You have resigned from your current work place, and are currently serving the notice. While you are looking forward to start working in your new company, there is still one loop that you need to close before moving ahead. Exit interviews can be quite tricky to face. While they may seem to be a mere formality, they do leave a lasting impression of yours on the HR managers, managers, and the senior management. While your past performance and relationships at work would have already left their mark, your exit interview is considered to be your formal sign off to the organization’s management. You must put in some thought in your preparation before your exit interview so that you leave the organization on an amiable note.

Here are 5 tips that will help you tackle some of the tricky questions asked during exit interviews. 

keep the conversation positive 

It is important that you leave on a positive note. While organizations have their own strategy to seek feedback from their employees, you must remember that you have already made a decision to move on, and that you are no more a part of the system in many ways. Focus on your learning and positive experiences that you have had at the company along with your managers and colleagues.

Share constructive feedback only

This is something that you can save to share personally with your manager rather than the HR managers. Depending on your equation with your boss and seniors, you can choose to share your feedback, making sure that it is constructive and feasible for the team or the company. Even if you choose to give a feedback, keep it to processes, systems or events where an actual improvement is feasible and foreseeable. 

do not name names

Unless you do not want to report a personal grievance or an official complaint against someone, there is no need to mention any names. Any personal differences must not be mentioned during an exit interview. This is not the time or place to bring up matters since you have already chosen to move on in your career. Name names only if you have to praise someone for a specific professional help or guidance.

leave the doors open for you to come back 

‘If given an opportunity, would you like to come back in future?’ – is the most often-asked question in an exit interview. You should answer this question in a positive, precisely because you do not know what lies ahead in the future and you may find a good opportunity in the same company. Even if not so, then you must answer in a ‘yes’ in order to be connected to the company and its people in a professional way. It is wise to keep your former managers and colleagues as a part of your professional network. 

express gratitude

Exit interviews can be conducted in a written or a face-to-face format. Depending on the type of format and if it allows you to answer, you must express your gratitude to the company and your seniors for giving you an opportunity. In reality, however good or not-so-good an experience you had at the company, you can always take it as a personal learning, and thank them for that. 

Keeping these points in mind during an exit interview will help you tackle the interview questions or exit survey ratings more honestly, yet not bluntly. Remember that the industry is quite a small place when it comes to professional networks, and you would like to make your exit on an amicable note so that you continue to maintain strong professional relationships.