Key Questions to Ask Interns During Exit Interviews to Gather Valuable Feedback
An internship exit interview is an opportunity for employers to gather feedback from those who are completing a company’s internship program. The company will likely be looking for suggestions on how to improve the program and make it more attractive to future interns.
During an internship, you’re invested in your own learning and professional growth. But the company is invested in your learning and growth as well. And, as such, they’ll want to hear about it during the exit interview—which is why you’ll likely get some variation of this question.
Companies want to attract top students to their internship program. In order to do that, it’s important for them to understand how the program is supporting interns—and if there’s anything they can do to make it a better and more promising experience.
Participating in an internship exit interview offers the student a chance to reflect on their internship experience, including what they learned during the program, what skills they developed, and what professional skills they should continue building upon.
Companies use exit interviews to learn about an intern’s experience with their program, which aspects of the program are effective, and which ones need work. In addition to this, an internship exit interview may help an employer decide whether they want to extend full-time offers to any of their interns.
By asking this question at the conclusion of an internship, a company can gain valuable feedback about the program itself. This feedback can then be used to identify the program’s strengths, any weaknesses it might have, what the company can do to increase engagement among interns, and what adjustments the company can make to the program in the future.
Key Questions to Ask Interns
- Do you feel that your mentor gave you the support and training you needed? This question will give specific feedback on the intern’s mentor, making it an easy interpretation.
- Were your colleagues supportive and did you have all the necessary resources? This exit interview question extends to the team the intern is working in.
- Was there anything you didn’t like about your internship? Equally, what did you like about your internship? Asking an intern what they did and didn’t like allows them to answer more honestly.
- Would you recommend our internship program to other graduates or interns? Why/why not? This is fundamental.
- How would you define our company culture? Would you recommend this internship to others?
- If you could make a change to your internship experience, what would you change? How did this internship match your expectations?
- What do you believe the next step is in your career path, and how can we help you get there?
- How would you describe this internship experience to others?
- Discuss the challenges of your internship experience and ways they may be improved.
- Were there any specific areas where you felt your skills were underutilized?
- How would you rate the overall communication within the team?
How to Structure an Effective Exit Interview for Interns: Tips and Best Practices
Exit interviews help you learn why your current employees are leaving and how you can improve your workplace. The feedback your organization can gain from exit interviews (or exit surveys) can be critical in lowering employee churn, and creating a better company culture.
An exit interview is a meeting that employers have with interns upon completing an internship. It provides valuable feedback on whether the interns would return for a full-time position and what you can improve in your internship program.
When internships end, you should conduct an exit interview for all interns. This provides valuable feedback on whether the interns would return for a full-time position and what you can do to continue to improve the internship programs at your company.
Oftentimes, employers conduct exit interviews with individuals after an internship to help them understand both the highlights and areas for improvement with the internship. It gives interns a chance to provide valuable feedback about the internship and offer helpful suggestions for future interns.
Here are several reasons why your exit interview after an internship is important:
- It gives insight into the internship experience.
- It helps improve the internship program.
- It assists in understanding interns’ future job market motivations.
The best exit interview questions get to the heart of why employees leave and what can be done about it. The exit interview is an important opportunity to learn about the reasons why employees leave, so that you can improve those areas to prevent future employee churn.
Here are some of the best examples we’ve seen of exit interview questions for interns:
- What are the three most important things you learned from your internship?
- Did you feel like your mentor/manager provided adequate instruction for you to perform your duties?
- What did you like least about your internship?
- What about your internship do you think could have been improved?
- What could we change/improve to make our company more appealing to you?
These exit interviews should be conducted either in-person or via online exit interview survey for more honest and candid feedback. An exit interview should be around 5-10 questions and take your former employee 30 minutes to an hour.
Creating the right environment for an exit interview is crucial. It’s about creating a space where honesty is easy, and feedback is key for growth and betterment. This can involve ensuring a comfortable setting and encouraging open dialogue.
To prepare for an internship exit interview, practice your answers with a friend or mentor, think critically about your experiences, and be ready to discuss both positive feedback and areas for improvement.
Understanding Interns’ Perspectives: What Feedback Can Improve Future Internship Programs?
Internships are a vital stepping stone in your professional journey, offering a unique blend of learning and real-world experience. However, to truly excel and make the most of your time as an intern, it’s essential to embrace feedback.
Feedback, whether positive or constructive, is a goldmine of insights that can propel your growth and enhance your skills.
Effective feedback is crucial for interns’ development. It helps identify strengths and areas for improvement, providing valuable insights and perspectives. Constructive criticism from experienced professionals enhances learning and builds resilience.
- Practical tips for embracing constructive criticism during an internship include:
- Cultivating a growth mindset,
- Proactively seeking feedback,
- Learning from mistakes to move forward.
Additionally, cultural sensitivity is vital as an intern. It’s important to be aware of cultural differences within your team. Understanding these nuances can influence how you perceive roles and give feedback, ensuring respect and effectiveness across diverse backgrounds.
There are two main types of feedback:
- Positive reinforcement
- Constructive criticism
Moreover, provide specific suggestions on how interns can enhance their performance. For example, if an intern struggles with time management, recommend strategies such as prioritizing tasks or using digital tools to track deadlines.
By actively seeking out feedback, reflecting on it, and taking actionable steps, interns can transform their experience into a powerful learning opportunity. Whether it’s praise or constructive criticism, feedback plays a crucial role in their growth and development during the internship journey.
