Top 30 Most Common Interview Question What Motivates You Answer You Should Prepare For
Written by
James Miller, Career Coach
Introduction
The classic interview question "What motivates you?" is a staple for a reason. It's not just about your job title or past accomplishments; it's about understanding your intrinsic drive, work ethic, and what keeps you engaged and performing at your best. Your answer reveals a lot about your personality, values, and potential fit within a company's culture. Preparing a thoughtful response to this key interview question what motivates you answer demonstrates self-awareness and highlights your passion for the work you do. This guide covers 30 common variations of the motivation question, offering detailed advice and example answers to help you craft compelling responses that resonate with hiring managers and showcase your unique professional drivers.
What Are Interview Questions About Motivation?
Interview questions about motivation delve into the core reasons behind your professional drive. They explore what inspires you to work hard, persevere through challenges, and strive for excellence. These questions aren't looking for generic answers like "money" or "a good salary," but rather insights into your intrinsic motivators – things like problem-solving, learning, teamwork, achieving results, contributing to a larger goal, or personal growth. Answering the interview question what motivates you answer effectively requires introspection and the ability to articulate your professional values and drivers clearly and concisely.
Why Do Interviewers Ask Interview Questions About Motivation?
Interviewers ask the interview question what motivates you answer to gauge several key aspects of a candidate. Firstly, they want to understand if your personal motivations align with the demands and culture of the role and company. A candidate motivated by structure might struggle in a chaotic startup, while one driven by innovation might feel stifled in a rigid environment. Secondly, these questions assess your potential for long-term engagement and resilience. Someone with strong intrinsic motivation is more likely to stay committed during tough times. Finally, it helps predict how you will perform and contribute to the team, ensuring you are a good fit beyond just your technical skills.
Preview List
What motivates you to excel in your work?
Can you describe a time when you successfully motivated a team or colleague?
How do you stay motivated when faced with challenges or setbacks?
Why are you interested in working at this organization?
What’s your understanding of the role and why are you interested?
How did you maintain motivation while doing repetitive work?
How do you define success for yourself professionally?
Can you describe a time when you set a personal goal and achieved it?
How do you prioritize your tasks when you have multiple deadlines to meet?
What motivates you to go above and beyond your regular job responsibilities?
How do you handle situations where you receive minimal feedback or recognition for your work?
Can you share an instance where your self-motivation led to significant improvement?
What do you do to stay motivated and keep your skills updated?
How do you balance long-term goals with short-term tasks?
What are some positive aspects of your work?
What’s different about your job now from when you started?
Can you tell me more about what you do?
How do you stay motivated during repetitive or monotonous tasks?
What strategies do you use to maintain your motivation when faced with obstacles?
Tell us about a team you’ve worked with and how you contributed to its motivation.
How does your current role align with your long-term career goals?
Can you describe a situation where you had to overcome a significant challenge?
How do you handle conflicting priorities and tight deadlines?
What personal qualities do you believe are most important for success in this role?
Can you tell me about a time when you received feedback and how you used it to improve?
How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?
What role does continuous learning play in your motivation?
Can you describe your approach to goal-setting and how it contributes to your motivation?
How do you measure your success in achieving your goals?
What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to stay motivated in their role?
1. What motivates you to excel in your work?
Why you might get asked this:
This common interview question about motivation assesses your core drive for high performance and what results you value most in your daily tasks.
How to answer:
Focus on internal satisfaction or the impact of your work. Connect your answer to the specific requirements of the role you're applying for.
Example answer:
I am motivated by the satisfaction of solving complex problems and seeing tangible results from my efforts. Knowing my contributions positively impact the team and organization drives me to perform at my best, especially in a role like this that involves [mention a key responsibility].
2. Can you describe a time when you successfully motivated a team or colleague?
Why you might get asked this:
This motivation question evaluates your leadership potential, interpersonal skills, and ability to inspire others, which is key in collaborative environments.
How to answer:
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to describe a specific example where your actions boosted morale or drive.
Example answer:
In a project with tight deadlines, team morale was low. I organized brief daily check-ins to share progress and celebrate small wins (Action), which boosted motivation (Result) and helped us complete the project ahead of schedule (Situation).
3. How do you stay motivated when faced with challenges or setbacks?
Why you might get asked this:
Interviewers ask this interview question about motivation to understand your resilience, problem-solving approach, and ability to maintain perspective under pressure.
How to answer:
Explain your strategy for navigating difficulty, focusing on learning, persistence, and maintaining a positive outlook.
Example answer:
I focus on the learning opportunities each setback presents. Breaking down challenges into manageable steps and reminding myself of the ultimate goal keeps me persistent and motivated, seeing obstacles as chances to grow stronger.
4. Why are you interested in working at this organization?
Why you might get asked this:
This question probes your research into the company and whether its mission, values, or work culture align with your personal and professional motivators.
How to answer:
Reference specific aspects of the company or role that genuinely excite you and match your long-term career aspirations or values.
Example answer:
I admire this organization's commitment to innovation and professional growth, which aligns perfectly with my desire to continuously improve and contribute meaningfully. Your work in [specific area] is particularly motivating to me.
5. What’s your understanding of the role and why are you interested?
Why you might get asked this:
This motivation question checks if you understand the job's responsibilities and if those duties match what you find stimulating and engaging in your work.
How to answer:
Summarize your understanding of the role's key functions and explicitly link them to your skills, interests, and career motivations.
Example answer:
My understanding is this role involves [list 2-3 key duties]. This offers a chance to apply my skills in [specific area], contribute to impactful projects, and collaborate with a talented team, all of which highly motivate me.
6. How did you maintain motivation while doing repetitive work?
Why you might get asked this:
This interview question what motivates you answer assesses your ability to find value and maintain focus even in tasks that might be less engaging but necessary for the job.
How to answer:
Describe strategies you use to make repetitive tasks more interesting or efficient, highlighting your focus on quality and improvement.
Example answer:
I set personal performance goals for speed and accuracy and look for ways to improve efficiency or automate parts of the task. This turns repetitive work into opportunities for skill refinement and ensures consistency in quality, which motivates me.
7. How do you define success for yourself professionally?
Why you might get asked this:
This motivation question explores your professional aspirations and values, revealing what ultimate outcomes you strive for and find motivating in your career journey.
How to answer:
Define success in terms of impact, growth, learning, or achieving goals, linking it to contributions to the team or organization.
Example answer:
Success means consistently meeting or exceeding goals, contributing meaningfully to team achievements, and continuously growing my skills to adapt to evolving challenges. It's about making a tangible positive impact while developing professionally.
8. Can you describe a time when you set a personal goal and achieved it?
Why you might get asked this:
This question assesses your goal-setting ability, self-discipline, and the internal motivation needed to pursue and accomplish objectives outside of standard job requirements.
How to answer:
Share a specific, measurable goal you set and the steps you took to achieve it, emphasizing your initiative and perseverance.
Example answer:
I aimed to improve my coding skills, a key interview question what motivates you answer for technical roles. I dedicated an hour daily to learning Python online, successfully mastering it within six months. This self-directed effort directly benefited my project contributions.
9. How do you prioritize your tasks when you have multiple deadlines to meet?
Why you might get asked this:
This motivation question evaluates your organizational skills, ability to manage pressure, and what drives you to meet commitments under tight constraints.
How to answer:
Explain your process for assessing urgency and importance, planning your work, and ensuring timely delivery of high-priority items.
Example answer:
I assess task urgency and potential impact, then create a detailed schedule to guide my work. I focus on high-priority tasks first, ensuring consistent progress and timely delivery while managing expectations effectively.
10. What motivates you to go above and beyond your regular job responsibilities?
Why you might get asked this:
Interviewers ask this interview question what motivates you answer to identify candidates who are proactive, take initiative, and are committed to contributing beyond the minimum required.
How to answer:
Connect your willingness to go the extra mile to learning, taking on new challenges, or making a greater contribution to the company's success.
Example answer:
I am motivated by opportunities to learn new skills and take on challenges that extend beyond my core duties. Contributing to the company’s success in new ways and fostering my own professional development are key drivers for me to go above and beyond.
11. How do you handle situations where you receive minimal feedback or recognition for your work?
Why you might get asked this:
This motivation question assesses your internal drive and ability to maintain high standards even without external validation.
How to answer:
Explain your focus on self-assessment, maintaining personal quality standards, and seeking informal input rather than solely relying on formal recognition.
Example answer:
I focus on self-assessment based on project goals and quality standards I set for myself. I also seek informal feedback from trusted peers. Staying committed to high standards and personal growth keeps me motivated despite limited external recognition.
12. Can you share an instance where your self-motivation led to significant improvement?
Why you might get asked this:
This interview question what motivates you answer directly probes your ability to identify problems and proactively implement solutions without being prompted.
How to answer:
Provide a specific example where your initiative resulted in a measurable positive outcome, demonstrating your internal drive and impact.
Example answer:
I identified a recurring error in our reporting process that caused delays. Driven by the desire for efficiency, I independently researched and developed a streamlined workflow using [mention a tool/method], reducing errors by 30% and saving the team significant time.
13. What do you do to stay motivated and keep your skills updated?
Why you might get asked this:
This motivation question evaluates your commitment to continuous learning and professional development, and how this ongoing process fuels your enthusiasm for your work.
How to answer:
Describe your methods for staying current in your field, such as courses, conferences, reading, or networking, linking it to maintaining job satisfaction and effectiveness.
Example answer:
I regularly participate in webinars, online courses, and engage with professional communities to stay current with industry trends. This continuous learning fuels my curiosity, keeps my skills sharp, and maintains enthusiasm for my work, a key part of my motivation.
14. How do you balance long-term goals with short-term tasks?
Why you might get asked this:
This interview question what motivates you answer assesses your ability to manage different levels of planning and ensure that daily work contributes to larger strategic objectives.
How to answer:
Explain your approach to goal decomposition and how you keep the bigger picture in mind while focusing on immediate priorities.
Example answer:
I break long-term goals into smaller, manageable milestones. This allows me to maintain focus on immediate tasks that contribute to these milestones while steadily progressing toward larger objectives, ensuring my daily work feels purposeful and motivating.
15. What are some positive aspects of your work?
Why you might get asked this:
This motivation question encourages you to highlight what you enjoy about your profession, which should ideally align with the positive aspects of the role you're seeking.
How to answer:
Mention specific activities, challenges, or interactions that you find rewarding and energizing, connecting them to the nature of the job.
Example answer:
I enjoy the intellectual challenge of problem-solving, collaborating with talented colleagues, and the constant opportunity to learn new things. These aspects create a dynamic and motivating work environment that keeps me engaged and satisfied.
16. What’s different about your job now from when you started?
Why you might get asked this:
This interview question what motivates you answer explores your growth trajectory and how your role has evolved, revealing what types of changes or added responsibilities you find motivating.
How to answer:
Describe how your responsibilities or skills have expanded, highlighting growth, increased challenge, or greater impact as positive changes.
Example answer:
Since starting, I’ve taken on more complex projects, improved my time management skills, and developed leadership abilities by mentoring new team members. This increased responsibility and skill growth have significantly boosted my motivation and job satisfaction.
17. Can you tell me more about what you do?
Why you might get asked this:
Often asked early in an interview, this motivation question allows you to frame your past experience through the lens of what you find most motivating and impactful in your work.
How to answer:
Provide a brief overview of your key responsibilities, focusing on the aspects that align with the job you're applying for and that you find most engaging or challenging.
Example answer:
In my previous role, I managed project timelines, collaborated with cross-functional teams to deliver software updates, and ensured deliverables met strict quality standards. These tasks, especially coordinating teams and problem-solving, are roles that challenge and motivate me daily.
18. How do you stay motivated during repetitive or monotonous tasks?
Why you might get asked this:
Similar to Question 6, this delves into your strategies for finding motivation even when the work isn't inherently exciting, proving you can handle necessary but less stimulating duties.
How to answer:
Focus on techniques like setting small goals, gamification, or finding ways to increase efficiency or quality within the task itself.
Example answer:
I set mini-goals for specific task batches and reward myself upon completion. I also focus on improving my speed and accuracy with each repetition. This keeps my mind engaged and helps maintain productivity and motivation during routine work.
19. What strategies do you use to maintain your motivation when faced with obstacles?
Why you might get asked this:
This interview question what motivates you answer probes your coping mechanisms and problem-solving mindset when things don't go as planned.
How to answer:
Explain how you approach setbacks, focusing on being solution-oriented, seeking support, and maintaining perspective on the larger objective.
Example answer:
When faced with obstacles, I immediately shift to being solution-focused. I analyze the problem, seek input from colleagues for diverse perspectives, and remind myself of the bigger picture goal. This proactive approach helps me maintain a positive mindset and my motivation.
20. Tell us about a team you’ve worked with and how you contributed to its motivation.
Why you might get asked this:
This motivation question assesses your understanding of team dynamics and your ability to positively influence the morale and drive of others.
How to answer:
Share an example where your actions, communication, or attitude had a positive impact on team spirit or collective drive.
Example answer:
In a previous team facing project delays, I encouraged open communication about challenges and celebrated small, incremental achievements publicly. This fostered a more supportive and positive environment, which significantly boosted collective motivation and drive.
21. How does your current role align with your long-term career goals?
Why you might get asked this:
Interviewers ask this interview question what motivates you answer to see if your current path is intentional and if the role you're applying for fits into your larger professional vision.
How to answer:
Explain how your current responsibilities are building skills or providing experience that are stepping stones towards your future career aspirations.
Example answer:
My current role allows me to develop core technical skills in [mention area] and gain valuable project management experience, which are critical building blocks for my long-term goal of leading larger teams and strategic initiatives in the future.
22. Can you describe a situation where you had to overcome a significant challenge?
Why you might get asked this:
This motivation question assesses your ability to handle adversity, problem-solve under pressure, and what drives you to persevere when faced with significant difficulty.
How to answer:
Use the STAR method to detail a challenging situation, focusing on your actions, mindset, and how your determination led to a successful outcome.
Example answer:
When faced with a tight deadline on a complex project with unexpected technical issues, I restructured the task workflow, efficiently delegated sub-tasks, and maintained clear communication with the team and stakeholders (Actions). My motivation to deliver quality work on time enabled successful completion.
23. How do you handle conflicting priorities and tight deadlines?
Why you might get asked this:
This question evaluates your organizational skills, stress management, and what drives you to manage multiple demands successfully.
How to answer:
Explain your prioritization method, communication strategy, and commitment to organization to meet deadlines while maintaining quality.
Example answer:
I prioritize based on urgency and impact, using tools to visualize my workload. I communicate proactively with stakeholders about potential conflicts and stay highly organized to ensure deadlines are met efficiently without compromising the quality of the work.
24. What personal qualities do you believe are most important for success in this role?
Why you might get asked this:
This interview question what motivates you answer prompts you to identify traits crucial for the job and implicitly state that you possess them, linking personal qualities to professional motivation.
How to answer:
Highlight qualities like adaptability, persistence, strong communication, or a willingness to learn, explaining why they are important for the role and how they reflect your own motivators.
Example answer:
I believe adaptability, persistence, strong communication, and a willingness to continuously learn are essential for success in this role. These qualities also align with what motivates me to grow and contribute effectively in a dynamic environment like this.
25. Can you tell me about a time when you received feedback and how you used it to improve?
Why you might get asked this:
This motivation question assesses your openness to feedback and your drive for self-improvement based on external input, which is a key professional motivator for growth.
How to answer:
Describe a specific instance of receiving feedback (positive or constructive) and the concrete steps you took to act on it, highlighting the positive outcome of your efforts.
Example answer:
After receiving feedback that my presentation skills needed improvement, I enrolled in a public speaking workshop and dedicated time to practicing regularly. This motivated me to step outside my comfort zone, resulting in significantly clearer and more confident presentations.
26. How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?
Why you might get asked this:
Interviewers ask this interview question what motivates you answer to understand if you can manage your time effectively and avoid burnout, which impacts long-term motivation and productivity.
How to answer:
Explain your strategies for setting boundaries, prioritizing tasks, and ensuring you have time for personal life, demonstrating that you manage your energy and focus.
Example answer:
I maintain a healthy work-life balance by setting clear boundaries for work hours and prioritizing tasks efficiently during the day. Making time for hobbies and family keeps me refreshed and energized, which in turn fuels my motivation and focus when I am working.
29. How do you measure your success in achieving your goals?
Why you might get asked this:
This motivation question assesses your understanding of personal and professional accountability and how you define accomplishment.
How to answer:
Explain your metrics for success, which could include meeting objectives, performance reviews, feedback, or observable personal/team growth.
Example answer:
Success is measured by meeting set objectives on time, receiving positive feedback from managers and peers, and observing personal growth and the positive impact my work has on the team and overall project outcomes.
30. What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to stay motivated in their role?
Why you might get asked this:
This final interview question what motivates you answer taps into your understanding of motivation principles and your ability to reflect on how to overcome motivational challenges.
How to answer:
Offer practical, actionable advice based on your own experiences or general motivational strategies.
Example answer:
I would advise them to focus on identifying small, achievable goals within their daily work to create momentum. Seeking out new challenges or learning opportunities and reminding themselves of their larger career aspirations can also help reignite their passion and motivation.
Other Tips to Prepare for a Motivation Interview
Beyond preparing for the specific "interview question what motivates you answer" variations, practice articulating your professional narrative concisely. As career coach Sarah Jones says, "Knowing your core motivators allows you to speak genuinely and connect your passion to the role." Research the company culture to tailor your motivation answers, showing alignment. Consider using the STAR method for behavioral questions that touch upon motivation, like handling challenges or motivating others. Rehearse your answers aloud to build confidence. Leverage resources designed to help you articulate your professional drive. The Verve AI Interview Copilot at https://vervecopilot.com can help you practice responses and refine your answers to key motivation questions, ensuring you are ready for any interview question what motivates you answer. Using the Verve AI Interview Copilot can significantly boost your confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can my motivation answer be about personal interests? A1: While professional motivation is key, briefly mentioning how personal traits (like curiosity) translate to work can be effective.
Q2: Should I mention money as a motivator? A2: Avoid making money the primary driver. Focus on intrinsic motivators like growth or impact first.
Q3: How specific should my examples be? A3: Use concrete examples and details (STAR method) to make your motivation stories credible and impactful.
Q4: What if I'm not feeling very motivated currently? A4: Focus on your past experiences and ideal motivators. Frame your answers around what ideally drives you in a good fit role.
Q5: Is it okay to say "challenges" motivate me? A5: Yes, but specify what kind of challenges (e.g., complex problems, learning new skills) and how you approach them.
Q6: How long should my answers be? A6: Aim for concise yet comprehensive answers, generally 1-2 minutes for behavioral questions, shorter for direct ones.
