It is common practice for companies to conduct interviews with employees who are leaving to find out more about their reasons for leaving. Then they discover what made someone seek new opportunities with another employer.
There are also companies that do not wait for that moment to come. They conduct a “stay interview.” It is increasingly common for key employees to be asked at least once a year what they think the company is doing well and where they see room for improvement. Some of the questions are surprising.
Focus on the current work
One of the questions that is good to ask current key employees is what they like about their current job. If they haven’t left, then there are still aspects of the job they like.
Another question about the current job relates to the feedback the employee receives. Are they satisfied with the frequency and quality of feedback they receive indicates whether the company is meeting expectations or if there are gaps. The same applies to whether there is recognition that the employee would like to receive but is not.
Last but not least, what are the accomplishments that the employee is most proud of in their job to date or since the last interview to stay. These key moments show the person’s motivation and what drives them forward. However, if these are difficult to pinpoint, it’s a red flag that changes are needed.
Staying in the company
Employees may be asked if they have considered leaving the company, and if so, when was the last time they thought that. Understanding the reasons for such thoughts will suggest what problems the employee is experiencing in the workplace.
Another similar question is what a person first thinks of when thinking about their job. Depending on the answer, the employer can infer what the employee’s intentions are about leaving or staying with the company.
Looking towards the future
To find out what additional development opportunities employees would like beyond their current role, companies can ask if they have talents, skills or interests that currently have no application in their role. It may be that they have an opportunity to contribute successfully to an open company project or be involved in the design of new ones.
The stay interview is a useful tool to understand how the employee feels about their current job, where the company is performing well and where they can improve. While it may sound unconventional, such a conversation provides an opportunity to talk about topics that are not discussed in the course of day-to-day work.
