The dreaded EXIT INTERVIEW! Some think this is an opportunity to negotiate a counter-offer. Others may be tempted to tell their employer how they can improve the workplace. But the majority of the supply chain professionals we work with are concerned about leaving on good terms. They simply don’t want to burn a bridge.

Some are so intimidated by the thought of having to go through an exit interview that they will stay in a dead-end job and let their career stagnate rather than finding more challenging work elsewhere.

What Your Boss is Thinking

I’ve had several hiring managers tell me their thoughts on counter-offers. When you turn in your resignation letter, your boss is probably thinking, “How can we get this person to stay for a few more months while we find a replacement?” And that’s when the counter-offer discussion comes!

Your employer may offer more money, a better title, flexible hours, but in the vast majority of cases they’re just trying to find a way to keep you around long enough to find your replacement. There are all kinds of statistics out there, and if you do some research you’ll find that the vast majority of people who accept counter-offers are no longer with the company just a few months later. They either quit because the reasons they wanted to leave were not addressed, or they were replaced.

Negotiate a Counter Offer

Some think the exit interview is a great opportunity to negotiate a better offer, and that may be partially true. Threatening to resign can put you in a position of power, but only temporarily. Once you’ve demonstrated your willingness to leave, your relationship with your employer will change. They will now question your loyalty, and will eventually find a way to replace you.

On top of that, once you get into negotiations, things can quickly go sideways and feelings could get hurt, so it’s best to avoid discussions of a counter-offer. Don’t burn a bridge! It’s a small world, you never know when you may bump into your boss again in future.

Constructive Criticism

You may be tempted to say what you don’t like about the company and what they could do to improve. Don’t do it. You’ll come across as a disgruntled employee and they may not have positive things to say in future when you need them for a reference.

Preparing for the Exit Interview

Here are some things you should prepare before your exit interview:

1. Find one or two valid reasons for leaving that are difficult to argue against. Try to think in terms of why you’ve accepted a new opportunity instead of why you’re quitting. This will help you to keep the exit interview positive.
2. Create a list of current projects and ongoing tasks. Write up the SOP’s you follow every day. This will make it easier to hand over your job to someone else. It’s a professional touch that will help you leave on good terms.
3. Consider how you will approach your notice period. After giving your notice and navigating the exit interview, you simply go back to work and do your very best. Your mind may be elsewhere as you are looking forward to your new job, but you owe it to your current employer to give them your best work while you are there. Wrap up your projects or hand them over to others in the office, create SOP’s, make the transition easy for your replacement. Your employer will remember you for how professionally you left.

Contact Us

Looking for more interview or resume tips? Check the blog at SCLSearch.com, or take a look at our jobs page to see what opportunities we have available. Connect with one of our supply chain recruiters on LinkedIn. And let’s see if we can help you find that perfect opportunity in supply chain and logistics.