Shadowing Practice: Tell Me About Yourself? A Different Approach - Question and Answer - Learn English Speaking with Video

Les maken...
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Hey guys, today I really want to focus on and talk about the tell me about yourself question.
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I want to focused on helping people answer these
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tricky questions and as you'll see in all other videos
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this question is tricky because it's open -ended and answering open -ended questions it's another video We'll discuss how to specifically
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answer these types of questions and how you really navigate the space but
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For the tell me about yourself question there is so much information out there on YouTube.
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I The challenge with the advice is that it assumes Do you know?
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what your audience wants to hear.
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And in reality, You don't.
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We're assuming that every interviewer is going to show up engaged, excited, that they're always having a great day.
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And this isn't always true.
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So you really need to know your audience and study the room.
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This goes back to the mirroring concept that we've talked about.
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If you haven't seen that you can go back on YouTube and watch that other video that I posted but
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The best way that you can handle this question is to take control.
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And that's really what the entire interview is about putting the control in your hands, not in the interviewer's hands, because they have a distinct advantage.
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over you.
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So start hedging that.
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towards toward yourself in your direction so So,
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what I really want for you when you go in is is to go in with a little bit of core knowledge.
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So the core knowledge is you know what your strengths are, They're backed by examples.
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And then secondly, you know a little bit about the company and you know the position that they're looking to fill, right?
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You've looked at the job description, minimum, preferred qualifications, you've gone through all that.
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So based on that and based on what you've read about the company and the company in the news, you're making the assumption, okay, these are the things that the company needs.
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but Things change they might have posted that job A month ago? two months ago The hiring manager may have changed,
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priorities might have drastically changed, they might have a new product line, they might be getting rid of a different product line, they might be growing into a different space.
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And so, while you see the core fundamentals of what they're looking for in the job description, you don't know what's been happening internally in the organization.
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And this is really your opportunity to take control and get in the right space and ask the right questions.
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If somebody asks me the "tell me about yourself" question, what I do is I essentially say, Sue.
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It's obviously a great question, a question I'm familiar with, and what I can tell you is,
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My three core key skills and strengths are A, B, and C.
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Now, based on what I've read, from your company, you know, what's happening in the news and the job description.
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I think that my core skills, these specific core three skills, really align well with the role
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but as you think about the role today your current company needs If we're talking about A, B, and C,
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is there one that you prefer for me to focus on than another because I want to make sure that
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I'm giving you insight into me that helps you figure out whether I'm the right person for the role.
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Wow that's crazy in kind of throwing it back to them
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and and Sue might say you know what Jeff no I'd love to hear about your key strengths
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and and how they align with the position. but sometimes
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maybe it's 25 % maybe it's 30 % of the time Sue's gonna say you know what
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I really want you to focus on B
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because B seems to be where we're having a challenge in finding the right candidate.
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B seems to be our current company's priority.
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Do you understand how important it is that just by asking that simple question, you've achieved something that very few candidates will achieve which is
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really asking the interviewer what they want to hear when the interviewer tells you what they want to hear
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you tell it to them uh.. it maybe a little bit tricky for some people to
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respond to a question with a question, but that's really not what's happening.
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You are giving them upfront information, you're really just trying to hone in on Okay.
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What do they really need and what do they really want to hear?
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And I think that that's what's lacking in the other YouTube videos is there's this assumptiveness of static.
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And there's nothing static in corporate America.
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Things are always moving, changing, and also the interviewer If they come in, they're having a bad day, they're not engaged, they're not excited,
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If you throw them right back into the conversation within 15 to 20 seconds of answering that question,
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You've brought them up you've kind of put them in that space where they're like, "Oh my goodness, this is somebody who's gonna engage "and not just give me this crafted,
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catered answer "that they've practiced over and over again." Don't go back through your career and tell them about all that stuff.
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Don't talk about your personal stuff.
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Focus in on your core skills
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and how they align to the role and then see
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if there's a core skill set that they can derive from that list of three
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that's really going to match for their current position and current needs.
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Again, this strategy isn't for everybody, but I have given this coaching before, and I have seen incredible success by taking this path.
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Remember, not every company is going to ask this question.
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but if you get comfortable in answering this type of question in this type of space, your success is going to be crazy
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because you're just you're really thinking about the role the position
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and how your skills align so whether you get that question
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or not thinking in that space will help you have success
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so i really hope that this helps in the comments below please let me know
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if you have any questions and and always if there's other content
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other questions that you'd love to have me explain how to answer in the best way that I know how, please let me know.
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Again, my name is Jeff.
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Thanks so much.
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Bye.

Context & Background

In a recent discussion about one of the most common yet challenging interview questions, "Tell me about yourself," the speaker highlights the importance of understanding both your strengths and the needs of the company you are applying to. This open-ended question can indeed throw many candidates off balance since it requires not only self-reflection but also the ability to read the room and respond effectively. The speaker emphasizes that effective communication and preparation can transform this seemingly simple question into a strategic opportunity for candidates to showcase their suitability for the role.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "I want to focus on my core strengths, which are A, B, and C." - Use this phrase to succinctly outline your key skills during conversations.
  • "Based on my research about your company..." - This shows that you have done your homework and understand the company's needs.
  • "Could you specify which area you would like me to elaborate on?" - Engaging the interviewer can redirect the conversation to your strengths that match their priority.
  • "It's great to be here and share my background with you." - A positive start can set a friendly tone for the dialogue.
  • "I believe my experiences align well with your company’s goals." - This statement bridges the gap between your qualifications and their requirements.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively tackle the nuances of answering the "Tell me about yourself" question, you can follow this practical guide using the shadowing technique:

  1. Gather Core Knowledge: Identify your key strengths and visualize how they relate to the job you're targeting. This forms the backbone of your response.
  2. Research the Company: Visit trusted shadowing sites to familiarize yourself with the company culture, recent news, and the specific role you are applying for. Understanding the context empowers you to make connections during your answer.
  3. Practice with a Shadowing App: Utilize a shadowing app to listen to responses from experienced professionals. This will help you improve English pronunciation and gain fluency in articulating your thoughts.
  4. Rehearse and Record: Use the shadowing technique to repeat model answers. Record yourself to identify areas of improvement, focusing on tone and pace.
  5. Engage with Questions: Prepare to ask your interviewer what they are looking for in your response. This demonstrates initiative and ensures you provide information that resonates with their needs.

By following these steps and practicing regularly, you can enhance your ability to respond effectively to open-ended interview questions, turning what was once a daunting challenge into a powerful opportunity to showcase your skills.

Wat is de Shadowing-techniek?

Shadowing is een wetenschappelijk onderbouwde taalleermethode die oorspronkelijk is ontwikkeld voor professionele tolkentraining en gepopulariseerd door polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. De methode is eenvoudig maar krachtig: je luistert naar native Engelse audio en herhaalt het onmiddellijk hardop — als een schaduw die de spreker volgt met slechts 1–2 seconden vertraging. In tegenstelling tot passief luisteren of grammaticadrills, dwingt shadowing je hersenen en mondspieren om echte spraakpatronen tegelijkertijd te verwerken en te reproduceren. Onderzoek toont aan dat het de uitspraaknauwkeurigheid, intonatie, ritme, verbonden spraak, luisterbegrip en spreekvaardigheid aanzienlijk verbetert — waardoor het een van de meest effectieve methoden is voor IELTS Speaking-voorbereiding en echte Engelse communicatie.

Shadowing-techniek: lees de volledige stap-voor-stap-gids →