How Honest Should You Be in an Exit Interview

How Honest Should You Be in an Exit Interview The decision to give your notice is a difficult one to make. While no job is perfect, there are surely things you will be sad to leave behind. Your exit interview serves as an opportunity to share feedback andhelp thecompany find ways to improve.But beware The questions asked during an exit interview may stir some negative feelings youve been keeping inside. Its important to offer your honest feedback,but you must resist the urge to point fingers.The best approach is to stick to the facts. Speak from your own personal opinionabout what youve experienced firsthand. The opinions you share should be your own and not meant to represent the consensus of other employees.Youll be asked a range of questions during your exit interview. The HR representative will usually start by asking you how long you were looking for a job and how your new job compares to the one youre leaving. Additionally, you can expect a few questions on what you think the company is doing well andwhere it could stand to improve.The fruchtwein challenging questions will be the ones concerning your manager. Most employees dont leave companies they leave managers. If this is the case for you, then questions about your manager can quickly get personal if you arent vigilant.Here are a few questions you can expect to be asked about your managerHow would you describe your relationship with your direct supervisor?How did your supervisor handle any complaints or grievances you may have had?Did you speak with your supervisor about your career goals? Why or why not? What was the outcome?Remember, this is not a forum to unleash a stream of complaints. Be measured in your responses. You can easily share that it wasnt the relationship you had hoped for without placing blame. For exampleOur relationship wasnt as close as I had hoped. I was really hoping for a mentor-like relationship, and that just didnt materialize.vs.She really di dnt take any interest in what I was doing. She was always quick to give negative feedback, and she never invested in helping me improve what she saw as deficiencies in my skills.You dont want to burn bridges. Its important to know that your exit interview lives in your personnel file. It is not confidential. If your particular circumstances give you any reason to doubt your ability to stay calm and cordial, consider skipping the exit interview altogether.A version of this article originally appeared on theAtrium Staffing blog.Michele Mavi isAtrium Staffings resident career expert.