Exit Interview Questionnaire for 2026
An exit interview aims to gather valuable feedback from departing employees regarding their experiences, insights, and suggestions for improvement.
We put together a comprehensive Exit Interview Questionnaire Template designed to provide organizations with a reliable and efficient way for gathering that feedback.
By implementing this questionnaire, you will gain actionable ideas to help drive improvements in your workplace and foster a culture of open communication that values your employees' perspectives. We hope this helps!
Exit Interview Questionnaire
Key Takeaways
An exit interview questionnaire is a structured set of questions used to gather honest feedback from departing employees about their role, manager, team dynamics, and overall experience. This article provides a questionnaire template and explains a simple flow for collecting feedback through interviews or a self-completed PDF. The goal is to identify patterns behind turnover and capture actionable ideas to improve culture, leadership, and processes.
Exit interviews help explain why employees leave and reveal repeat issues driving turnover.
Use an exit interview template for structure, a questions template for the prompts, and a PDF format for self-completion.
Start with a warm introduction that clarifies the purpose and encourages candor.
Combine open-ended questions with specific prompts to keep the conversation focused and comparable across exits.
Offer multiple participation options (in-person, virtual, or questionnaire PDF) to increase comfort and participation.
Include standardized core questions to spot patterns, then customize follow-ups by role or tenure.
Use a neutral interviewer (not the direct manager) to reduce bias and support honesty.
Protect confidentiality and set expectations around privacy to build trust.
Keep the questionnaire concise, aiming for about 10 to 15 questions so it is meaningful but not overwhelming.
Run the exit interview during the final week of work for best timing, and offer an anonymous survey if someone declines.
Why These Exit Interview Questions Matter
Exit interviews are a strategic tool—not just farewells. They help us:
Understand why employees leave and uncover patterns in turnover.
Identify strengths and pain points in our culture, leadership, and processes.
Explore improvement opportunities for current and future employees.
Qualtrics reminds us that an effective exit survey should clarify its purpose, invite honesty, and even “not shy away from asking tough questions.”SurveyMonkey+2Paylocity+2Nectar+3Rippling+3SurveyMonkey+3Robert Half+3Qualtrics+3BambooHR+3
For example, BambooHR notes that disengagement, lack of growth, or supervisors are among the top three reasons people leave—why it’s vital to ask the right exit interview questions for employees.BambooHR
My Exit Interview Process: Template + Questionnaire Flow
Here’s how I set up my exit process:
Send a Warm Intro with Purpose
I explain that I’m there to learn—not judge—and genuinely appreciate their candid thoughts.Use a Balanced Exit Interview Template
I use a structured framework combining open-ended and specific questions to guide the conversation.Choose the Interview Method Thoughtfully
Whether it’s an in-person chat, virtual conversation, or a self-completed exit interview questionnaire PDF, the goal is comfort and candor. As per LinkedIn’s best practices, having multiple options helps improve participation.Mentally Healthy Productions: A ToolkitQualtrics+6BambooHR+6Great Place To Work®+6Wikipedia+15LinkedIn+15SurveyMonkey+15Asana+7Great Place To Work®+7Rippling+7Customize the Questionnaire Accordingly
My exit survey questions include customized prompts along with standardized core questions (to spot patterns).Capture Insights, Respectfully
I always listen actively, take notes, and invite any final thoughts—sometimes the most valuable feedback comes at the end.
Sample Exit Interview Questions (By Theme)
Here’s a curated list based on top HR sources to help you build your own exit interview template or exit interview questions template:
Reasons for Leaving & Final Insights
Why did you decide to leave the company?PaylocityRobert Half+4BambooHR+4Asana+4
What prompted you to start looking elsewhere?Robert Half
Would you ever consider returning, under different circumstances?LinkedIn+10Robert Half+10BambooHR+10
Role & Experience
Did you feel adequately trained and equipped for success?EddySoftware+11Paylocity+11Robert Half+11
Were your responsibilities clear and aligned with your expectations?Mentally Healthy Productions: A Toolkit+15Nectar+15BambooHR+15
What did you enjoy most about your role? What about the least?Harvard Business Review+15Paylocity+15SurveyMonkey+15
Management & Team Dynamics
How well did you get along with your manager and peers?Wikipedia+5BambooHR+5SurveyMonkey+5
Did you receive useful feedback and recognition?Qualtrics+7Nectar+7Wikipedia+7
Culture & Company-wide Observations
How would you describe our company culture and values?Rippling+12Nectar+12SurveyMonkey+12
What strengths should we maintain—and what needs improvement?AsanaRobert Half
Future-Focused Questions
What are your professional plans, and did we prepare you well for them?Office of Financial Management
What advice would you offer future team members?Nectar
How likely are you to recommend us as a workplace, and why?NectarRobert Half
Best Practices I Always Keep in Mind
Use a consistent template every time for reliable trend tracking. Paylocity suggests standardized questions help categorize feedback for meaningful analysis.Paylocity+1
Offer multiple ways to participate, including forms, interviews, or surveys. LinkedIn encourages giving options to improve participation.LinkedIn
Have a neutral interviewer—not the direct manager—to encourage openness and reduce bias.Asana+6Thomson Reuters Legal+6BambooHR+6
Protect confidentiality and build trust. Great Place to Work recommends ensuring psychological safety and reassurance of privacy.Great Place To Work®
FAQ - Exit Questionnaire
What’s the difference between an “exit interview template,” “exit interview questions template,” and “exit interview questionnaire PDF”?
They’re essentially different formats: a template provides the structure, a questions template offers the actual prompts, and a PDF allows for self-completion—flexibility to suit your workflow.
Should I use digital forms or live interviews?
Mix it up! Live interviews, especially with neutral HR staff, often yield richer insights, while digital surveys can capture honest feedback from those out of time on their last day.Wikipedia
How many questions is ideal?
I aim for a balance—about 10–15 questions, blending open-ended reflections with specific prompts so it's meaningful but not overwhelming.
Can I reuse the same template for all exits?
Absolutely. Standardization helps identify trends and compare feedback across time. You can always customize follow-ups based on role or tenure. PaylocityGreat Place To Work®
What if someone refuses to participate?
That’s okay. I follow up with a short anonymous survey—sometimes brave feedback only comes when it's optional and confidential.
What’s the best timing for the interview?
During the final week of work is optimal. Exit interviews held then see 80%+ completion rates, compared to under 20% if done too early or after departure. Wikipedia
Who should conduct the exit interview?
Preferably HR or another neutral party—not a direct manager—to create a comfortable, candid atmosphere. Rippling
How to end a questionnaire?
End with a short thank-you and one clear next step. Let the person know what happens with their responses and when they can expect an update, if applicable. Keep it simple and avoid adding extra questions at the end.
What is the best exit interview template?
The best exit interview template is one that is short, consistent, and easy to compare across employees. It should cover why the employee is leaving, what worked well, what could be improved, and what would have changed their mind. Use a mix of a few ratings plus open-ended questions, and leave room for specific examples.
What is an exit interview?
An exit interview is a structured conversation or survey with an employee who is leaving a company. The goal is to understand what influenced their decision and gather feedback to improve retention and the employee experience. It should be optional and handled respectfully, with clear expectations about confidentiality.
How to create an exit survey for our website?
An exit survey is a short pop-up or prompt shown when someone is about to leave your site. A common approach is exit-intent detection, such as when the cursor moves toward the browser’s close button or the back button is used. Keep the survey to 1–3 questions and focus on why they’re leaving or what they didn’t find.
What is an exit meeting?
An exit meeting is a final meeting between the departing employee and the company, often led by HR or the manager. It focuses on logistics like last day details, returning company property, access changes, and final paperwork. It can also include a brief handoff plan and any remaining questions.
Final Thoughts on Exit Interviews
For me, exit interviews are more than a checklist—they’re feedback loops, learning opportunities, and a gracious way to close a chapter. By using a structured exit interview questions template, offering flexible formats like exit interview questionnaire PDFs, and asking thoughtful exit survey questions, we can gather insights that truly drive improvement.
Tags: exit interview, exit interview questionnaire, questions for leaving employees, exit interview questionnaire pdf
Author: Reid Alexander
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only & not intended as professional legal or HR advice. Consult with qualified professionals for advice tailored to your specific situation. The author & publisher disclaim any liability for errors, omissions, or actions taken based on this content.