Sometimes you can tell when you’re making a really good impression during an interview. But, let’s not get cocky. We both know that as you’re wrapping up, full of confidence and eager to move forward in the process, you’ll get hit with something out of the blue, like, “Is there anything else you’d like us to know?”
“Only that you should hire me—immediately!” is, unfortunately, not usually what interviewers are looking for. So, what are they seeking when they toss this your way? A couple things, actually.
Really—Is There Anything Else?
Good news! Interviewers aren’t actually out to get you with trick questions—or at least most of them aren’t. Usually, they really are interested in what you think your strengths are or how you handle failure. Given that, your interviewer very likely just wants to give you a chance to mention anything that he or she has neglected to ask you. After all, most hiring managers are not expert interviewers. They’re experts at whatever their actual job is.
This means that you should take this question as an invitation to mention anything relevant that you didn’t get a chance to. Try starting with, “We’ve definitely covered a lot already, but I do want to mention my experience with…” This last thing might be a relevant experience that’s a bit older or a skill that you’ve honed that was never brought up in conversation. If this goes into a longer discussion, that’s great. If not, conclude with something like, “And, of course, I just want to reiterate how excited I am about the position.”
Can You Summarize Your Qualifications for Me?
Okay, your interviewers might not be consciously thinking this when they ask you if there’s anything else you want to share, but they’ll definitely appreciate it. Plus, summarizing your qualifications for your interviewer means you won’t have to be that person who says, “Nope, there’s nothing else to know.”
Begin your response with, “I think we’ve covered most of it, but just to summarize, it sounds like you’re looking for someone who can really hit the ground running. And with my previous experience [enumerate experience here], I think I’d be a great fit.” The key here is to not go into to much detail since, ideally, you’ve covered it all already. After you’ve made your case for being a good fit, finish up by pointing out your enthusiasm for the company—this is a great way to wrap up an interview, and it just never hurts.
Whether you do have something else to bring up or not, use the “Is there anything else you’d like us to know?” question as your invitation to finish strong. Either make that final point about your skills, or really spell out how your experiences make you an excellent candidate for the position. Whatever you do, don’t let this opportunity go to waste.