8 questions to ask when an employee decides to leave your company
26 de May, 2023
When an employee decides to take on a new professional challenge, it is essential that the company tries to understand why. The perspective of someone who is leaving of their own volition is very important so that those in charge can identify aspects to improve in the workplace and in the organizational culture.
Investing time in gathering this feedback can help reduce turnover and optimize talent retention in the organization.
Discover with us 8 questions that your company should ask employees when they leave, which can provide very valuable information.
1 – What led you to look for another job?
Asking this question can help you find themes that are common to several employees who have decided to leave. Some examples could be: a lack of career progression opportunities, being overworked or having difficulty maintaining a work-life balance, poor professional training, a lack of feedback and recognition, poor working conditions, among others.
2 – What characteristics did you look for in a new challenge?
Did the worker leave because of the salary? Because of the extra benefits package? Because they wanted more flexible working hours? Because they wanted to progress in their job? The answer to this question may indicate some aspects that are lacking or need to be consolidated in your company.
3 – Under what circumstances would you consider returning to the company?
Given the current context of talent shortages in various industries, keeping the door open for some professionals to return can be important for companies. For this reason, you should try to understand what, in a hypothetical scenario, could lead the person to return in the future.
Even if it never happens, the answers to this question can help you develop your talent retention strategy.
4 – What would you say was the best thing about this experience? And the worst?
This question can help identify aspects that future candidates might like – and dislike – about their jobs and the company itself. Positive feedback reinforces what the company is doing well in its value proposition for employees. Negative feedback is useful for adjusting measures and procedures that could be improved and better meet employee expectations.
5 – Did you feel valued and recognized in the company?
Lack of recognition is one of the factors that can lead to employee dissatisfaction and demotivation, and ultimately result in them leaving. This question allows us to see whether team leaders and company managers have – and put into practice – a culture of recognition.
6 – Did you feel you had all the tools, working conditions and training you needed to perform your job?
Providing employees with all the resources they need to succeed in their job is also a key element. Training, in particular, is often overlooked by companies.
The answers to this question may indicate possible opportunities for improvement in the workplace, in the tools provided and in the professional development initiatives carried out in your company.
7 – What can the company improve?
This question is very broad and can generate very diverse suggestions: from the company’s salary and benefits policy, to management decisions, to organizational culture or diversity and inclusion efforts, for example. These suggestions can be useful in both attracting and retaining talent.
8 – Would you recommend the company to a friend or acquaintance?
Even if the person has decided to leave, they can still see the company as a good place to work. On the other hand, if the answer is no, it’s important to find out why.
These questions can be asked in person, in an informal conversation, or through a questionnaire platform (such as Google Forms or SurveyMonkey, for example), which can allow the employee more time and ease to prepare the answers.
Either way, this process is extremely valuable for gathering opinions and information that can help your company improve the satisfaction and motivation of employees who stay – and those who will join the team in the future!