ER exit interview

[force majeure]

I am facing into an exit interview with HR. Has anyone gone thru this process?
They will want to know why I am leaving, the form has certain boxes to tick, early retirement is not one of them.
I just want to be prepared and not have any drama. I could say, its none of their business.

[FIRE Artist]

Isn't plain old retirement an option?  Doesn't. After if it is early or not. 

[ender]

Pursuing other options. Better options. Taking a break.

Taking a transition to become a portfolio manager (lol).

Any of those reasons might fit the stuff they are looking for.

[Paul der Krake]

Are you afraid they might call the retirement police to take you away?

Just tell them what's up.

[rantk81]

You don't even need to tell them you are retiring early.  It might be best to just say you need some time off for personal reasons.  (This might be advantageous if you have a good relationship with the employer, maybe they would allow you to return to work at some point in the future if you needed to earn a few extra bucks...)

[force majeure]

I will take a diplomatic approach. Management are always looking at the reasons people leave, to see if competitors are gaining.

[rothwem]

I honestly don't think that HR cares at all why you're leaving. It's a box that they have to check to make sure you're not leaving due to reasons that could be legally compromising to the company.

The last "exit interview" I had was literally 30 seconds--they got my keycard and my keys and I had to sign something saying I was leaving voluntarily.

[MrMoogle]

I honestly don't think that HR cares at all why you're leaving. It's a box that they have to check to make sure you're not leaving due to reasons that could be legally compromising to the company.

The last "exit interview" I had was literally 30 seconds--they got my keycard and my keys and I had to sign something saying I was leaving voluntarily.

This was my last exit interview too.  But otherwise, it's none of their business.  I'd make it vague.

[Chris22]

My last exit interview I was trying to be diplomatic and then the HR lady I was interviewing with told me 2/3rds of the way through the interview that she was leaving too. Well, I would've been more candid had I known that up front!

[SwordGuy]

I mean, what are they going to do, fire you? :)

Just be polite and you enjoyed working there and hope, when circumstances are different, you would be welcome back.

[matchewed]

Be nice and honest without pissing on people's shoes. No biggie.

[RedmondStash]

I'd just say that I'm taking advantage of an opportunity to take some time off and recharge. Whether it's permanent (retirement) or temporary (traveling the globe) is really none of their business.

And yeah, some exit interviews are mercifully brief. They may not ask you as many questions as you think.

[Taran Wanderer]

I have a similar question. If I retire after 20 years with the company but also 20 years before standard retirement age, do I get a retirement article in the company newsletter like all of the 60-something retirees?

[Mississippi Mudstache]

This is not the first time I've seen this question come up. Why do people fret over this stuff? I would just tell them that I'm retiring. No big deal. Why is that something you'd want to hide?

[Paul der Krake]

This is not the first time I've seen this question come up. Why do people fret over this stuff? I would just tell them that I'm retiring. No big deal. Why is that something you'd want to hide?

The two arguments worth pondering about:

- word might get out and a foe may paint a target on your back. For no upside whatsoever.
- leaving the door open for part-time or contract work in the future

[cerat0n1a]

I honestly don't think that HR cares at all why you're leaving.

Depends on the company. Where I work, we have something like a 6% leaver rate (i.e 6% of staff leave in a given year) and they divide those into "regretted" and "non-regretted." For the regretted leavers, they do genuinely try to find out why - are you getting paid more elsewhere, was your manager a problem etc etc and if any pattern develops, they do something about it. Thinking is that people will be more honest about problems when they're leaving and have nothing to lose, although as others have commented, there is sometimes a wish to avoid burning bridges even then.

[Playing with Fire UK]

Is there anything you can say that would make your soon to be ex colleagues lives better?

Workload, vacation days, quality of the coffee?

[Enigma]

Okay so I tried to quit my current job almost 12 months ago.  That lead to a meeting by management whereby they asked me to extend my notice from 2 weeks to 1 month so others could get their vacations out of the way.  I agreed thinking it would be a little easier for them to transition.

The next thing I know they asked for meetings almost every 2-3 days asking me to stay.  Also coming by and praising me for the work I was doing and making corrections to issues I brought up.

Long story short I ended up staying.  The 'ER exit interview' could be a way for them to try and keep you.  Offer more money or incentives to stay

[Much Fishing to Do]

I know the answer of just being honest, and thus possibly helpful to HR, seems strange, but given you are in the rare position of have no ulterior motive of priming the next job reference, it may actually be the right answer.

[Mississippi Mudstache]

This is not the first time I've seen this question come up. Why do people fret over this stuff? I would just tell them that I'm retiring. No big deal. Why is that something you'd want to hide?

The two arguments worth pondering about:

- word might get out and a foe may paint a target on your back. For no upside whatsoever.
- leaving the door open for part-time or contract work in the future

- I've never known any retirees to have a target on their back for the mere act of retiring. I'm also not the sort of person who has "foes", and I can't imagine what I could do to make them.
- I'm not sure how retiring should preclude part-time or contract work in the future. I know many retirees who have come back to work temporarily for the company that they retired from. In fact, if HR knows you're not leaving for another job, it probably makes this possibility all the more likely.

[clarkfan1979]

I really enjoyed my last exit interview. I had about 4 co-workers file separate complaints about my immediate supervisor. I never did. I simply applied for other jobs and left. The lead supervisor wanted to do an exit interview with me. He pleaded with me, so I agreed.

When he asked me why I was leaving, I told him all the horrible things my immediate supervisor did to me and my co-workers. He wasn't surprised. It was a lot of fun to tell all of the stories. They had a lot of shock value.

The bad manager ended up losing their leadership role. I would like to think that I helped make that happen. I didn't want to burn any bridges. Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. My former co-workers love me for telling the truth to the lead supervisor.

[Papa Mustache]

My last exit interview I was trying to be diplomatic and then the HR lady I was interviewing with told me 2/3rds of the way through the interview that she was leaving too. Well, I would've been more candid had I known that up front!

Did she actually leave or was she playing you? (that is, trying to seem sympathetic in an effort to get you to bare your soul more)

I'd leave telling them any old thing that I wanted to - keeping the door open to return or giving them the opportunity to lure me back with more money. Unlikely for me but it happens.

I am hesitant to discuss my finances with anyone but my wife - especially not with my former employer. Mentioning retirement at some early age is telling them you have alot of savings.

[usoverseas]

What about say you are taking a sabbatical? That's my plan, leaves the door open just in case!

[dividendman]

I always decline exit interviews. There is nothing to gain really.

Why are you taking the exit interview?

[dividendman]

Just a quick sidebar: I find it advantageous to ask exit interview type questions *before* anyone has decided to quit (that I want to remain) in my organization. That way you can actually act on responses to retain individuals. I think there is actually a book on this called "Stay Interviews" or something.

Questions like:

1) Are you considering leaving?
2) What are the top things that would make you consider leaving?
3) What would make your job better?
4) What do you like about your job
etc.

I find a lot of managers don't ask these types of questions because they think it will put the idea of leaving in the employees head or they fear getting responses they can't do anything about (at least immediately) like raising compensation if that is a pain point for the employee. I think those are just excuses to avoid tough conversations and it's stupid to think that by showing an interest in what the employee cares about (and acting on it if possible) would drive them to quit.

Asking after they've decided to leave is like "well, i didn't give a shit enough to ask you anything while while you were here but now that you're leaving i want to try to stop others from leaving and i'm too chicken shit to ask them".

That's why I decline exit interviews.

[Cottonswab]

Is there anything you can say that would make your soon to be ex colleagues lives better?

Workload, vacation days, quality of the coffee?

^+1 You have an opportunity to help other people.

[redbird]

Pursuing other options is pretty much what I told both HR and my supervisor when I quit to FIRE. But I was really stressed out in my job by that point and had been for about a year. My supervisor knew this and probably assumed I couldn't take the stress anymore. So I got away with less invasive questions than I expected. I was happy about that.

[Goldielocks]

Tell them it is because of work stress, and you need to get your head clear.

People without work stress, that love their jobs tend to not retire early unless they have specific plans, such as vacation.

It will let HR code it, and may result in a tiny change in future company programs / policies for others...

[RobFIRE]

I'd probably state something like wanted to take a break from work for a few months and "reassess career priorities". Former colleagues etc. may not understand FIRE so if they hear of it second hand from HR they'll not get any context, may resent you, I'd not go down that route.

If the company has real issues that affect your remaining colleagues I would raise the most significant of those, if they are fixable, in a non-blaming way. If no such issues or not fixable (e.g. main problem is the owner of the company) then I'd only say positive things and decline to be critical.

Whatever the scenario I would not burn bridges, leave on good terms, even if you never plan to work again there or anywhere else you may come across a former colleague or somebody who knows of you in the future.

[FB2020]

I had one recently, lasted about 2 minutes.

I told them clearly that I'm getting another oppoertunity, so like to move on.. also said that if they give me 10% raise I'd stay

They refused.

[Syonyk]

I am facing into an exit interview with HR. Has anyone gone thru this process?
They will want to know why I am leaving, the form has certain boxes to tick, early retirement is not one of them.
I just want to be prepared and not have any drama. I could say, its none of their business.

Dude.  Not worth the stress.  Just tell them what you're doing, why you're doing it, and be friendly.

"Seeking other opportunities" or such is accurate.  You're seeking the opportunity of freedom.

I went through an exit interview with a large tech employer 6-7 months ago - my reason for leaving was, "I don't like living in Seattle, I have an opportunity to move to rural farm country to live near family and raise my kid, and I'm taking it."  We talked for a while about shipping container offices, gardens, solar panels, and it was great fun.  It wasn't anything wrong with the company, other than their lack of remote work options and their insistence on putting offices in urban hellholes (my opinion is rather clearly the minority view on that).

Zero stress.  You're set.  If they try to counter, just tell them no.  Unless they say something like, "Your work is incredibly valuable, would you take $5M to stay for another year?"  Then, uh, maybe take it. :)

[redturtle]

Like everyone else is saying, don't worry about it. What are they gonna do, fire you?

[force majeure]

It is company HR policy to conduct an exit interview. Like it or not, there are forms to complete and answers they need, before an orderly exit can be given. Management see the monthly statistics, where people are moving to, competitor companies, reasons for leaving.

I could be a real smart-ass and say... I dont need to come in here anymore, its taking up too much of my time and life-energy, besides, I have replaced all of my salary with passive income.

[matchewed]

That doesn't change the whole "don't give a fuck" and just go through it simply.

[Spork]

I did one a yearish ago.  I was just honest.  Both my boss and I had told her I was retiring and she was a little surprised when I walked in and wasn't 65.  No big deal, just answer her questions.

[crucial]

It is company HR policy to conduct an exit interview. Like it or not, there are forms to complete and answers they need, before an orderly exit can be given. Management see the monthly statistics, where people are moving to, competitor companies, reasons for leaving.

I could be a real smart-ass and say... I dont need to come in here anymore, its taking up too much of my time and life-energy, besides, I have replaced all of my salary with passive income.

Hand in your resignation with whatever notice is required and that's it. Don't show up after that date. Are you worried about having to beg for your job back? There's nothing smart-ass about it.

[moof]

Two jobs ago my manager dragged me to a local brew pub and got two beers in me for my exit interview about a week before my last day.  I pretty much told him the same stuff I had been up front about for months as to why I was unhappy.

He then accidentally included a fellow engineer in the CC list when he sent out the notes, thanks to a very similar manager's name up the food chain.  I got to read the notes with some of his commentary before my coworker deleted it as had been requested.  I don't miss that place.

[incognito]

When I quit my job to go self employed, I just replied to the email from HR and politely said that I wasn't interested in doing the exit interview, but thanks anyway.

The way I saw it, I basically had two choices in the exit interview. Answer the questions truthfully (I was displeased with my employer), or lie and say my employment experience was great and I wouldn't change anything. I didn't want to do either one of those.

Congrats on the early retirement!

[Seppia]

Exit interviews are usually pointless, but the three times I changed jobs I always took the time to do them.
First time I was young and told the truth, second time I was 100% diplomatic and did not tell the truth not to displease them, third time a mix of the two.
Usually if you work in a non gigantic Corp they know already why you might be leaving (or at least they imagine it), so it's sufficient to give a few clues.

In your case, I'd just say "I need a break" or "I need to take a sabbatical".

[ysette9]

OP: Please write back and say how your exit interview goes in real life. I am really curious for a follow up!

[Syonyk]

The way I saw it, I basically had two choices in the exit interview. Answer the questions truthfully (I was displeased with my employer), or lie and say my employment experience was great and I wouldn't change anything. I didn't want to do either one of those.

What's wrong with answering truthfully?

I was quite clear that the reason I was leaving was because my employer didn't offer remote work positions, and other people did.

[incognito]

The way I saw it, I basically had two choices in the exit interview. Answer the questions truthfully (I was displeased with my employer), or lie and say my employment experience was great and I wouldn't change anything. I didn't want to do either one of those.

What's wrong with answering truthfully?

I was quite clear that the reason I was leaving was because my employer didn't offer remote work positions, and other people did.

It wasn't that simple for me. The environment there was very toxic and dysfunctional. This was the type of organization where if someone identified problems with the culture of the place, they would just find a reason to fire the person who spoke up instead of addressing the problem.

Crazy thing is, they would actually make all employees take a "employee engagement" survey yearly. I never felt like I could tell the truth on these surveys out of fear that it would make me the next target person for them to find a reason to fire.

If I told the truth in an exit interview, all it would do is piss them off, burn bridges, and waste my time. So, I declined.


 

[Enigma]

Sounds like Wells Fargo and firing employees for weird reasons when they complained to HR or raised concerns about being forced to sign people up for the goal of 12 accounts per person.

[AlwaysBeenASaver]

For my resignation letter, exit paperwork, and questions from management, I said I had an opportunity I couldn't pass up. Completely truthful, and every person I told assumed it was another job. I didn't want to say I didn't have a new job lined up because I didn't want to have the discussions of "couldn't you stay a few more weeks."

[ExitViaTheCashRamp]

Tell them something spicy:

* You have been offered the position of high priest in your Cthulhu cult, which is a full time role.
* You have agreed to your spouses proposal of poly-marriage and your role will be the home-maker for your three wives and four husbands.
* You keep hearing whispering and fear the looks from my co-workers sidelong glances.
* Trumps soon electoral triumph has convinced you to move to India, you are getting out... NOW.
* The Poker tournaments are leaving you tired and hung over too often when you come into work, it's time to give up the day job.

[RedmondStash]

Tell them something spicy:

* You have been offered the position of high priest in your Cthulhu cult, which is a full time role.
* You have agreed to your spouses proposal of poly-marriage and your role will be the home-maker for your three wives and four husbands.
* You keep hearing whispering and fear the looks from my co-workers sidelong glances.
* Trumps soon electoral triumph has convinced you to move to India, you are getting out... NOW.
* The Poker tournaments are leaving you tired and hung over too often when you come into work, it's time to give up the day job.

* You've been accepted for training for a super-secret Mars colonization mission. Wait -- did you say that out loud? D'oh!

[Taran Wanderer]

Tell them something spicy:

* You have been offered the position of high priest in your Cthulhu cult, which is a full time role.
* You have agreed to your spouses proposal of poly-marriage and your role will be the home-maker for your three wives and four husbands.
* You keep hearing whispering and fear the looks from my co-workers sidelong glances.
* Trumps soon electoral triumph has convinced you to move to India, you are getting out... NOW.
* The Poker tournaments are leaving you tired and hung over too often when you come into work, it's time to give up the day job.

* You've been accepted for training for a super-secret Mars colonization mission. Wait -- did you say that out loud? D'oh!

* You've decided to open your own business building tiny doghouses for tiny dogs to go alongside their owners' tiny houses.

[Cottonswab]

Tell them something spicy:

* You have been offered the position of high priest in your Cthulhu cult, which is a full time role.
* You have agreed to your spouses proposal of poly-marriage and your role will be the home-maker for your three wives and four husbands.
* You keep hearing whispering and fear the looks from my co-workers sidelong glances.
* Trumps soon electoral triumph has convinced you to move to India, you are getting out... NOW.
* The Poker tournaments are leaving you tired and hung over too often when you come into work, it's time to give up the day job.

* You've been accepted for training for a super-secret Mars colonization mission. Wait -- did you say that out loud? D'oh!

* You've decided to open your own business building tiny doghouses for tiny dogs to go alongside their owners' tiny houses.

* You took the red pill

[Car Jack]

You're making a film as a co-star with Nicolas Cage and don't feel right asking for a raise to 14 million dollars in your present job.  Mention that Francis Ford Coppola is your uncle.

[sisto]

I honestly don't think that HR cares at all why you're leaving.

Depends on the company. Where I work, we have something like a 6% leaver rate (i.e 6% of staff leave in a given year) and they divide those into "regretted" and "non-regretted." For the regretted leavers, they do genuinely try to find out why - are you getting paid more elsewhere, was your manager a problem etc etc and if any pattern develops, they do something about it. Thinking is that people will be more honest about problems when they're leaving and have nothing to lose, although as others have commented, there is sometimes a wish to avoid burning bridges even then.

We have a similar system. Ours is called attrition and it's desired or undesired.