Conducting exit interviews

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Abstract

Exit interviews are an essential part of the cycle of service for both members and programs. The interviews enable members to transition from service into the next stage of their lives with greater ease and success, while also giving programs invaluable feedback that can greatly benefit and improve services. Lara Jones, a Member Support Coordinator at the Northwest Service Academy (NWSA), shares tried-and-true strategies for handling exit interviews. This effective practice was submitted as part of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory’s (NWREL) Recruitment and Development Initiative (EnCorps) in December 2006.

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Issue

Exit interviews are more than just a required process requested by funders or management. They are also a chance to bring closure to a member's year of service while providing valuable feedback to both the program and the individual.

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Action

Preparation
  • Schedule the interviews about two days prior to the commencement ceremony. Doing the interviews several days before the ceremony leaves time to fix any oversights (like missing paperwork or being short on hours).
  • Create a written evaluation form for the members to complete. It should enable the members to rate the program, staff, and support, as well as supply their contact information and plans for life after service.

    (Use the Sample Exit Form under the "Resources" section for ideas when drafting one to use with your own members.)

  • Ask members to come prepared — they should bring: final time sheet and logs, final site report, and written evaluation
  • Give members some questions to think about in advance that will form the basis of their interview.

    (Use the Sample Leader Exit Interview under the "Resources" section for ideas when creating questions to ask your own members.)

Action

  • Spend about 10-15 minutes talking individually with each member about their experience. Tell them what they have done well during their year of service and some things they may want to focus on for improvement in the future. Also ask them to speak freely about the program and how it might be improved.
  • Perform an exit survey to gather valuable feedback that can help refine and improve your program and better serve your members' training needs.

    (Use the Sample Exit Survey under the "Resources" section to put together ideas on how to gather feedback from your leaders and members as they finish your program.)

 

Implementation

  • Consider having an outside evaluator do a pre- and post-service survey.
  • NWSA has an independent company, Merit Research, give members a survey as they start and end their service. The end survey takes about 20 minutes to fill out and is done just before the individual interviews are conducted. Merit Research analyzes the results and reports back to NWSA.
  • Use the exit interview session as part of your end-of-year celebration preparation.
  • NWSA calls in all the members of the team at the same time. As they are waiting for their individual interviews, they work on their group reflection piece for the commencement ceremony (e.g., skit, song, or video). They also fill out a yearbook page with their photo on it. NWSA takes these pages and makes a book that is a nice take-away. All members get a copy and sign it at commencement, just like a high school yearbook.

 

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Context

These exit interview tips were created by Northwest Service Academy (NWSA), an environmental service and leadership-development organization that partners with more than 125 community agencies and has members serving in individual placements or on field teams. NWSA implements this effective practice when performing its exit interview activities.

EnCorps resources carry a field "stamp of approval." Veteran program staff reviewed and recommended these resources for working with AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps*VISTA members.

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Citation

EnCorps: Conducting Exit Interviews

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Outcome

Exit interviews offer the following advantages:
  • Closure to the member's year of service
  • Increased success for the member's transition from service to the next stage of their life
  • Valuable feedback to both the program and the individual

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Posted On

June 26, 2007

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For More Information

Lara Jones
Northwest Service Academy (NWSA)
Individual Placement Member Support Coordinator
55 SE Main St
Portland, OR 97214
Phone: (503) 234-2383, x102

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Resources

From the EnCorps collection:

Sample Exit Form

Sample Leader Exit Interview

Sample Exit Survey

Related Practices

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Topic Areas

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