8 What Motivates You?
This is also considered one of the best interview questions that can be difficult to answer. The answer to this question varies from person to person. Some people are motivated by financial compensation, while professional growth and development opportunities drive others. Some are motivated by chance to positively impact the world, while others are motivated by recognition and praise.
This question is usually meant to help a potential employer better understand you as a person by providing insight into what you value and enjoy doing, how you fit into a teamwork environment, and what concerns you. A candidate motivated by personal and professional growth will be more committed to their work and more likely to take on new challenges and responsibilities. A candidate motivated by positively impacting society will be more likely to contribute to the company’s overall mission and values.
Possible answer for “What motivates you?”:
“Helping others and empowering people is what motivates me the most. It doesn’t matter if it’s a colleague, friend, or relative. There are times when people around you need an extra drive to get started. I am glad to be able to reach out to such people. It gives me a sense of confidence and belief that I can help. The idea that I can offer a solution to someone’s problem is what motivates me to do good work.”
Tips for answering the question “What motivates you?”:
- Most importantly, it is that you be honest. Answering this question frankly will help the interviewer understand you better.
- Use the company’s values as a guide to answering the question correctly.
- The interviewer wants to know the positive aspects that motivate you. So, please, don’t show your negative side by telling them about things that demotivate you.
- It is essential to understand that when an interviewer asks this question, they are asking in the broadest, most general sense. Don’t think it means what motivates you only at work or anything more specific like that.
What mistakes should not be made when answering the question “What motivates you?”:
- Talking about where you want to go next. Instead, focus on the motivation you will have in your current position.
- Choosing money as one of the main motivators is also a bad idea, even if it’s one of the main things that keeps you going in the morning.
