What Motivates You? (The BEST ANSWER to this TOUGH Interview Question!)
The interview question, WHAT MOTIVATES YOU is a very difficult one to answer! How you answer it could be the difference between a pass or a fail!
So, if you have an interview coming up for any role or any organization, make sure you read to the very end because we will help you to pass it!
Why Is The Interviewer Asking You The Question “What Motivates You?”
Well, this is actually a trick interview question, and the hiring manager is asking it because they want to assess your motivations for work, what drives you personally, and how you are going to impact their team if they give you the job!
NEVER answer this interview question by saying you are motivated by money, by perks of the job, by promotion, or by anything outside of work that could put you across as self-centred.
8 Essential Tips For Answering The Interview Question Correctly
Before we give you the perfect answer to the interview question “what motivates you?” there are 8 things you can say that motivate you that will make the interviewer sit up and listen!
- You are motivated by DEADLINES AND PRESSURE. If you have set timeframes to work towards, and you need to act quickly whilst under pressure, this can be a great motivator because it makes you feel you are valued at work! This also tells the interviewer you will take ownership of difficult tasks!
- You are motivated by RESPONSIBILITY & HAVING LOTS OF VARIED TASKS TO DO AT WORK! This is a great motivator because it shows you to be someone who needs to be pushed and challenged at work, and this is obviously the perfect type of employee to have in any team!
- You are motivated by ANALYSIZNG DATA AND INFORMATION with a view to making improvements at work. This shows that you enjoy investigating things and coming up with creative ways to help the business improve.
- You are motivated by CHALLENGING TARGETS (this is great for sales roles). Being motivated by targets shows you are a driven and a self-motivated person.
- You are motivated by DOING EVERYTHING TO A HIGH STANDARD AND ON TIME! If you have high standards then this is a great motivator because you feel everything is done exactly as it should be, and you will insist other people in your team do the same! This also communicates to the interviewer that you are organized and reliable.
- You are motivated by MAKING SURE YOUR FAMILY ARE PROVIDED FOR, they are safe, secure and healthy. You understand that this can only be achieved if you do a good job at work, and you impress your manager!
- You are motivated by CONTINUALLY LEARNING AND IMPROVING. If you are the type of person who is always open to learning new things and developing yourself professionally, this is very attractive to an employer!
- You are motivated by GOALS AND ACHIEVEMENT! This is a great motivator for many because if they have something to work towards, it makes them feel good about themselves once they achieve it.
Lets take a look at 2 brilliant examples answers that you can use in your job interview – tell us which answer you prefer in the comments section below…
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EXAMPLE ANSWER #1
“I am motivated by several things. First and foremost, I am motivated by meeting deadlines, targets or goals. I believe I am at my best at work when I have responsibility for important deadlines because this gives me a great sense of achievement.
I am also motivated by learning new things. If I get the opportunity to take on a new role, or learn a new skill then this motivates me because I feel as if I am improving my depth of knowledge.
Finally, I am motivated by providing for my family. I understand that the only way I will be able to continually achieve this goal is if I perform well at work, and I impress my managers.”
EXAMPLE ANSWER #2
“I am motivated by continuous improvement and personal growth. If I am continually learning and improving my skillset, I feel motivated because I am of value to my employer.
I am also motivated by working as part of a team to complete tasks and projects. I gain a great sense of job satisfaction when I know I have contributed to a team’s goals or objectives.
Finally, I am motivated by helping train up newer members of staff as and when they join the company. I enjoy this because it makes me feel I have a sense of worth when I am sharing my own expertise and knowledge with others.”
UNLOCK 50+ Interview
Questions & High-Scoring Answers Today + Get the insider video tuition for EACH question for FREE!
- The secrets to passing any interview;
- The common mistakes made at the interview (and how to avoid them!);
- Over 50 interview questions to prepare for (and how each is assessed);
- Full answers to each of the questions so you can learn how to deliver successful answers of your own.
- Beating the competition (what you MUST do to be successful);
- Checklists and printable resources;
- All interview answers are verified by our interview panel of experts.
- Instant online access as soon as your order is placed to over 50 interactive modules.
SPECIAL OFFER £97.99 NOW: FREE with a 30-day trial!
