The interview question "What motivates you?" is asked to understand what drives you personally and how you will contribute to the team and company if hired. Interviewers want to see if your motivations align with the role and company culture, ensuring you will be engaged, productive, and satisfied in the job
How to answer "What motivates you?"
- Focus on intrinsic motivators related to the job, such as:
- Learning new skills and personal growth
- Overcoming challenges and problem-solving
- Collaborating with others and contributing to a team
- Making a meaningful impact or helping others
- Achieving goals and seeing projects through completion
- Innovating or creating new solutions
- Avoid mentioning motivations like money, perks, or promotions as primary drivers, since these can seem self-centered
- Use specific examples from your past experience to illustrate what truly motivates you at work, making your answer authentic and relevant to the role
Sample motivation themes and answers
- Learning and growth: "I'm driven by the opportunity to continuously learn new skills and improve. For example, I regularly sought out training to enhance my expertise, which helped me contribute more effectively to my team"
- Challenges: "I thrive when facing challenging projects that require creative problem-solving. Overcoming obstacles energizes me and keeps me engaged"
- Teamwork: "Working collaboratively motivates me because I enjoy contributing to a team’s success and learning from others"
- Making a difference: "I’m motivated by knowing my work positively impacts clients or the company’s mission, which gives me a strong sense of purpose"
In summary, to answer "What motivates you?" effectively, highlight motivations that align with the job and company, focus on intrinsic drivers like learning, challenges, and teamwork, and support your answer with concrete examples from your experience. This approach demonstrates that you are both self-aware and a good fit for the role
