Because you likely have multiple professional and personal motivators, take some time to consider which motivators are most relevant to the job for which you’re interviewing. The hiring manager will also be seeking to discover whether the factors that motivate you are aligned with the company’s goals and with the role in which you would be working. Take some time to research the company and the job prior to the interview. While you may be motivated by many factors, this is the time to discuss the motivations that illustrate your fitness and potential for the job you’re interviewing for. Set up a coffee meeting or a conference call with someone at the office who is typically upbeat and creative. What strategies would you use to motivate your team. Motivation is a powerful tool. The “I’m supposed to” response is not going to be an acceptable answer at this point in your journey. The most important strategy is to keep your answer relevant to the role requirements. Focus on the positive when you respond. I'm really driven by results. I think as a nurse you need to be caring because you really are caring for people all throughout your day. A bottom-up feedback approach without high bureaucracy is my ideal motivation for doing a good job.” Possible Answer #10 “A healthy work culture and a competitive environment is my motivation to do a good job. I love creating an organized schedule for completing a task and achieving my goals on time. Show you’ve done your research about the program you’re applying to – you can do this by listing specific classes or activities you’ll want to participate in if you are selected for admittance. If you see yourself growing in this position long-term because you are passionate about the job responsibilities, be sure to explain that. Work Is About the Money Some people work for their love of the work; others work for personal and professional fulfillment. Most people wake up each morning because they have to go to work. When answering this question, be sure to be as specific as possible, provide real-life examples and tie your answer back to the job role. By answering in an honest but thoughtful way, you can impress your interviewer and demonstrate that you are the right person for the job. If the company emphasizes the camaraderie of its staff, for example, you might mention how achieving goals as a group motivates you. While interviewers generally aren’t trying to fool you, there are a few tricky situations to be aware of when answering this question. Don’t make it about you. Being motivated at work makes getting your work done easier and more enjoyable. During a job interview, employers will likely ask both straightforward and open-ended questions. Review these sample answers and tailor your response to match your credentials to what the employer is seeking. Think about the reasons you were drawn to your line of work, aside from compensation. It also helps them get a better idea about you personally to see if you’re a good fit for the company. Address one or a few specific motivations and discuss a particular experience that demonstrates how it positively impacted your work. Why interviewers like this: This answer gives the interviewer a good preview of how the candidate would perform at work. When did you come home from work bursting with stories and feeling enthusiastic and excited? My drive to constantly develop my customer service skills is the reason I earned top sales at my company two quarters in a row. For example, if you are applying to be a manager, framing an answer around relationshipbuilding and helping others succeed and meet goals might be a stronger answer than a discussion about learning new things or working with clients. Let me know on Twitter! Show How You're Qualified: The interview is an opportunity to sell your qualifications to the hiring manager. This will help the interviewer see how your motivation can benefit the company. Try to identify any trends. Practice a Response: If you write out some ideas of what motivates you, it will make it easier to answer the question during the interview. It’s what we use to drive ourselves forward to complete tasks. Motivation can be intrinsic, meaning you naturally enjoy performing your tasks and get pleasure from a … Employers might ask what you’re passionate about during an interview to understand what motivates you. Having the opportunity to lead campaigns from ideation through launch was one of the reasons I was so excited to apply for this role.”. Why It Works: The candidate is motivated both by data analysis and by being able to provide information to his team. The feeling of accomplishment that comes with exceeding challenging goals is what drew me to a career in sales.”. Share an example. In this article, we'll outline several ideas to keep in mind to help you prepare your response, plus example answers that you can make your own. In addition, it’s always helpful to include how your motivations would drive your future with the company. This gives credibility to your answer. Achieving each milestone motivated me to keep working and helped me to ensure that the event ran smoothly. I was just numb inside. In asking this question, interviewers hope to figure out what makes you tick. Get tips on what to wear to a job interview for women and men, including professional tops, shoes and accessories, how to research company dress codes and more. Think about the reasons you were drawn to your line of work, aside from compensation. Setting and reaching deadlines gives me such a sense of accomplishment. Hard work, learning new skills, and staying focused are definitely important things, but one of the most important things we need is motivation. When you answer this question, be honest. If you're motivated by a challenging workplace, for example, you may not be the best fit for a routine data entry job. Understand that each employee has unique driving forces. The hiring manager wants to know what drives you to succeed. On the other hand, nothing is worse than working all day and thinking “What did I even do today? Why interviewers like this: This candidate shows the interviewer that they have a strong desire to execute the role responsibilities. This shows the interviewer that the applicant has both the hard and the soft skills required for success in the role. What other motivation tips work for you? Having a sense of duty, a place to go, things to accomplish and achieve is a great motivation. It can make us procrastinate, doubt our skills and abilities, and take us off the path to success. (Another common variant of this interview question is, "What are you passionate about?” which also tries to determine what makes an interviewee feel excited and fulfilled.). You might want to include an example from your previous job to explain the kinds of projects or tasks that motivate you. Indeed is not a career or legal advisor and does not guarantee job interviews or offers. If possible, discuss how your personal passion relates to your professional motivation. Communicate self-motivation. Some work for advancement, others simply do enough to stay employed. A good work culture promotes high peer to peer learning, genuine feedback, complaint redressal and suggestion implementation. Compensation may be a strong motivator for you but it’s typically not a motivator you want to share during a behavioral interview. Related: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before a Job Interview. Her work has appeared in YouBeauty, Refinery29, A Practical Wedding, Runner's World online, and The Billfold among other publications. Giving an honest answer will also help you see if you are a good fit for the job and company. Or, if you’re applying to a role at a startup company, you might talk about why fast paced work environments motivate you. For example, math has never been my best subject, but I opted to take calculus in college, even though it wasn’t required for my major because I wanted to prove to myself I could do it. However, with some soul-searching and initiative, you should be back to enjoying work in no time. Rather than saying that you like to get a paycheck every week, for example, discuss responsibilities at work that keep you interested and ready for a challenge. Too much motivation in one area will weaken other parts of your game. Both candidates bring with them strong advantages, and this question can help interviewers narrow their pool down to the individual who is the best fit for the position and the company. You’ll have the energy to complete your tasks, meet deadlines, and achieve short and long-term goals. The course wasn’t easy, and I spent many nights studying late, but I passed with an A. Interview Question: "What Motivates You? Alison Doyle is the job search expert for The Balance Careers, and one of the industry's most highly-regarded job search and career experts. When you tie your motivations to the evolution of your career with this employer, it assures them that you’ll be a committed employee. How to Answer “What Motivates You?” (With Examples), What to Wear: The Best Job Interview Attire, List of Weaknesses: 10 Things to Say in an Interview, 5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before a Job Interview. A teacher, for example, may draw motivation from helping students learn something new and witnessing them excel. Motivation in the workplace is the key to getting the most out of your employees. When preparing your answer, also think about the skills and abilities that will be the most useful for this job.