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Home > Blog > Surveys

37 Impactful Exit Interview Survey Questions You Must Ask

In the world of workforce dynamics, understanding the reasons behind employee departures is not just a curiosity but a strategic necessity.

The art of crafting thoughtful exit survey questions allows organizations to glean powerful insights with confidence, providing a window into the factors that shape employee experiences and decisions.

Exit Survey Questions

Assessing the morale of your workforce is a crucial part of running a successful business. Employee output improves when they feel appreciated and valued. Employee turnover is a regular part of every business. But it’s crucial to know why they leave if/when they do go.

This is where exit interview survey questions come into play.

XYZ is an IT company with over 800 workers. The organization has recently experienced a higher-than-average turnover rate. Each year, more than 10% of employees leave the organization.

The HR department attempts to learn why employees leave and devise retention strategies. They conducted an exit interview survey to gain insight into the causes of employee turnover. From this survey, they found that the majority of the employees were leaving due to;

  • Lack of career development opportunities.
  • Lack of recognition for their work.

With this data, they can make adjustments to foster a more favorable environment for employees. Furthermore, they can increase employee retention and boost output as a result.

Table of Content:

  1. What is an Exit Survey?
  2. Why is an Exit Survey So Useful?
  3. The Goals of an Exit Interview Survey
  4. When To Use Exit Interview Questionnaire?
  5. Top 37 Best Exit Survey Questions
    • Exit Survey Questions for Students
    • Website Exit Survey Questions
    • Exit Survey Questions for Customers
    • Employee Exit Survey Questions
  6. Tool Used In the Exit Interview Process
  7. How to Conduct an Exit Interview Questionnaire?
  8. How to Answering Exit Interview Questions?
  9. How to Analyze Exit Survey Data?
  10. Sample Exit Survey Questions
  11. What Makes a Good Exit Survey?
  12. Benefits of Conducting an Exit Interview Survey
  13. Tips For Using Exit Interview Survey Questions
  14. FAQs About Exit Survey Questions
  15. Wrap Up

What is an Exit Survey?

Definition: An Exit Survey, also known as an exit interview or separation survey, is a tool used by organizations to gather feedback from employees who are leaving the company voluntarily.

An exit survey questionnaire is a questionnaire given to employees when they leave the company. The survey usually asks questions about the employee’s experience during the employment period. It gathers feedback from departing employees and gains insights into why they leave the company.

You can conduct exit surveys in different ways, including online and paper Surveys or through interviews.

Typically they include questions about;

  • The employee’s experience.
  • Employee’s reasons for leaving.
  • Employee’s thoughts on the company.

Why is an Exit Survey So Useful?

Companies use exit interviews to gather feedback from departing employees about their experiences. This helps identify reasons for turnover, uncover issues with company culture or management, and highlight areas for improvement.

The insights gained can guide decisions to enhance employee retention, improve workplace conditions, and refine hiring practices. Exit interviews ultimately help companies create a better work environment and retain top talent.

The Goals of an Exit Interview Survey

  • Identifying Reasons for Employee Turnover

Exit surveys help identify the reasons why employees are leaving the company. This can help you improve your policies and procedures to retain top talent.

It is also useful for gaining insight into the employees’ workplace experiences. By conducting an exit interview, you can determine if any of these reasons motivated the employee to leave;

  1. Lack of job satisfaction.
  2. Poor work environment.
  3. Other factors causing attrition.
  • Improving Retention Rates

Exit surveys provide a platform for employees to provide honest feedback about their experiences and the organization. You can identify and address any underlying issues causing employees to leave through this feedback.

For instance, exit surveys can reveal if employees feel undervalued or dissatisfied with their compensation packages. This information can help create attractive and competitive benefits packages to improve employee retention and satisfaction.

  • Training and Development

Exit surveys can reveal employee training and development needs. They can also evaluate the effectiveness of current programs and their influence on employee performance.

  • Identifying Areas of Improvement

Exit surveys allow you to get accurate feedback on the effectiveness of your current policies and procedures. By incorporating a 5-Point Performance Rating Scale, you can quantify responses more clearly, making it easier to identify areas where improvement is crucial. This structured approach helps you make informed changes to increase retention rates.

Employee unhappiness with their manager, for instance, may be revealed by an exit survey. Using the 5-Point Performance Rating Scale to assess managerial performance can highlight specific weaknesses. With this knowledge, you can take the appropriate actions to ensure managers receive the essential training they need.

  • Increasing Morale and Productivity

By conducting an exit survey, you can show your employees that you value their opinions and feedback. This can create a culture of trust and respect. Consequently, make employees feel more valued and appreciated in their roles.

You can find areas where you can boost morale and productivity by using exit surveys. This can be advantageous for businesses trying to boost employee engagement and satisfaction.

When To Use an Exit Interview Questionnaire?

  1. Employee or Customer Departure: When an employee leaves the company or a customer ends their relationship with your business, this is the ideal time to gather feedback.
  2. End of a Project or Service: After completing a project, contract, or service, you can understand areas of improvement and satisfaction.
  3. After a Specific Experience: Following an event, training, or product use, an exit survey can help assess the effectiveness and satisfaction.
  4. To Gather Insights for Improvement: If you want to identify recurring issues or understand why people are leaving, an exit survey provides actionable insights.
  5. After Periodic Evaluations: Regular intervals (e.g., quarterly or annually) can also be used to evaluate employee or customer satisfaction.

Top 37 Best Exit Survey Questions

Employees are asked to answer exit survey questions when they leave the company. These types of surveys aid in identifying the fundamental reasons behind employee churn.

Some common exit survey questions include:

Exit Survey Questions for Students (9 Questions)

  1. What was your primary reason for leaving the institution?
  2. Did the education you received meet your expectations? Why or why not?
  3. Did you feel supported by the faculty and administration?
  4. Were the academic resources (libraries, labs, online tools) helpful?
  5. Did the courses meet your expectations? Why or why not?
  6. What challenges did you face during your studies?
  7. Would you recommend this institution to others? Why or why not?
  8. What could the institution improve to enhance the student experience?
  9. Do you have any additional comments about your time at our institution?

Website Exit Survey Questions (9 Questions)

  1. What was the main reason you decided to leave our website today?
  2. Did you find what you were looking for? If not, what were you expecting?
  3. What could we improve to make your experience better?
  4. Was anything frustrating or confusing during your visit?
  5. How likely are you to return to our website in the future? (Scale 1-10)
  6. Did you experience any technical issues while browsing?
  7. What would have convinced you to stay longer or complete a purchase?
  8. How does our website compare to others you have visited for similar needs?
  9. Would you recommend our website to others? Why or why not?

Exit Survey Questions for Customers (9 Questions)

  1. What was the main reason for discontinuing our product/service?
  2. How satisfied were you with the overall experience? (Scale: 1-5)
  3. Did our product/service meet your expectations? Why or why not?
  4. How would you rate our customer service? (Scale: 1-5)
  5. Did you encounter any major issues while using our product/service?
  6. What could we have done differently to retain you as a customer?
  7. Would you consider returning in the future? Why or why not?
  8. How likely are you to recommend our product/service to others? (Scale: 1-5)
  9. Any additional feedback that could help us improve?

Employee Exit Survey Questions (10 Questions)

  1. What is the main reason for leaving your job?
  2. How satisfied were you with your role and responsibilities? (Scale: 1-5)
  3. Did you receive adequate support from your manager/supervisor?
  4. Were there enough growth opportunities within the company?
  5. How would you describe the company culture?
  6. Did you feel your contributions were valued? Why or why not?
  7. How satisfied were you with your work-life balance? (Scale: 1-5)
  8. What changes could improve employee retention?
  9. Would you recommend this company as a good place to work? (Yes/No, Why?)
  10. Any final thoughts on your overall experience with the organization?

Tool Used In the Exit Interview Process

Microsoft Forms

  • A simple, free tool for creating exit surveys, especially for Microsoft 365 users.
  • Offers collaboration features for HR teams to analyze results together.

Google Forms

  • Best For: Free, simple surveys with easy data collection.
  • Key Features: Free, easy to use, integrates with Google Sheets for analysis.
  • Why Choose It: Best for small businesses or teams looking for a simple solution without extra costs.

Typeform

  • Best For: Engaging, interactive surveys.
  • Key Features: Beautiful, conversational interface with logic jumps and custom branding.
  • Why Choose It: It offers a seamless user experience, making it ideal for gathering feedback in a user-friendly way.

Qualtrics

  • Best For: In-depth, advanced surveys with powerful analytics.
  • Key Features: Sentiment analysis, customizable surveys, advanced reporting, and analytics tools.
  • Why Choose It: Ideal for larger organizations that need detailed insights and actionable feedback.

SurveySparrow

  • Best For: Automated reminders and conversational-style surveys.
  • Key Features: Customizable templates, automated reminders, and detailed reporting.
  • Why Choose It: Provides quick feedback with a high engagement rate and helps track responses over time..

How to Conduct an Exit Interview Questionnaire?

Step 1: Choose Your Exit Survey Tool

  • Select a Tool: Choose a survey tool like SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, or Typeform. Ensure it suits your needs and provides features like custom branding, anonymity, and data analysis capabilities.
  • Sign Up: Create an account or log in to the selected tool.
  • Select a Template: Most survey platforms offer pre-built exit survey templates. Choose one or start from scratch depending on your requirements.

Step 2: Customize the Exit Survey Template

  • Edit Questions: Tailor the template to your specific needs by editing or adding questions that align with the goals of your exit survey (e.g., employee departure or customer feedback).
  • Ensure Clarity: Use clear and concise language to make the questions easy to understand.
  • Include Key Areas: Ensure you cover important areas such as job satisfaction, reasons for leaving, feedback on management, and suggestions for improvement.

Step 3: Set Survey Logic and Flow

  • Use Conditional Logic: Set up questions that branch based on responses (e.g., if the person rates their manager poorly, ask follow-up questions).
  • Keep It Short: Ensure the survey is concise and doesn’t overwhelm the respondent. Prioritize key questions that provide valuable insights.

Step 4: Test the Survey

  • Test the Survey: Before sending it out, test the survey to ensure the flow, logic, and design work as expected.
  • Seek Feedback: Ask a colleague or a member of your team to review the survey and provide feedback on the clarity of questions.

Step 5: Send the Survey

  • Distribute to Participants: Once the survey is ready, share it with the participants via email, a link, or by embedding it within a company portal. Ensure anonymity if desired.
  • Set a Deadline: Set a deadline for survey completion to ensure timely feedback.

Step 6: Analyze the Responses

  • Review Data: After collecting responses, analyze the results. Look for common themes, issues, or suggestions that appear frequently.
  • Use Insights: Leverage the insights to improve your organization’s processes, reduce turnover, and address pain points.

Step 7: Take Action

  • Implement Changes: Based on the feedback, take steps to improve the areas where employees or customers have expressed dissatisfaction.
  • Communicate Results: If appropriate, communicate your actions based on survey feedback to demonstrate responsiveness and foster trust.

How to Answer Exit Interview Questions?

  1. Stay Professional & Positive – Keep responses constructive and avoid negativity about colleagues or management.
  2. Be Honest but Tactful – Provide truthful feedback without being overly critical. Focus on facts, not emotions.
  3. Highlight Learning & Growth – Mention skills gained and how the experience contributed to your career.
  4. Provide Specific Feedback – Offer clear, actionable insights on workplace improvements.
  5. Remain Gracious – Express gratitude for opportunities and relationships built.
  6. Keep It Brief & Relevant – Answer concisely, sticking to key points.

How to Analyze Exit Survey Data?

Analyzing exit survey data in Excel can be a tedious and time-consuming process.

Fortunately, there is an easier way to analyze the data with ChartExpo.

ChartExpo is a powerful data visualization tool that can help analyze exit survey data in Excel effortlessly by making it the best Likert scale creator.

You can create appealing charts and graphs using ChartExpo.

How to Install ChartExpo in Excel?

  1. Open your Excel application.
  2. Open the worksheet and click the “Insert” menu.
  3. You’ll see “My Apps”.
  4. In the office Add-ins window, click “Store” and search for ChartExpo on my Apps Store.
  5. Click the “Add” button to install ChartExpo in your Excel.

ChartExpo charts and graphs are available both in Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. Please use the following CTA’s to install the tool of your choice and create beautiful visualizations in a few clicks in your favorite tool.

Sample Exit Survey Questions

As the HR administrator, you conduct an exit survey on every employee leaving your company. Your survey consists of the following statements and questions:

  • You are not leaving the company due to a bad environment
  • You were happy with the benefits provided by the company
  • Do you think you have improved professionally since you were hired?
  • Would you prefer to join us again in the future if we approach you?

The employees provide an answer to each question using the scale below.

  1. Strongly Disagree
  2. Disagree
  3. Neutral
  4. Agree
  5. Strongly Agree

Upon receiving the responses, you update them on a table similar to this one.

Responses You are not leaving the company due to a bad environment You were happy with the benefits provided by the company Do you think you have improved professionally since you were hired? Would you prefer to join us again in the future if we approach you?
Response 1 Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree Neutral
Response 2 Agree Neutral Strongly Agree Neutral
  • To get started with ChartExpo, install ChartExpo in Excel.
  • Now Click on My Apps from the INSERT
insert chartexpo in excel
  • Choose ChartExpo from My Apps, then click
open chartexpo in excel
  • Once ChartExpo is loaded. Click on “Likert Scale Chart” from the list of charts.
search likert scale chart in excel
  • Click the “Create Chart From Selection” button after selecting the data from the sheet, as shown.
create likert scale chart in excel
  • Allocate numerical values to this Likert scale.
    1. Strongly Disagree = 1
    2. Disagree = 2
    3. Neutral = 3
    4. Agree = 4
    5. Strongly Agree = 5
make likert scale chart in excel
  • The Likert Scale Chart will look as follows.
edit likert scale chart in excel
  • If you want to have the title of the chart, click on Edit Chart, as shown in the above image.
  • To change the title of the chart, click on the pencil icon that is available next to the Chart Header.
  • It will open the properties dialog. Under the Text section, you can add a heading in Line 1 and enable the Show Give the appropriate title of your chart and click on the Apply button.
settings likert scale chart in excel
  • You can add question numbers to each query. Click on the highlighted pencil icon at the top of the Overall bars. Then, go to the ‘Question’ section and toggle the ‘Show question no‘ option. Then click the “Apply” button.
change likert scale chart in excel
  • Instead of entering numerical figures, you can choose to include textual responses. To do this, select the pencil icon next to the applicable emoji. Then, open the Label area and enter the desired text. Then click the “Apply All” button.
  • For saving changes click on Save Changes. This will persist the changes.
save likert scale chart in excel
  • The final chart will look as follows.
what is exit survey questions

Insights

  • 61% expressed contentment with the work atmosphere. However, this was not the major factor in leaving the business. 28% declared that they were not satisfied with the work environment. 11% said they were neither happy nor unhappy.
  • 61% expressed contentment with the benefits provided by the company, while 29% expressed discontent.
  • 65% of the employees said they had improved professionally since they joined the organization. On the other hand, 21% stated otherwise.
  • 56% of the employees said that they would accept a job offer from the company in the future. Whereas 26% said they would not.
  • 61% of the employees agreed with the questions asked in the exit survey. 26% disagreed with all the questions, and 13% remained neutral.

What Makes a Good Exit Survey?

Creating an effective exit survey is essential to gain valuable insights from departing employees.

Here are five points of what makes a good exit survey:

  1. Clarity: The questions in an exit survey need to be short and precise. This will ensure that respondents comprehend the questions and offer insightful responses.
  2. Relevance: Match the exit survey questions to the goals and objectives of the business. This will guarantee that the survey is relevant and provides insightful data.
  3. Anonymity: Exit surveys should be anonymous to encourage honest responses.
  4. Conciseness: Exit surveys should be concise. This will help ensure that respondents do not get frustrated.
  5. Open-Ended Questions: Exit surveys should include open-ended questions to gain detailed insights.

Benefits of Conducting an Exit Interview Survey

Got it! Here’s how you can structure it with the headings and content:

1. Consistency

  • A template ensures that each departing employee is asked the same set of questions, providing consistent and comparable data.

2. Efficient Data Collection

  • It streamlines the process, saving time for HR professionals while gathering relevant information.

3. Identify Areas of Improvement

  • Feedback from exit interviews can highlight organizational weaknesses, helping improve workplace culture, policies, and retention strategies.

4. Standardized Process

  • A template helps create a structured exit process, ensuring no important questions are overlooked.

5. Actionable Insights

  • Data collected can be analyzed for trends, guiding better decision-making for improving employee satisfaction and engagement.

6. Confidentiality and Comfort

  • A template can make employees feel more comfortable, knowing the questions are uniform, which might encourage more honest and constructive feedback.

7. Enhanced Retention Strategies

  • By identifying common reasons for employee turnover, organizations can develop better retention strategies.

Tips For Using Exit Interview Survey Questions

  1. Keep It Confidential – Ensure employees feel safe providing honest feedback.
  2. Ask Open-Ended Questions – Encourage detailed responses rather than just yes/no answers.
  3. Focus on Key Areas – Cover workplace culture, management, career growth, and reasons for leaving.
  4. Make It Optional – Avoid pressuring employees; participation should be voluntary.
  5. Use a Mix of Formats – Combine multiple-choice, rating scales, and open-ended questions.
  6. Analyze & Act on Feedback – Identify trends and take action to improve workplace conditions.
  7. Be Timely – Conduct the survey close to the employee’s departure for accurate insights.
  8. Keep It Short & Relevant – Avoid overwhelming employees with too many questions.
  9. Show Appreciation – Thank employees for their time and input.

FAQs About Exit Survey Questions

What type of questions are asked in an exit interview?

An exit interview consists of questions on the following:

  • The employee’s experience.
  • Employee’s reasons for leaving.
  • Employee’s thoughts on the company.

Examples of these questions include:

  • What made you leave the company?
  • Would you recommend working at this company to others?

What are 5 typical questions asked during an exit interview?

Common examples of exit survey questions include:

  1. What motivated you to leave the organization?
  2. What was your overall experience with the company?
  3. Would you recommend this company to others?
  4. Would you consider returning to the company in the future?

What are exit survey questions?

Exit survey questions gather feedback from employees leaving an organization. They ask why the employee is leaving, their experience, and their level of satisfaction with the organization.

Wrap Up

Thousands of individuals quit their jobs every day across the globe. If you operate a business, you will experience employee turnover at some point. Or else you have experienced the frustration of losing a stellar employee to a competitor.

Therefore, it’s crucial to identify the root causes of employee turnover so you can fix it. Consequently, keep your top talent from wandering off.

Exit surveys help understand why employees are leaving. From these insights into employee turnover, you can take action accordingly.

Furthermore, it provides a platform for employees to provide honest feedback about their experiences with the organization. This type of feedback is valuable for retaining high-commitment employees and boosting morale.

You can use Excel to analyze the results of your exit surveys.

ChartExpo for Excel allows you to analyze exit survey data and gain insights effortlessly.

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