22 things you should never say during an exit interview

AIGA RALEIGH/flickrWhen you quit a job, there's a good chance HR will ask you to partake in an exit interview.

People tend to have mixed feelings about these conversations. Some say an exit interview is the ideal opportunity to be completely honest about your experiences with your employer and offer them critical and constructive feedback; others argue it's awkward and not worth the risk of burning bridges, as your criticism probably won't inspire any significant changes, anyway.

But regardless of your attitude toward the exit interview, it's imperative that you be cordial and professional.

"This could be the last impression you'll leave your employer with," says Michael Kerr, an international business speaker and author of "The Humor Advantage." "And don't think this conversation doesn't matter since you're leaving anyway. People talk. It's your reputation and your personal brand on the line. And those will travel with you wherever you go."

You also never know when you'll work for that HR manager or boss again. "I can't tell you how many boomerang stories I've heard where employees return back to their former employer after a year or two, or even wind up working with those colleagues elsewhere," Kerr says. "No matter how certain you are you won't return or come in contact with these people again, never burn bridges."

Here are 22 phrases you should avoid in every exit interview: