Entry Interviews: The Latest Attempt to Retain Great Workers

Amid hundreds of millions of job resignations monthly worldwide, founder of Huffington Post, Arianna Huffington, has advice for organizations that are struggling to retain workers.  Huffington advises companies to conduct an Entry Interview to find out what matters to the candidate before they join.

Huffington said that from her work with clients like Accenture and Walmart, she had noticed that the Great Resignation is not just about burnout, but these two factors:

1. Working mothers are having a much harder time trying to manage children, home education, and work during the pandemic.

2. A larger revolution around what matters to people, which is no longer just about the career ladder or earning money.

Contrary to an Exit Interview, which seeks feedback about an employee’s experience, an Entry Interview asks prospective employees about their wider career goals and interests.  This enables you to find out what will keep a person in a role, and design perks or ways of working that will make the employee happier, engaged, and more motivated. 

Bottomline, the COVID-19 pandemic has allowed workers to rethink their careers, work conditions, and long-term goals.  Additionally, many workers, particularly in younger generations, are seeking to gain a better work-life balance.  By conducting an Entry Interview, you can find out what matters most to the candidate before they join and create an experience that matches it.

Jill, What Can I Do?  When employee’s needs are met at work, there’s a greater chance that they will be engaged and not quit on you.  An Entry Interview is a great opportunity for you to become educated about an employee’s needs and determine if you can meet them, prior to extending a job offer.  Priceless.