What Motivates You Interview: How to Answer the Question Like a Pro! 🚀
Have you ever wondered why, despite your impressive resume, interviewers seem to linger on the simple yet crucial question, “What motivates you?” This isn't a trick question. It's a gateway for recruiters to truly understand what powers your professional engine. Dive into this post to discover effective strategies, real-life examples, and top motivation interview tips that will help you shine in your next interview.
Introduction
In the journey of job search interview strategies, one common interview question that repeatedly stumps candidates is: “What motivates you?” This question isn’t just thrown at you to fill time—it serves a deeper purpose. Employers ask this question to gain insight into your work ethic, your personal values, and how well you might fit into their company culture.
Interviewers may phrase the question in several ways, such as:
- “What drives you to perform at your best?”
- “What makes you excited to go to work every day?”
- “What fuels your passion for your career?”
Understanding the core of this common interview motivation question is key to providing a compelling answer. In today's blog post, we'll break down insights, share examples of good and bad answers, and illustrate how to use the STAR method to craft a standout response. Whether you're a professional climbing the corporate ladder or a job seeker eager to showcase your strengths, this guide is tailored for you.
Why Do Interviewers Ask "What Motivates You?" 🎯
Employers use the "what motivates you" interview question for several reasons. Here’s why it’s essential to have a thoughtful and authentic answer ready:
- Assess Cultural Fit: Interviewers want to see if your values align with the company’s mission and culture.
- Evaluate Long-Term Commitment: Your answer can indicate whether you’re likely to be a persistent and dedicated employee.
- Discover Your Personality: Beyond your skills, they’re interested in the personal stories that drive you.
- Predict Future Performance: Understanding your motivations helps predict how you will perform and tackle challenges in the role.
This question is more than an inquiry into your passion; it’s a two-way street. While you reveal your professional drivers, you also have an opportunity to assess whether the company’s environment supports and nurtures your career growth motivation.
The STAR Method: Your Blueprint for Success ⭐
When answering motivational interview questions, one of the most effective strategies is the STAR method. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. It provides a structured format for storytelling, ensuring your response is clear, concise, and engaging.
Here's how to use the STAR method:
Situation:
Begin by setting the context. Briefly describe a situation relevant to the question.
Example: “In my previous role as a project manager, I faced a high-pressure situation where we needed to launch a product quickly to beat our competitors.”Task:
Outline the specific task or challenge. What goal were you aiming to achieve?
Example: “I was tasked with leading a team to develop the product within a tight deadline.”Action:
Describe the actions you took. This is your chance to demonstrate your skills, problem-solving abilities, and drive.
Example: “I organized cross-functional brainstorming sessions and streamlined our workflow to ensure each team member’s expertise was utilized effectively.”Result:
Conclude with the outcome accomplished through your actions. Highlight the successes and lessons learned.
Example: “As a result, our team not only met the deadline but also launched the product two weeks ahead of schedule, significantly boosting the company’s market presence.”
By framing your response with the STAR method, you make it easier for interviewers to follow your narrative, understand your motivations, and appreciate the tangible outcomes of your efforts.
What Are Interviewers Really Looking For? 🤔
When preparing your answer, it’s crucial to understand the elements that interviewers are seeking. Here are some key aspects:
Authenticity:
Share genuine experiences that truly reflect your motivations. Avoid rehearsed or generic responses.Specificity:
Provide concrete examples. Instead of saying “money,” explain how financial rewards motivate you to innovate and exceed targets.Alignment:
Connect your past experiences to the role you are applying for. Show that your motivation aligns with the company’s values and goals.Growth:
Employers also value a drive for continuous learning and self-improvement. Highlight instances where pursuing new knowledge or skills led to significant career growth.
Examples of Good vs. Bad Responses
Good Response (Using STAR Method):
Example Answer:
“In my previous role as a customer service manager, I was responsible for handling a diverse team of representatives. One particular situation involved dealing with a significant uptick in customer complaints during a product recall (Situation).
I was tasked with not only resolving these issues but also restoring customer trust (Task).
I initiated a series of team training sessions that focused on empathetic communication and problem-solving techniques (Action).
As a result, the customer satisfaction scores improved by 25% over three months, and our team was recognized for our exemplary response management (Result).
What drives me is the satisfaction of turning challenges into learning opportunities and creating a supportive, efficient work environment.”
Why It Works:
- It provides a clear context and tangible results.
- It uses the STAR method to deliver a structured narrative.
- It highlights both team and individual contributions, showing leadership and initiative.
Bad Response:
Example Answer:
“I’m motivated by success and always strive to do my best at work.”
Why It Falls Short:
- The answer is too vague and generic.
- It lacks specific examples or a narrative that demonstrates the candidate’s unique qualities.
- It fails to reveal any personal or professional story that connects with the interviewer’s underlying intent.
Using these examples as a guide, avoid generic responses. Instead, choose examples that are backed by details which demonstrate your drive and how it has led to tangible achievements in your career.
Crafting Your Unique Answer: Personalized Motivational Interview Question Answers 💡
Every candidate has a unique story. Here’s how you can craft your answer to reflect your personal and professional journey:
Reflect on Past Experiences:
Identify key moments in your work history where you excelled or overcame challenges. What were the factors or values that drove you during those moments?Align with the Job Role:
Tailor your answer to reflect how your motivations relate to the prospective job. For example, if the role requires innovation, share a story about how your drive for learning and creativity led to outstanding results.Use Quantifiable Outcomes:
Whenever possible, use numbers or clear results to emphasize the impact of your work. This makes your answer compelling and tangible.Show Continuous Improvement:
Employers love to see that you’re not resting on your laurels. Highlight any courses, certifications, or projects that have further fueled your passion for professional development.Practice Makes Perfect:
Write out your response and rehearse it. Practicing can help you maintain a natural tone while ensuring you cover all the critical elements of your story.
Remember, the goal is to leave the interviewer with a clear picture of what drives you and how those motivators will contribute to success in the new role.
Additional Motivation Interview Tips for Job Interview Preparation 🎯
Beyond just the “what motivates you” question, here are some additional motivational interview tips to boost your overall interview game:
Research the Company:
Understand the company’s mission, values, and culture. Tailoring your answer to reflect these points can enhance your credibility and fit.Stay Positive:
Regardless of past challenges, focus on how positive experiences and learning opportunities have motivated you. Avoid mentioning negative aspects unless you can reframe them positively.Practice Storytelling:
Use vivid details and relatable narratives to engage your interviewer. Authentic stories stick in people’s minds far better than abstract statements.Be Concise:
Keep your answers short and engaging. Avoid rambling by sticking to the key points of your narrative.Prepare a Few Variations:
Given that interview questions can be phrased differently, prepare varied responses for “what motivates you,” “what drives you,” and other similar questions. This ensures you’re ready for any interview situation.Be Ready for Follow-Up Questions:
Interviewers might probe deeper after your initial response. Be prepared to expand on your story if asked for more details.
Interview Question Strategies For Career Growth Motivation 🚀
To make a lasting impression in your next job interview, incorporate these interview question strategies:
Highlight Emotional Intelligence:
Talk about how understanding your emotions and those of your colleagues has contributed to your motivation and success.Show Adaptability:
Share instances where you adapted to new situations and how that change fueled your motivation to learn and grow.
