During an interview, employers usually ask both simple and open-ended questions. Open-ended questions are used to better understand your personality, work style, qualifications and assess your fit for the position, team and company culture. For example, “What motivates you?” is often such a question.
Because each person may have different professional and personal motivators, it is important to think about which ones are most relevant to the job you are applying for. In this article, we'll look at some ideas to help you prepare your answer to this question, as well as provide sample answers that you can tailor to your own needs.
When interviewers ask what motivates you, they are usually looking to learn a few key things about you:
- The uniqueness of your answer: Your answer should be unique and reflect your personal experiences and values, but still follow the overall structure of the answer to provide useful information to the interviewer.
- Attention to details: It is important to prepare in advance to answer the question honestly and consciously. This will help you focus on those aspects of your motivation that may be most important to a particular employer.
- Demonstration of relevant qualifications: Rather than mentioning various interests, it is most effective to limit yourself to one or two specific motives that also highlight your relevant qualifications for the job.
With these aspects in mind, a well-prepared answer will not only help express your motivation, but also demonstrate your preparedness for the role, which can significantly improve your chances of success in an interview.
Why do interviewers ask, "What motivates you?"
Hiring managers ask this question for two main reasons:
1. Employers want to know if your sources of motivation match the position.
The best job candidate will naturally be inspired by the responsibilities and experience associated with the position. For example, if you are interviewing for a news reporter and share the motivation to work on tight deadlines and at a fast pace, the interviewer can draw clear parallels between the job and your ideal work environment.
2. Employers want to determine if you know enough about what drives you.
Similar to asking about your strengths and weaknesses, interviewers ask what motivates you to find out how well you know yourself. The candidate who can quickly give a well thought out, natural explanation of what keeps them motivated at work is someone who is also likely to be a self-starter and knows how to stay on track.
Other variations of this question might include:
- What makes you do your best?
- What inspires you?
- What are your hobbies?
- What makes you come to work?
How to answer the question “What motivates you?”
Answering the question about motivation is a key point in the interview. To create a positive impression, it is important to think through your answer in advance. Here are a few steps to help you formulate it:
- Remember successful moments: Think about how you measured successful workdays in previous roles. Pay attention to those moments when achieving a goal or solving a difficult task brought you satisfaction.
- The concept of choosing a profession: Consider what drew you to your current profession or industry. This could be your desire to help others, your creativity, or your desire to innovate.
- Link to vacancy: Review the job description and identify what aspects of the job appeal to you. For example, the opportunity to participate in the process of creating a new product or service may be your main motivator.
Examples of well-written answers:
Example 1: “As a marketer, I have always been inspired by creative projects and the opportunity to see direct results of my work. Seeing our campaigns result in a larger customer base and higher profits truly motivates me. In this role, I am looking for the opportunity to continue to lead successful campaigns and contribute to the growth of your company.”
Example 2: “I am motivated by a sense of achievement and overcoming difficulties. For example, in my studies I was actively involved in mathematics, despite its difficulty for me. This experience taught me to find solutions in difficult situations and strive for high results. I want to take these skills and motivation to a role where I can continue to grow and develop.”
Example 3: “In my work as a nurse, my main motivation is to improve the lives of patients. Seeing how my help impacts their health and well-being really inspires me. Therefore, I strive to work in the field of pediatrics, where my motivation is to help children and their families.”
Each of these examples demonstrates specific examples from the candidate's past experience and connects their motivation to the company's expectations and needs. This will help the interviewer better understand your passion and commitment to the role.
Tips for answering the question “What motivates you?”
- Keep the answer relevant to work: Your answer should reflect what motivations and values make you the right candidate for this particular position. While you may have many motivators, choose the ones that most strongly relate to the job description.
- Make it personal if possible.: If your personal passion aligns with your professional goals, highlight it. For example, if you are applying for a recruiter role, talk about your experience and how you overcame challenges in your job search, which motivates you to help others achieve their career goals.
- Be specific: Identify one or more specific motivations and give examples of how they influenced your work. This will help make your answer more convincing and credible.
- Show how it fits into your future trajectory.: If you see yourself developing in this role long term, explain what aspects of the role motivate you and how you are willing to contribute your efforts to the company.
- Link your motivation to the company mission: If possible, indicate how your motivation aligns with the company's mission or culture. For example, if the company is committed to social responsibility through its projects, share how your personal values and experiences support that mission.
What to Avoid When Answering the Question “What Motivates You?”
While interviewers usually don't ask this question to incriminate you, there are a few things to avoid:
- Avoid Negativity: Don't focus on the shortcomings of your current job or previous employer.
- Stay focused: Your answer should be related to specific aspects of the job and your professional experience.
- Stay Relevant: Your motivation should make you the best candidate for this position, not just any job.
Always remember that your goal is to demonstrate that you are ready and prepared to work for the company. The more clearly and coherently you can explain what motivates you, the more likely you are to make a positive impression in the interview.
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