How honest should I be in my exit interview?

[Rick Lee]

Awful job for a very unethical company, everyone wants to quit, managers too. Gave my two weeks notice and I was the only one to have done so and not get walked out the door. Now they want an exit interview tomorrow, which I'm also the first to get. Let them have it or continue the lying in the hopes of staying in their good graces and not putting any of my co-workers (whom I love) under suspicion of feeling the same way (they all do)?

[Rick V]

Personally I have never been one to sugar coat anything, I call it like I see it so in my opinion let it fly, just let your co-workers know so they can duck and cover as needed

[oldE]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Gave my two weeks notice and I was the only one to have done so and not get walked out the door. Now they want an exit interview tomorrow, .?

Rick,

The fact they did not 'walk you out the door' tells me you are trusted enough to be straight with them.

Be straight with them and tell them how the work environment affected you.
If they want to know about others, they will properly have to ask them.

Best of luck.
Les

[Eric 951]

Be straight with them, otherwise they may not know that they have issues. Your input may be the catalyst for change.

[Aragorn]

I would be honest to a point but don't burn any bridges. Take your emotion and feelings out of what you say in your exit interview. From what I remember you work in sales so use your skills to say what needs to be said without leaving a Shermanesque trail in your wake.

They seem to like you so I would try and leave on good terms.

[wdfifteen]

They might appreciate and honest assessment of the reasons everyone is quitting. Nothing personal or vindictive, just honest and businesslike.

[cashflyer]

Take your emotion and feelings out of what you say in your exit interview.

This.

If you go off into a psychotic tirade, they will simply shut off the listening mode and go into "ignore the jerk" or "somebody please call security" mode.

State your criticisms in a calm and factual manner, with some form of discussion to back up the criticism. Stay on topics that will help them be a better employer for the co-workers that you leave behind.

Don't waste time telling them stuff that no employer cares about, like "you only provide the cheap coffee and I deserve better".

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by Aragorn

I would be honest to a point but don't burn any bridges. Take your emotion and feelings out of what you say in your exit interview. From what I remember you work in sales so use your skills to say what needs to be said without leaving a Shermanesque trail in your wake.

They seem to like you so I would try and leave on good terms.

^^ This exactly. Clarify the issues in a calm and businesslike manner. No scorched earth policy. If they want to move their business forward they will pay attention and appreciate your input.

[Rick Lee]

A little more background, then let's hear what you all have to say.

Pretty sure this company is well aware that they're totally screwing everyone and everyone here is looking for a job, including the mgrs. Company owner is the most dishonest person I have ever met in business and I'm not exagerrating. He will definitely be on the exit interview phone call and not announce himself. He does this a lot, even with new hire interviews, drops in and says he's a consultant or something. There was a round of layoffs in July and a few of the people were let go the day before they would have been eligible to file for unemployment. No one got a dime of severence.

The entire situation reminds me of how it was in E. European communist dicatorships when the leader made a speech. He knew it was BS, the people knew it was BS. He knew they knew it was BS and they knew he knew they knew it was BS. And so it continued. That's how it is here. Everyone lies to leadership (which is on the East Coast). When we're all on a conference call in a conference room, we all make faces and wink when someone tells a big whopper because those on the other end can't see us. Basically, the whole operation is one big George Costanza's life - a lie.

Now that you know this, why would this seemingly nice HR woman want to give me an exit interview when no one else has gotten one and they have to know how crooked a company they are?

[Rick V]

I still say speak the truth, spare no feelings and regardless of what Cashflyer says, You gotta have good coffee

[Oh Haha]

Not the same situation as you but I had the interview a few months ago. I was honest and gave the HR gal suggestions on what might help the next manager. I didn't bi#$% about anything, just stated areas where the district level management could improve.

It sounds like this may be a horrible company to work for but are you willing to be the catalyst for change?

[cashflyer]

Ok... let's look at this from a different angle.

What's in it for you? What do you gain by participating in the exit interview?
Is there a severance package hanging in the balance? Is there a Letter of Recommendation that you need? Etc. If there is nothing to gain, then I would say you are under no obligation to participate. Politely decline and move on.

Or participate and just do like you say everyone has been doing all along - sit there and blow smoke up their asses, then go get some good coffee.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Oh Haha

It sounds like this may be a horrible company to work for but are you willing to be the catalyst for change?

That begs the question of whether they will take my comments to heart. Yes, I will remain calm, thoroughly professional, factual and unemotional. I would love to make this a better place to work for my co-workers, who are all close friends. Really. But ... "when you dance with the devil, the devil don't change."

[Macroni]

Unethical says it all.......... giving them notice says a ton about you!

[9dreizig]

Do you think they don't know they are unethical ? If not tell them, if otherwise why waste your breath ? Nobody you may want to work with in the future would ever hold it against you for being ethical and honest..

[imcarthur]

You can:

1. Be honest but restrained
2. Be honest & burn the bridge
3. Be honest & nuke the valley

If there is any way that this could reflect negatively on your future then just mumble about growth opportunities. Other than that, go for option 1.

Ian

[mreid]

There are two lines of questioning in an exit interview:

1. Why you left (better job, more opportunity, better location, promotion, career development, etc.)?

2. What made you look (bad management, no promotion, poor benefits, low pay, crappy coworkers, etc.)?

The first is a BS line designed to appease corporate/owners and help them feel they did nothing wrong. The second gets to the real core issues. The trends in the workforce are that the emerging skilled workforce won't put up with crap and have the skills and the value to not have to. Typically, as you get older you have less tolerance for poor management/leadership and even less for a company whose values are out of alignment with your own. With business networking sites like LinkedIn and business information sites like Glassdoor, these morons are not getting away with the behavior of the past. Of course you have to have the skills and capabilities that provide you these opportunities.

We live in a society. I think you have a moral and social responsibility to expose these idiots for what they are (in a very unemotional and professional way) to help your coworkers and any potential future employees (I would also post on Glassdoor).

This is coming from the head of HR.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Awful job for a very unethical company, everyone wants to quit, managers too. Gave my two weeks notice and I was the only one to have done so and not get walked out the door. Now they want an exit interview tomorrow, which I'm also the first to get. Let them have it or continue the lying in the hopes of staying in their good graces and not putting any of my co-workers (whom I love) under suspicion of feeling the same way (they all do)?

Be the change you want to see in the world...I'd give them all you've got, in direct but reserved fashion. Mentioning names of those who gave you problems is a must, say nothing about those you like, nothing.

I was in your similar (company/employee description given) situation in my last role. I had an epic exit interview 12/4/13, hung up the phone shaking and thinking to myself...I went too hard, I burned the bridge...guess that's why they make airplanes

Got a call from the CEO later that day thanking me for the candid feedback (no he's not supposed to know what I said!?) apparently something resonated. 3 months later my ex-boss got fired for things I mentioned during my interview. Sexist tendencies, fudging sales figures, iron-fist management, and not actually selling with his team.

I found this out as I remained friends with my old teammates and we still talk, the people I mentioned nothing about.

He's still unemployed, couldn't have happened to a nicer guy

(Although my bleeding heart feels for his 5 kids and miserable wife)

[911SauCy]

Totally agree with M Reid.

Here's the Glassdoor from my last company, unfortunately, everything you can read about them is spot on and has actually brought their "disposable salesman" employment model to a grinding halt.

I lasted 2 years, on a team of 17...saw at least 15 people. Damn cool product, it's a shame as it was a fun role.

ScentAir Technologies Reviews | Glassdoor

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

You can:

1. Be honest but restrained
2. Be honest & burn the bridge
3. Be honest & nuke the valley

If there is any way that this could reflect negatively on your future then just mumble about growth opportunities. Other than that, go for option 1.

Ian

Airplanes fly over burnt bridges