Ask an HR Pro: What Is a Fresh Eyes Interview and How Does It Increase Employee Retention?

You’ve found the perfect hire, received an offer acceptance, and completed your onboarding process. Then 90 days later… your new employee quits.

Sound familiar?

There could be several causes of this unfortunate scenario. While you can’t control whether your new hire gets an offer for their dream job, for example, you can control how well you onboard your new employees and keep them engaged and satisfied in the long run. One tactic that helps with this is the fresh eyes report.

What is a fresh eyes report, and why should HR teams use them? We asked Vickie Krolak, SPHR, SHRM-CP, Senior HR Business Partner at iHire, for her advice on this employee onboarding strategy.

What Is a Fresh Eyes Report?

“A fresh eyes report, also known as a fresh eyes interview, is when you check in with your new hire after a certain period of time to see how things are going,” explained Krolak. “It’s a way to ensure your company is continually onboarding employees and empowering them to succeed.”

Fresh eyes interviews, similar to stay interviews, help support everboarding and a consistent investment in your employees’ development beyond orientation. By proactively reaching out to new hires and getting their feedback, you can address any problems or concerns that might otherwise cause them to quit.

“Fresh eyes interviews also send a message to your new employees that you’re still excited to have them on the team and value their insights,” Krolak continued.

Fresh Eyes Interview Questions

What should you ask your employees in a fresh eyes interview?

“Your goal is to get specific and candid feedback about their experience with your company thus far, so come prepared with a list of questions but also let them guide the conversation,” Krolak advised. “Additionally, let them know that this interview will not become a part of their employee file.”

Here are some fresh eyes report question examples:

• What has surprised you most during your first couple of months in your role with us?
• Is there anything about your onboarding experience you would like to share, positive or constructive?
• How has it been going with your manager? Are you getting ample feedback?
• Is your role what you thought it would be?
• What can your leader do to help you to continue to succeed?
• Is there any additional training you feel you need?

How to Add Fresh Eyes Reports to Your Onboarding Process

When should you hold fresh eyes interviews with your new hires?

“Somewhere around the 90-day mark is a good time to meet with new employees for a fresh eyes report. That gives them enough time to settle in and be able to provide useful feedback to you,” Krolak said. “However, don’t let that be the only time you check in. Touching base briefly each week is also a good idea, particularly in remote settings where it may take a little extra effort to ensure they feel connected to the team.”

Finally, make sure you take action on the feedback you receive. With the employee’s permission, share a summary of the interview with their manager(s).

“Your new employees need to feel heard if they’re going to participate in fresh eyes interviews. Take their feedback and apply it wherever possible to your organization’s processes,” Krolak concluded.

Get additional onboarding advice on our Resource Center, or schedule a free consultation with Krolak or another member of our Outsourced HR Services team. They can evaluate your onboarding process and provide personalized guidance on how to optimize it for employee retention.