Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Exit interviews are a trap

jacobian.org

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

221–230 of 431 posts

Re: Exit interviews are a trap

#221

Post by zerkten »

tempnow987 wrote: post #104

As someone who has done exit interviews on both sides some quick notes: 1) I would dial back dramatic sweeping criticism. Now is not the time to relitigate every grievance, claim doom will befall company etc. 2) Treat it as any other feedback cycle. Here's what was working well, here some areas I might look at improving. Keep it light and friendly. 3) Do a slight "I" perspective. I'm moving for higher pay and to have…

I think this is good advice. I treat these interviews as an opportunity to keep a door to return to the company in different circumstances. When you look at folks working in FAANG (or other cohorts of big companies), there is quite a bit of movement back and forth over time. It might not seem like it, but HR records can still be hanging around when you interview in a different department a couple of years later. They often shield these some from hiring managers, but they get connected up eventually.

Re: Exit interviews are a trap

#222

Post by afterburner »

bsnnkv wrote: post #146
aroundtown wrote: post #99

I made the mistake and told the truth one time early in my career. I got fired, err... I wasn't retained after a multi-month temp period, and was brought in to be fired, then exit interviewed. I was upset, but stuck to the truth. My direct boss was passive aggressive, didn't like me, and excluded me from the team. His code was awful, in the long term wasn't maintainable, and wouldn't be able to meet the needs of the…

I feel like people like this are fair game for naming and shaming.

Sounds like the other person has more power in the "community" though, and a grudge against them.

Re: Exit interviews are a trap

#223

Post by gunapologist99 »

Sometimes they're a trap. Sometimes people genuinely want to know your opinion and if they did anything wrong in your view. Sometimes that VP wants to know if the rumors are true that your direct manager is planning to return to Andromeda. Sometimes it's just good to clear the air with your manager, especially if there were some contentious issues.

And even if they disagree as to the causes or solutions that you propose, it's really good to at least have the conversation -- to communicate! This is the last time you'll ever get a chance to (sort of) speak freely.

Really, these people are all humans too. Well, most of them, anyway.

So, seriously, lean toward taking the exit interview, even with full knowledge of the (true) downsides listed in the article versus few upsides for you. Just gauge the exit interview based on the person who's sitting across the table.

Re: Exit interviews are a trap

#225

Post by JJMcJ »

mindcrime wrote: post #220
legitster wrote: post #208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There's a good chance the notes will go directly to your old manager and/or manager's manager, with your name on it. Why should I care? I say things during an exit interview I want them to know.

Why should I care? I say things during an exit interview I want them to know. Because you can't predict the future with 100% fidelity. Which means you could find yourself in situations like: - working under the same person (that you pissed off via the exit interview) again at a different company - applying for a job at another company where that person (that you pissed off via the exit interview) now works and will b…

You can have happy endings. Once in a while an annoying manager will actually realize that they've been out of line, and reform. But the downside is so big it's not worth the chance.

Re: Exit interviews are a trap

#226

Post by legitster »

cuddlybacon wrote: post #170
MuffinFlavored wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> criticize bad managers. What do you do when you work for a company where you think managers are bad, and their managers are bad, but they all think they are great and they think you're the problem? How do you objectively (not subjectively) determine if a manager is bad? If 200 people in the organization are "happy enough", it's your word versus theirs on what a good manager vs a bad manager is. HR doesn't care (in…

> What do you do when you work for a company where you think managers are bad, and their managers are bad, but they all think they are great and they think you're the problem? How do you objectively (not subjectively) determine if a manager is bad? If 200 people in the organization are "happy enough", it's your word versus theirs on what a good manager vs a bad manager is. If you notice you are the only one in 200 pe…

> If you notice you are the only one in 200 people have any issues, a reasonable question to ask yourself is if the problem is you.

This is exactly the right attitude. If everyone else is happy and the only problem is you, all the more reason to be respectful! It's better to treat it as a cultural misfit rather than ask them risk making 200 other employees unhappy to appease you.

Re: Exit interviews are a trap

#227

Post by unfocussed_mike »

HeyLaughingBoy wrote: post #82
lcnPylGDnU4H9OF wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If you are both professionals, it's a cathartic experience that supports your remaining coworkers. If they are not professional, they weren't going to give you a good reference anyway. It seems to me that the author is suggesting a third type of person: one who is professional until they're criticized.

I had two exit interviews at the same large corporation with very different outcomes. 1) The formal exit interview with HR. The HR person was apparently called to do it on her day off (no idea why they didn't just have someone else do it), and made sure I knew it, complained that "we just spent a lot of money on those classes you took and you were on track for Leadership training." Seriously? People leave: it's a cos…

The VP of Engineering sounds like a mensch.

The HR person sounds like an HR person.

Re: Exit interviews are a trap

#228

Post by unfocussed_mike »

bsnnkv wrote: post #146
aroundtown wrote: post #99

I made the mistake and told the truth one time early in my career. I got fired, err... I wasn't retained after a multi-month temp period, and was brought in to be fired, then exit interviewed. I was upset, but stuck to the truth. My direct boss was passive aggressive, didn't like me, and excluded me from the team. His code was awful, in the long term wasn't maintainable, and wouldn't be able to meet the needs of the…

I feel like people like this are fair game for naming and shaming.

They are and that will make it even worse.

Re: Exit interviews are a trap

#229

Post by legitster »

ClumsyPilot wrote: post #172
kyawzazaw wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean maybe you need to find a different job? What do you consider a "sexy" problem?

Something that makes tangiable improvement to the real world would be a good start

Then be a plumber!

(But then again, I guess plumbers work on the same boring stuff every day from age 21 to 65+)

Re: Exit interviews are a trap

#230

Post by briffle »

ghusto wrote: post #112

Good lord, what terrible advice. If anyone is reading this and thinking of adopting his ideas, please consider (with the exception being if you're still early in your career): 1) Being true to yourself is worth more than any of his purported wins 2) Be your own merit, and don't rely on others for references or goodwill 3) If every exit interviewee states that the CEO is a dick, that can't be ignored. She won't lose h…

In addition, if the last 6 developers all left because they got offers 30% more, maybe that will finally be the push to raise salaries for their current employees that are still there.

Also, most places I have worked will not allow management to give more than the dates you worked, and if they would re-hire you again in a job reference. They are too scared of lawsuits..

Post reply on HN