I'm Not Crying, You're Crying, or, Student Exit Interviews as a High Impact Practice

Abstract

Graduating college can be a source of significant stress for students. To help students identify how they have grown personally and professionally from their college experiences, library staff conduct exit interviews with graduating student workers. The exit interviews give students space to reflect on challenges they have overcome and transferable skills they have gained, celebrating their achievements and preparing them for similar questions in job interviews. The exit interviews also benefit library staff by sharing student perceptions of work tasks and environment, areas for library improvement, and the positive impact that library work has had on students. Formally invited to reciprocate the care they have received as library employees, students leave their job empowered for the broader world.