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[pren5711]

I got this question at the end of a phone interview.  A professor asked: " Is there anything else you think we should know about you?"  I am not sure what I should be talking about:  should it be something academic work since we had talked about that for during the whole interview and this was about "something else"?  Shall I talk about my personality or even personal life?  I wound up talking about my personality, work ethnic, and how I got along with my colleagues.  And after I talked, she asked again: "is there anything else we should know about you?"  This time I am completely out of words (although I did still say something).  How do you think?  How should a question like this be answered?  Thanks. 

[expatinuk]

I always answer with... 'Is there anything else you'd like for me to know about XXXX'

[mended_drum]

Sometimes this is an invitation to mention the need for a spousal hire or note your status as a minority hire, questions that the sc either can't or won't ask directly.   The phrasing, however, opens it to all kinds of responses, and it does leave the candidate floundering.  Hopefully, the sc knows how unhelpful a question phrased this way actually is.

[ruralguy]

Since a committee isn't supposed to ask you specifically about certain personal situations, they are giving you the opportunity to bring it up if it is an issue. So, yes, spousal hires, or whether there are opportunities in general for a partner. Or, you might even ask if
there are any private schools in the area for your kids, or what have you.

If you have no special concerns, you do not really have to make anything up, just move on.

[anthroid]

Your response sounds great.  Why she asked you again is unfathomable. 

[prof_smartypants]

seriously. what comes after that, "I have a really great dog"? "I like zoos"? "I have a mild fear of heights?" "I'm lactose intolerant?"

[science_expat]

We ask a variant of this - is there anything else you'd like to tell us?

Most times the answer is no but now and again the applicant might very briefly say something along the lines of "the more we discussed, the more certain I was that I could contribute significantly to your department by"...

Or, they might have picked up on something in the interview and ask us a question - for instance, "I got the impression that you're also looking for some expertise in such and such. Is this correct?", and then following an affirmative with something on their relevant expertise.

Most of the time, "No, I think we've covered the main issues" is a good answer.

Like Anthroid, I don't understand why you were asked this twice.

[proftext]

I'm afraid this is byproduct of my growing bitterness, but I actually find the "do you have any questions for us" question annoying at the 1st stage (the phone interview or conference interview). Here are the reasons:

1.) In the internet age, universities are basically open books. For those of us training to do research, it is easy to find all kinds of information. By the time I am on the phone for a phone interview, I know the curriculum, and for one university I actually READ their internal review report that was posted as a PDF somewhere deep on the website. You can find all kinds of quantitative info on students, faculty and finances.

2.) As for the info you cannot get (subjective things like what the students are like, etc), you are basically going to get canned responses anyway on a phone or conference interview, so why bother? I think I tune out when they are answering... "oh, our students are blah blah"

3.) Does this answer EVER lead to one deciding NOT to follow through to the second interview? "Do you have any questions for us?" "Oh, well, what is a typical X student like" "Our students are a,b,c" "Oh, well, I want to withdraw myself from this search!"  In this climate of shrinking opportunities in most fields (esp the fields I am looking in), I can't imagine the answer (even if I am not impressed with the response) leading me to decline a campus visit.

So what is the point?

To anticipate one counter-argument - it gives the SC the opportunity to express themselves in longer than curt sentences/questions, and for the interviewee to get a sense of their personalities and speaking styles... I guess that is helpful in getting to know one another.

[didotwite]

3.) Does this answer EVER lead to one deciding NOT to follow through to the second interview? "Do you have any questions for us?" "Oh, well, what is a typical X student like" "Our students are a,b,c" "Oh, well, I want to withdraw myself from this search!"  In this climate of shrinking opportunities in most fields (esp the fields I am looking in), I can't imagine the answer (even if I am not impressed with the response) leading me to decline a campus visit.

If "one" is the sc, then yes, of course, it results in people not getting a second interview.  If the question is obnoxious, defensive or reveals that, internet or not, the candidate has no clue about our institution, this question can help us eliminate him or her. 

[paul_robeson]

So what is the point?

I think you can tell a ton about a candidate (both personally and professionally) by the kinds of questions s/he might ask.  A curious and well-prepared candidate is probably more liable to ask a good question; a bore or a know-it-all, less so.

[proftext]

I think you can tell a ton about a candidate (both personally and professionally) by the kinds of questions s/he might ask.  A curious and well-prepared candidate is probably more liable to ask a good question; a bore or a know-it-all, less so.

And? Do you have examples or recommendations? Unfortunately, with the market the way it is, some people have 4 or more years in adjunct positions and know alot about the way a university works. I understand that every institution will have unique ways of working, and that one can ask questions that get those, but I just think those are better for the campus visit. I'm talking about the phone interview when you only have 30 min at most for the entire interview.

I've asked: "How do you think the strengths of [univ] students (and particularly [majors] are?" "How would you characterize students at x?"  "what kind of faculty development support do you give" (I feel that some faculty think this is an overstep for a phone interview); "do alot of students study abroad?" 

Also, what do deans expect as questions? I once asked, "How would you characterize/define a good departmental community member?"

I think part of me is frightened that the wrong question (read: presumptuous or high-maintenance - like asking about relocation expenses or something when you are on campus) will tank your candidacy.

[proftext]

Sorry about the above. I'm still figuring out how this quote thing works and I messed up.

[pren5711]

Thank you for answering.  These answers are very helpful.  They confirmed what I thought earlier that this question is for me to talk about some personal and family issues.  I actually didn't feel like talking about my spouse or family issues in the interview and I wonder if this makes people feel that I am keeping distance, which is not conducive to my being hired.  In most campus visits I attended, committees members talked about their spouses and children at some points, I wonder if I don't response by talking about my spouse, they would kind of feel that I am keeping distance.  At one point a professor actually asked me "Don you have any siblings?"  (in an informal situation).  Do you all talk about family stuff one way or the other during your interviews?

[quoog]

This is the most innocuous question possible. They're just asking in case they missed something, or there's something about your situation you'd like to volunteer. Calm down :)

[aandsdean]

seriously. what comes after that, "I have a really great dog"? "I like zoos"? "I have a mild fear of heights?" "I'm lactose intolerant?"

I have actually used the "I have really great dogs" line several times, including in interviews for the two more recent jobs I have gotten.

For what it's worth.