The interview question, “What motivates you?” is a common query that offers a chance to provide a glimpse into your character and drive. When an interviewer asks this, they are assessing your level of self-awareness. Employers want to see that you have reflected on your own drivers and can articulate them clearly. This insight helps them gauge whether you will be an engaged and productive employee.
The question is also a tool to determine your cultural fit. Hiring managers look for alignment between your motivations and the company’s mission, values, and work culture. By understanding what drives you, they can better anticipate how you will approach your responsibilities and challenges.
Understanding What the Interviewer Wants to Know
When an interviewer asks what motivates you, they are seeking to understand several underlying factors. Primarily, they are assessing your level of self-awareness. Employers want to see that you have reflected on your own drivers and can articulate them clearly. This insight into your personality and work style helps them gauge whether you will be an engaged, happy, and productive employee within their specific environment.
The question is also a strategic tool to determine your cultural fit. Hiring managers are looking for alignment between your motivations and the company’s mission, values, and work culture. They want to know if the factors that energize you are compatible with the goals and environment of the organization. For example, if you are driven by collaborative success, you would likely fit well in a team-based company.
Ultimately, this question helps the employer predict your long-term potential and performance. By understanding what drives you, they can better anticipate how you will approach your responsibilities and challenges. They want to ensure your motivations will sustain you through the day-to-day realities of the job, leading to a lasting and successful tenure with the company.
Identifying Your Authentic Motivators
To answer this question authentically, you must first understand your own sources of motivation. This requires introspection on your past experiences. Think about moments in your career when you felt most energized and fulfilled to identify the core drivers that push you to do your best work.
Achievement and Results
Many individuals are motivated by the successful completion of tasks and the attainment of measurable goals. If you find satisfaction in seeing a project through from start to finish or exceeding performance metrics, you are driven by achievement. This motivation is tied to a desire for tangible proof of your effort.
Learning and Growth
For some, the primary driver is the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and develop new skills. If you are energized by tackling unfamiliar challenges that expand your capabilities, you are motivated by learning and growth. These individuals thrive in dynamic environments where they can continuously evolve.
Collaboration and Teamwork
The synergy of working with others can be a powerful motivator. If you find fulfillment in contributing to a group effort and sharing in collective success, you are driven by collaboration. These individuals value the exchange of ideas and the supportive atmosphere of a team.
Problem-Solving and Challenges
Some people are most engaged when faced with complex problems that require creative solutions. If you enjoy dissecting a difficult issue and developing an innovative approach, you are motivated by problem-solving. This drive is rooted in the intellectual stimulation that comes from overcoming obstacles.
Helping Others and Making an Impact
A desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others is a significant motivator. This can manifest as a passion for excellent customer service or a commitment to supporting colleagues. If your work feels most meaningful when you know it has benefited someone else, you are motivated by helping others.
Stability and Security
The need for stability and security can also be a strong motivating factor. This involves having a predictable work environment, clear expectations, and the assurance of long-term employment. Individuals driven by this need value consistency and are often reliable employees.
Connecting Your Motivation to the Job
Once you have identified your core motivators, the next step is to connect them to the role and company. This requires careful research. Before the interview, thoroughly review the job description, paying close attention to the key responsibilities and required skills to find clues about what the company values.
For instance, if the job description mentions cross-functional projects, it is a clear indication that collaboration is valued. If you are motivated by teamwork, you can state this and connect it to the role’s requirements. You might say, “I am motivated by collaborative environments, and I was excited this role involves working closely with different departments.”
Similarly, research the company’s mission statement, values, and recent projects. This gives you insight into the organization’s culture. If the company prides itself on innovation and you are motivated by problem-solving, you can highlight this alignment. For example, “I’m driven by complex challenges and drawn to your company’s reputation for developing cutting-edge solutions.”
Structuring a Memorable Answer
The way you structure your answer is as important as the content. A well-organized response is easier for the interviewer to follow. A simple method is to use a storytelling approach that incorporates the past, present, and future. This framework allows you to provide a concrete example and connect it to the current opportunity.
Start by briefly describing a past situation that illustrates your motivation in action. This should be a specific story that demonstrates what drives you. For example, if motivated by learning, you could talk about a time you voluntarily took on a project that required you to learn a new software program.
Next, connect this past experience to the present role you are interviewing for. Explain how your motivation makes you a great fit for the position’s responsibilities. You could say, “My desire to constantly learn is why I was so drawn to this role, as I see many opportunities for growth here.”
Finally, look to the future by explaining how you envision your motivation contributing to the company’s success. This shows the interviewer that you are thinking long-term. For example, “I am confident that my drive to learn will allow me to quickly adapt and contribute to your team’s goals.”
Examples of Strong Answers
Here are a few examples of strong answers that utilize the recommended structure and showcase different motivators.
Example 1: Motivated by Problem-Solving
“I’m motivated by the challenge of solving complex problems. In my previous role as a project manager, we were facing a significant budget overrun on a key initiative. I was driven to find a solution, so I spent time analyzing our spending and identified several inefficiencies in our resource allocation. By proposing a revised plan, we were able to get the project back on track and deliver it under the new budget. I’m excited about this role because I know it involves tackling similar challenges, and I’m confident that my problem-solving skills will allow me to make a valuable contribution to your team.”
Example 2: Motivated by Collaboration
“I find great satisfaction in working as part of a team to achieve a common goal. Last year, I was part of a cross-functional team tasked with launching a new product. The deadline was tight, but the collaborative energy was incredible. We all supported each other, and by pooling our diverse skills, we were able to launch the product successfully. The emphasis on teamwork in your company culture is something that really resonates with me, and I’m eager to bring my collaborative spirit to your marketing department.”
Example 3: Motivated by Making an Impact
“My primary motivator is the opportunity to make a tangible impact on people’s lives. In my role at a non-profit, I was responsible for a program that provided job training to underserved youth. Seeing the direct results of my work in the success stories of the program’s graduates was incredibly fulfilling. I was drawn to your company because of its commitment to corporate social responsibility and its focus on creating products that genuinely help people. I believe my passion for making a difference aligns perfectly with your mission.”
What to Avoid Saying
While it is important to be honest, there are certain responses that can be counterproductive in an interview. Avoid generic answers that lack substance, such as “I’m motivated by success” or “I just like to do a good job.” These statements are too vague and do not provide any real insight into your character or work ethic. The interviewer is looking for a specific and personal response.
It is also advisable to avoid mentioning money or benefits as your primary motivator. While compensation is a factor for everyone, focusing on it can make you seem self-interested rather than passionate about the work itself. Instead, concentrate on intrinsic motivators like growth, achievement, or contribution, which are more aligned with what employers want to hear.
Finally, be careful not to sound disingenuous or overly rehearsed. The interviewer wants to hear an authentic answer, not one you think they want to hear. Take the time to genuinely reflect on what drives you and connect it to the role in a way that is both honest and relevant. An answer that is clearly from the heart will always be more impactful than a canned response.