Introduction
Yes — the prompt "tell us anything else about yourself" can be a secret weapon when you use it to sell a focused, memorable narrative. Many candidates treat "tell us anything else about yourself" as filler, but it’s one of the highest-leverage moments to summarize fit, show self-awareness, and leave a final impression within 30–60 seconds. Use this exact phrase to transition into a concise value pitch, a quick STAR example, or a question that highlights your fit. Takeaway: plan and practice a 30–60 second close to turn "tell us anything else about yourself" into advantage.
Why "tell us anything else about yourself" is a critical closing question
Answer: Because it gives you permission to control the final impression.
Hiring teams use "tell us anything else about yourself" to see what you prioritize; your response reveals judgment, clarity, and culture fit. Treat it like the interview’s elevator pitch: highlight one relevant accomplishment, a learning point, and a short forward-looking statement. For example, summarize a measurable impact (revenue saved, time reduced) and tie it to the role’s top need. Research on behavioral questions shows candidates who structure answers with intent perform better in interviews (SJSU School of Information, Indeed). Takeaway: view "tell us anything else about yourself" as your final 30–60 second headline for fit.
How to structure a crisp response to "tell us anything else about yourself"
Answer: Use a mini-STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result, plus a quick tie to the role.
Start with one sentence of context, one sentence about your action, one sentence with impact, and one sentence connecting to what you’ll do next for the company. Practicing this format mirrors the STAR method recommended by career centers (MIT Career Advising). Keep it conversational and under 60 seconds. Example structure: "I led X (context), needed to Y (task), I did Z (action), which resulted in A (result). I’m excited to bring that to this role because B." Takeaway: framing "tell us anything else about yourself" as a mini-STAR keeps your answer tight and persuasive.
What to avoid when answering "tell us anything else about yourself"
Answer: Avoid broad personal stories or repeating your resume verbatim.
Interviewers want additional insight, not a recap. Avoid generic phrases like "I’m a hard worker" or long unrelated anecdotes. Don’t answer with negative weaknesses unless you quickly pivot to growth and relevance. Instead, use "tell us anything else about yourself" to deliver a targeted example or a concise personal brand statement tied to the role. Takeaway: use every second of "tell us anything else about yourself" to add new, role-relevant evidence of fit.
Behavioral Examples
Q: Is there anything else you want to tell us about yourself?
A: I built a cross-functional dashboard that cut reporting time by 40%, and I’d do the same here to speed decision-making.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: I led onboarding for five hires last year, improving retention by mentoring peers and standardizing training.
Q: Do you want to add anything else?
A: I volunteer developing accessibility features and would champion inclusive design on this team.
Q: Any final things to share?
A: I’ve consistently closed projects 10–15% under budget by prioritizing scope clarity and vendor negotiation.
Strong and weak sample answers to "tell us anything else about yourself"
Answer: Strong answers are concise, measurable, and tailored; weak ones are vague or unfocused.
Strong: "I led a migration that reduced page load time by 35% and increased conversions 8%, and I’m excited to apply that optimization focus here." Weak: "I’m a fast learner and very motivated," with no example. For more behavioral guidance and examples, see resources like The Muse and Indeed. Takeaway: convert "tell us anything else about yourself" into a concise, evidence-backed closing statement.
How to tailor "tell us anything else about yourself" to company-specific interviews
Answer: Align the short story to the company’s top priorities and language.
Before interviews, map one or two accomplishments to the employer’s stated goals — product metrics, speed-to-market, customer satisfaction — and practice a 30–60 second version. If the interviewer is from a specific function (engineering, design, sales), emphasize relevant technical or cross-functional results. Glassdoor-style company research and role-specific prep help here; adjust phrasing to match the org’s values. Takeaway: a tailored response to "tell us anything else about yourself" shows you’ve done your homework and are ready to contribute.
How to use "tell us anything else about yourself" to handle weakness or failure questions
Answer: Use the closing to reframe a failure into growth.
If you’ve discussed a past failure earlier, use "tell us anything else about yourself" to summarize what you learned and how you now prevent the issue: “After a missed deadline, I implemented a triage process that improved on-time delivery 25%.” Career centers recommend framing setbacks with actions and outcomes (Rutgers Nursing Career Development, University of Virginia HR). Takeaway: close with resilience and concrete steps that demonstrate growth.
How Verve AI Interview Copilot Can Help You With This
Answer: Real-time prompts and feedback make your "tell us anything else about yourself" answer sharp and memorable.
Verve AI Interview Copilot listens to your draft responses, suggests tighter STAR edits, and generates role-tailored closers. Use the simulated interviewer to practice multiple 30–60 second versions until one feels natural. The tool helps you prioritize impact metrics and phrasing to match the job description, and it times your answers so you never ramble. Try guided drills in the platform to refine delivery, language, and follow-up hooks. Verve AI Interview Copilot provides adaptive prompts when you stumble, and it captures your best lines for quick review. Verve AI Interview Copilot is especially useful for turning anxiety-driven blank moments into structured, confident closes.
What Are the Most Common Questions About This Topic
Q: Can I use "tell us anything else" to ask a question?
A: Yes. Ask a role-specific question to show interest and end on a dialogue.
Q: Should I prepare multiple answers?
A: Yes. Have a 30s and a 60s version tailored to the interviewer’s focus.
Q: Is it okay to mention salary here?
A: No. Save compensation discussions for later stages or HR.
Q: What if I’m nervous?
A: Practice concise bullet points and breathe; a short pause is fine.
Conclusion
Yes — "tell us anything else about yourself" can be your secret weapon when you plan a concise, role-aligned close that highlights impact, growth, and fit. Structure answers with a mini-STAR, practice tailored versions for company-specific interviews, and treat this prompt as your final chance to be memorable. Try Verve AI Interview Copilot to feel confident and prepared for every interview.
