How to Answer "What Motivates You?" (With Examples)
Answering interview questions can sometimes feel like a trick. Whatever answer you give feels like a mistake. It's like treading on eggshells; only your future career hangs in the balance.
One particularly troublesome question is, "What motivates you?" Deceptively simple, it trips up no end of candidates who try to "outthink" the question or provide a dishonest answer they think the interviewer wants to hear.
The question is designed as a sort of Rorschach's test, with how you answer saying just as much about you as what you answer. Learn how to answer, "What motivates you?" with an eloquent, introspective, and compelling answer below.
In this guide:
⟩ What Do Interviewers Mean By "What Motivates You?"
⟩ Why Interviewers Ask, "What Motivates You?"
⟩ How to Prepare a Genuine Answer to "What Motivates You?"
⟩ Example Answers for "What Motivates You?"
⟩ Generals Tips for Interview Questions
What Do Interviewers Mean By "What Motivates You?"
'What motivates you?' is a common interview question. As an open question, it has a habit of tripping up candidates who've perhaps never given much thought to why they've pursued a particular career path. After all, it's easy to jump from school to college to a graduate program – life in default mode.
But companies aren't after a cookie-cutter candidate – even if the corporate world gives that impression. In the modern 'knowledge economy', people who are creative, passionate and self-motivated workers and thinkers are in high demand.
How could a question ask so much? Well, our motivations are as diverse as our life experiences or personalities. Similar to questions like 'Why did you apply for this job?' or 'What makes you excited to come to work?', the question digs deeper into traits of your personality.
Some aspects of the question to consider include:
Why are you interested in this particular position?
What are you passionate about?
What's your broader philosophy of life?
What do you have going on outside of work?
What values do you hold?
What is your personality type?
Talk about being psychoanalyzed! But, in a way, that's what an interview is. It's an assessment of your personality and experience and whether you're a right fit for a position.
Why Interviewers Ask, "What Motivates You?"
Let's think about what kind of question 'What motivates you?' is. As an open question, there is (technically) no right or wrong answer. You can answer the question in any way you see fit. The question is also profoundly personal. Because it involves your internal thoughts and feelings, it's intrinsically introspective in nature. But it also relates your internal thoughts and feelings to how you approach the world.
So, it's got a little bit of everything. (There's a reason why interviewers love it.) Indeed, it's this combination of the internal and external that interviews are looking for.
On the one hand, they want to determine your self-awareness. Are you aware of your strengths and weaknesses? Do you have a good understanding of why you do the things you do? Or are you on autopilot?
The more natural and eloquent your response, the greater the chance you'll be a dedicated worker. You know what you want and why you want it. Self-aware employees are also nicer to work alongside and have a clearer idea of their personal development.
On the other hand, the question does exactly what it says. It asks for the sources of your motivation. Do you go to work to support your family? Are you passionate about environmental protection? Is religion a big factor in your life?
There is often a sarcastic response to such questions: I work for money. But that's true for everyone (except a lucky few). Companies want you to come to work with a kick in your step, excited for the day ahead. Motivated people make things happen – and they also keep turning up.
How to Prepare a Genuine Answer to "What Motivates You?"
Your answer will be unique to you. Don't try to fake it. After interviewing hundreds of candidates, interviewers can smell the disingenuous a mile away. That being said, your answer should cover the two points listed above. It should showcase your self-awareness, providing a genuine insight into how you approach the world, and it should detail your sources of motivation, whether they be moral, familial, religious, or something else entirely.
Answer these questions as you consider what motivates you:
Why Do You Work in Your Industry?
Life is, in some ways, a little like the film Sliding Doors. Had you made a slightly different decision, your life could have turned out very differently. The question, then, is why you ended up where you are. Perhaps you're a creative person who loves the challenge of crafting ad campaigns for clients. Maybe you've always dreamt of working with children, and being a teacher is the obvious answer. Or you could have a vocational calling to save the environment or live and breathe numbers.
As a rule, never mention being paid as the reason. Everyone works to get paid. The question is about your personal motivations.
What Responsibilities Do You Hold?
Dedication to our responsibilities is usually a fundamental motivator. Supporting our families, acting as pillars of a community, or being a good citizen are examples of responsibilities. Some people simply feel that if there is an injustice in the world, it's their responsibility to fix it.
What's Your Proudest Accomplishment?
There's an apparent link between being proud and being motivated. The things that make us proud are usually related to the activities we feel most passionate about. While the accomplishment may not feature in your answer (be careful not to boast), it's a fantastic starting point for introspective thought.
It doesn't have to be so grand. Even just considering your dream day at work can reveal your deeper motivations. Software developers might talk about the immense satisfaction of cracking a bug. Meanwhile, a doctor could be proud of helping a patient get relief from their long-standing back pain.
What are Your Philosophical or Religious Beliefs?
Most of us have some broader worldview, whether that's philosophical or religious. Being Christian could mean you're called to help others, while an environmentalist might work their way into corporate sustainability. It's advisable not to go too deep on this topic; adding just a hint of a philosophy or religion reveals a little bit more about who you are.
Of course, not everyone has a grand narrative of the cosmos. If you just like solving complicated problems or spending time with people, that's absolutely fine.
Formulating Your Answer
Now that you've done a little bit of introspection think about how you want to structure your answer. Start by bullet-pointing your biggest takeaways from the questions above (or any other thoughts you've had).
Here are some examples of possible motivations:
§ Meeting or exceeding goals.
§ Acquiring new skills and advancing professionally.
§ Receiving praise and rewards for efforts.
§ Collaborating and achieving with others.
§ Assisting and supporting clients or colleagues.
§ Tackling and resolving challenges.
§ Having the freedom to make decisions.
§ Expressing creativity and innovating solutions.
§ Leading projects and guiding teams.
§ Making a significant impact on the organization or community.
Your answer can include any of these motivations. But, like answering any interview question, try to personalize your response. Think about the position you're applying for. If you're interviewing to be a Data Analyst, saying you love working with other people might not be as relevant as 'leading projects' or 'tackling and resolving challenges.'
Follow this advice as you construct your answer:
1. Leverage Your Strengths. Highlight motivations that align with your personal strengths, emphasizing how these areas of proficiency also inspire your best work.
2. Reflect on Positive Experiences. Think back to a rewarding day at work and describe what made it fulfilling—whether it was the nature of the tasks, the people you worked with, or the outcomes achieved.
3. Provide Specific Examples. Support your motivations with specific examples from your career. Detail a situation where your driving forces led to notable accomplishments, demonstrating how they contribute to your effectiveness in a professional setting.
4. Conciseness is Key. Be succinct in your response, focusing on delivering a clear and impactful message about your motivations without veering into overly detailed or rambling territory.
5. Stay Positive. Always frame your motivations in a positive light, avoiding any negative connotations or comparisons. Showcase how your positive drivers have consistently helped improve your performance and satisfaction at work.
6. Be Honest. Ensure that your stated motivations genuinely reflect your true driving forces and align with the role you're applying for. This honesty helps guarantee that the job is a good match for both your skills and your career aspirations, fostering long-term satisfaction and success in the position.
Example Answers for "What Motivates You?"
Still a little confused? Remember to be as specific as possible in your answer. Citing real-life anecdotes brings a level of authenticity and credibility that interviewers like. Also, unless this is the final question, interviewers may pick out specific details for further questions.
Read through these example answers and consider why they work:
Example 1
"I thrive when tackling complex problems and finding innovative solutions. At my previous job, I was often tasked with projects that required creative thinking to overcome technical obstacles. The process of brainstorming, experimenting, and finally implementing a solution that benefits the entire organisation is deeply satisfying for me. There's just something that grabs my attention when there's a problem to solve – I'm hooked!"
Why It's Effective: This is a brilliant example of a response focusing on problem-solving. It relates to the specific aspect of solving technical obstacles. But it then goes on to talk about the process of solving problems, exploring how the candidate gets results. Plus, the last line injects a little bit of passion into the mix.
Example 2
"Mentoring and supporting the growth of others has always been immensely fulfilling to me. It's something I learned early on when I tutored younger students at school. Then again, in my role as a team leader, I took great pride in guiding new team members through their early stages, helping them integrate smoothly and confidently. Seeing their progress and knowing I played a part in their professional development brings me a great sense of accomplishment."
Why It's Effective: Being a team player is always attractive to recruiters. But what really sells this response is the continuity from childhood into their present career. It feels less like a rehearsed response and much more genuine.
Example 3
"Delivering top-notch customer service and seeing the positive impact it has on client relationships is what drives me. In my role, I focus on understanding clients' needs and going above and beyond to ensure they are met. I'm a big fan of active listening – not just going through the motions but really trying to get to grips with what a client is asking. This not only leads to happy clients but also fosters a rewarding and supportive environment within the team."
Why It's Effective: This response is music to a recruiter's ears. While we get some fairly standard aspects to the answer – e.g., positive impact on customer relationships and supportive environment – the specific inclusion of active listening highlights both your soft and hard skills. This is a person who will succeed in customer service.
Generals Tips for Interview Questions
'What motivates you?' isn't the only question you'll get in an interview. As mentioned, the interviewer will follow it up with some specific questions about your experiences and motivations. Open questions always lead to closed questions.
So, what are some general tips for answering interview questions? Here's some advice to consider:
1. Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. Above, we talked about personalizing your answers to the company in question. However, you can only do that if you have a good grasp of the company's culture. Go through the website, social media accounts, and other available info to understand the company's mission, values, and recent achievements. In particular, focus on what's currently happening in the company and in the industry at large.
2. Practice. Practice. Practice. Don't try to memorize your answers. It's a surefire way to fail. Instead, practice with a friend or family member. Get them to ask you various questions, letting you rehearse your response. It helps reduce anxiety and improve your delivery on the day.
3. Be Concise and Relevant. When you're nervous, it's tempting to ramble on. Don't! Keep your answers brief yet informative. That doesn't mean a single word or sentence. But limit yourself to no more than a paragraph of speech. If you want, use the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, and Result.
4. Showcase Your Passion and Personality. Interviewers might speak to dozens of candidates for a position. After a while, they tend to blur into one. Being passionate, cracking a joke (if appropriate), or having a quirky answer can help you stand out. Of course, any deviation from the norm risks annoying some people. But being bland and forgettable doesn't help your chances, either. It's a balancing act.