How can you improve the exit interview process for temporary employees?

1 Define your goals

Before you conduct an exit interview with a temporary employee, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Do you want to understand why they left, how they felt about their work, or what they learned from their assignment? Do you want to assess their performance, satisfaction, or engagement? Do you want to identify areas of improvement, best practices, or potential referrals? Depending on your goals, you may need to adjust your questions, timing, and format of the exit interview.

2 Choose the right format

The format of the exit interview can affect the quality and quantity of the feedback you receive from temporary employees. You can choose from different methods, such as face-to-face, phone, online, or written surveys. Each method has its pros and cons, depending on the availability, comfort, and preference of the temporary employee. For example, face-to-face interviews may allow for more rapport and follow-up questions, but they may also be more intimidating or inconvenient. Online surveys may be more convenient and anonymous, but they may also be less detailed or engaging.

3 Ask open-ended questions

One of the best ways to elicit meaningful feedback from temporary employees is to ask open-ended questions that encourage them to elaborate on their experiences, feelings, and opinions. Open-ended questions are those that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no, such as "What did you enjoy most about your assignment?" or "How did you cope with the challenges you faced?" Open-ended questions allow you to explore the nuances and complexities of the temporary employee's perspective, and to discover insights that you may not have anticipated.

4 Be respectful and supportive

Another key factor that can influence the quality of the exit interview is the tone and attitude of the interviewer. You want to create a respectful and supportive environment where the temporary employee feels comfortable and valued. You can do this by expressing appreciation for their work, acknowledging their contributions, and listening attentively to their feedback. You should also avoid being defensive, judgmental, or argumentative, and instead focus on being curious, empathetic, and constructive.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?