Exit interviews give your business a great opportunity to identify areas that may be causing employees to leave so you can work on improving them.

They can also give you insight into what you’re doing right, which can help in recruitment and brand promotion.

To make exit interviews as effective as possible, keep these things in mind:

• Have a neutral person conduct the interview - this helps you gain open and honest feedback.

• Do it before the person leaves - you’ll get better participation and insight.

• Be prepared - sort out your questions before the interview.

• Let the employee do most of the talking - you’re after their feedback and experiences.

• Approach bad news objectively - you’ll probably hear some criticism but focus on how the information could help improve your business.

This article explores ways to make the most of exit interviews and glean valuable insight from departing employees.