An exit interview is a structured conversation with a departing employee designed to capture honest feedback about their experience and reasons for leaving. It can also take the form of a written survey, and it surfaces observations about culture, management, and processes. It is typically conducted in the last week or two of employment when the employee has freedom to be honest (since they're already leaving). HR and leadership use the feedback to identify patterns across departures, improvement opportunities, and early warning signs of broader issues. Feedback quality varies significantly based on whether the departing employee believes their input will be used or just filed away. It is one of the operational disciplines th...