or three useful points are enough.
• Assume it may be shared. HR may pass feedback to your manager or leadership, sometimes anonymized, sometimes not.
• Keep your references in mind. You may need them later.
• Raise serious issues formally. Harassment, discrimination or safety concerns need a formal complaint, not just a comment in an exit interview.

Common questions and how to answer

1. Why are you leaving?

"I've accepted a role with more responsibility for client accounts, which is the direction I want to grow in." Keep it short and factual. See why are you leaving your current job.

2. What did you enjoy most about working here?

Be generous and specific: the team, a project, what you learned.

3. What could we have done to keep you?

"A clearer path to a senior role would have made a difference. I asked about it twice in reviews and there wasn't an opening."

4. How would you describe your relationship with your manager?

Stick to behavior and its effect: "Our one-to-ones were often cancelled, so I didn't always know my priorities." Avoid personal judgements.

5. Did you feel your work was valued?

Honest, with an example if useful.

6. Were you given the tools and training you needed?

Mention specific gaps that could help the next person.

7. How was your workload?

Factual: "For most of the last six months the team was one person short, and we regularly worked late to meet deadlines."

8. What do you think of the pay and benefits?

"The pay was below what similar roles offer locally; the new role offers about 15% more." Only share numbers you're comfortable sharing.

9. Would you recommend working here to a friend?

Honest, with nuance: "Yes for someone early in their career; the training is good."

10. Would you consider coming back?

Leave the door open if you would.

11. Is there anything else you'd like to share?

One constructive point you haven't covered, or simply thanks.

What to keep to yourself

• Personal criticism or gossip about colleagues.
• Complaints with no suggestion attached.
• Anything that sounds like a threat.
• Details of your new employer's offer beyond what's helpful.
• Emotional venting. Talk to friends first, then give HR the calm version.

Before your last day

• Return equipment and hand over your work clearly.
• Say thank you to the people who helped you.
• Connect with colleagues on professional networks.
• If you haven't yet, read our guide on resigning vs quitting for how to leave on good terms.

Part 2: Exit interview questions for HR teams

If you run exit interviews, ask the same core questions every time so you can compare answers and spot patterns.

Reasons for leaving

1. What prompted you to start looking for a new job?
2. What is the main reason you're leaving?
3. Was there a specific moment or event?
4. What would have made you stay?
5. Did you raise any concerns before deciding to leave? What happened?

The role

6. Did the job match what was described when you were hired?
7. Did you have the tools, training and resources you needed?
8. How manageable was your workload?
9. Did you have opportunities to grow?
10. Were your goals and responsibilities clear?

Management and team

11. How would you describe your relationship with your manager?
12. Did you get regular, useful feedback?
13. How well did your team work together?
14. Did you feel your contributions were recognized?
15. Did you feel comfortable raising problems?

Company

16. How would you describe the culture here?
17. How do you feel about pay and benefits compared with the market?
18. What do you think of how the company communicates with staff?
19. Would you recommend working here? Why or why not?
20. What is one thing we should change?

Next steps

21. What does your new role offer that we didn't?
22. Would you consider returning in the future?
23. May we contact you later with follow-up questions?
24. Is there anything you'd like to tell us that you haven't already?
25. Can we share your feedback with your manager, anonymized or not?

Tips for running them

• Have someone other than the direct manager conduct the interview.
• Explain how the feedback will be used and who will see it.
• Hold it in the last week, but not on the final afternoon.
• Track themes over time; one exit interview is an anecdote, ten are a pattern.
• Consider "stay interviews" with current employees to catch problems earlier.

For other HR-side questions, see our HR interview questions.