Job Interview Question And Answer: What Motivates You?

Posted October 13, 2011, by Josie Chun

This question is more than just an interview question – it’s something every job seeker should ask themselves before embarking on their job quest. The clearer you are about this, the more clearly you will be able to articulate it to a prospective employer – and the closer you will get to landing your dream job.

This question asks you to look at your core values. It’s not just about the work and the position itself. What is important to you as a person, what fires you up and gets you out of bed in the morning, what brings you satisfaction?

Possible answers could involve a desire to be creative, to help others, to contribute to an industry that you feel is important, or to work collaboratively with others. Obviously your response should be tailored to the particular role – a desire to be creative would work well when applying for a graphic designer job, but perhaps not so much for an accounting position.

It’s vital to give the interviewer an idea of who you are and what makes you tick – but also to present yourself in the most positive light possible. If you are motivated by things like money or prestige, it’s probably best to keep that to yourself!