How to Answer the Employer’s Question “What Motivates You?”

During a job interview, employers usually ask both simple and open-ended questions. Open-ended questions are used to better understand your personality, work style, qualifications, and how well you fit the position, the team, and the corporate culture. For example, “What motivates you?” is often such a question.

Since 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 will look at several ideas to help you prepare your answer to this question, and we will present sample answers that you can adapt to your own situation.

When interviewers ask what motivates you, they usually want to learn a few key things about you:

1. Uniqueness of your answer: Your answer should be unique and reflect your personal experience and values, but still follow a general structure so that it gives the interviewer useful information.
2. Attention to detail: It is important to prepare in advance so that you can answer honestly and deliberately. This will help you focus on the aspects of your motivation that may matter most to a specific employer.
3. Demonstrating relevant qualifications: Rather than mentioning a range of interests, it is most effective to limit yourself to one or two specific motives that also highlight your qualifications for this job.

Taking these aspects into account, a well-prepared answer will not only express your motivation but also show that you are ready for the role, which can significantly improve your chances of success in the interview.

Why Do Interviewers Ask, “What Motivates You?”

Hiring managers ask this question for two main reasons:

1. Employers want to know whether your sources of motivation match the position.

The best job candidate will naturally be enthusiastic about the duties and experience associated with the position. For example, if you are interviewing for a news reporter position and share a motivation for working under 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 whether you are sufficiently aware of what drives you.

Much like questions about your strengths and weaknesses, interviewers ask what motivates you to find out how well you know yourself. A candidate who can quickly give a well-thought-out, natural explanation of what sustains their motivation at work is likely to be a self-starter who knows how to stay on track.

Other variations of this question may include:

• What makes you go the extra mile?
• What inspires you?
• What are you passionate about?
• What makes you want to come to work?

How to Answer “What Motivates You?”

Your answer to the question about motivation is a key moment in an interview. To make a positive impression, it is important to think through your answer in advance. Here are some steps to help you formulate it:

1. Recall successful moments: Think about how you judged successful workdays in your previous positions. Pay attention to the moments when reaching a goal or solving a difficult task gave you satisfaction.
2. Your choice of profession: Consider what attracted you to your current profession or industry. It might be your desire to help others, creative opportunities, or a drive for innovation.
3. Tie it to the job posting: Review the job description and identify which aspects of the work appealed to you. For example, the chance to take part in creating a new product or service may be your main motivator.

Examples of well-crafted answers:

Example 1: “As a marketer, I have always been inspired by creative projects and the chance to see the direct results of my work. Watching our campaigns grow our customer base and increase profits really motivates me. In this role, I am looking for the opportunity to keep running successful campaigns and contribute to your company’s growth.”

Example 2: “What motivates me is the sense of achievement and of overcoming difficulties. For example, in my studies I worked hard at math, even though it was challenging for me. That experience taught me to find solutions in complex situations and to aim for high results. I want to apply these skills and this motivation in a role where I can keep growing and developing.”

Example 3: “As a nurse, my main motivation is to improve patients’ lives. Seeing how my care affects their health and well-being really inspires me. That is why I want to work in pediatrics, where my motivation helps children and their families.”

Each of these examples gives concrete illustrations from the candidate’s past experience and links their motivation to the company’s expectations and needs. This helps the interviewer better understand your passion and your readiness to work in this role.

Tips for Answering “What Motivates You?”

1. Keep the answer relevant to the job: Your answer should reflect which motives and values make you a strong candidate for this specific position. Although you may have many motivators, choose the ones most closely tied to the job description.
2. Make it personal if possible: If a personal interest matches your professional goals, highlight it. For example, if you are applying for a recruiter role, talk about your own experience and how you overcame difficulties in your job search, which motivates you to help others reach their career goals.
3. Be specific: Name one or more concrete motives and give examples of how they have influenced your work. This will make your answer more convincing and credible.
4. Show how it fits your future path: If you see yourself growing in this role over the long term, explain which aspects of the role motivate you and how you are ready to invest your efforts in the company.
5. Connect your motivation to the company’s mission: If possible, show how your motivation matches the company’s mission or corporate culture. For example, if the company pursues social responsibility through its projects, share how your personal values and experience support that mission.

What to Avoid When Answering “What Motivates You?”

Although interviewers usually do not ask this question to catch you out, there are a few things you should avoid:

• Avoid negative points: Do not focus on the shortcomings of your current job or your previous employer.
• Stay focused: Your answer should relate to specific aspects of the job and your professional experience.
• Stay relevant: Your motivation should make you the best candidate for this particular position, not for any job.

Always remember that your goal is to demonstrate your readiness and preparedness to work at the company. The more clearly and coherently you can explain which motives inspire you, the more likely you are to make a positive impression in the interview.

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