Top 30 Most Common What Motivates You Interview Question You Should Prepare For
Written by
James Miller, Career Coach
Interview questions about what motivates you are a cornerstone of the job search process. They serve as a vital window into your professional drive, values, and alignment with a potential role or company culture. For many candidates, articulating their core motivations can feel abstract or challenging. However, with thoughtful preparation, these questions offer a powerful opportunity to showcase passion, resilience, and genuine interest. Understanding the various angles from which interviewers approach this topic allows you to craft compelling, authentic responses that resonate. This guide explores why these questions are asked, what they entail, and provides a comprehensive list of 30 common variations, complete with strategies and example answers to help you master your next interview and confidently convey what truly drives you in your career journey. Preparing specific examples tied to your experiences is crucial for making your answers memorable and impactful.
What Are What Motivates You Interview Question?
What motivates you interview question are behavioral and situational prompts designed to uncover the underlying drivers behind your professional actions and aspirations. They delve beyond your skills and experience to understand the 'why' behind your career choices and performance. These questions aim to identify your passion points, work ethic, sources of satisfaction, and resilience when faced with challenges. Examples range from direct questions like "What motivates you?" to more specific inquiries about how you handle repetitive tasks, stay focused under pressure, or contribute to team morale. Essentially, interviewers want to know what makes you tick, what excites you about work, and how you maintain enthusiasm and productivity over time. Your answers reveal your intrinsic drive and how well it aligns with the demands of the role and the company's environment.
Why Do Interviewers Ask What Motivates You Interview Question?
Interviewers ask what motivates you interview question for several key reasons. Firstly, they want to assess if your personal motivations align with the demands and opportunities of the specific job and company culture. A candidate motivated by independent work might not thrive in a highly collaborative environment, and vice versa. Secondly, these questions help predict your potential for long-term engagement and job satisfaction. Motivated employees are generally more productive, resilient, and likely to stay with the organization. Thirdly, your responses reveal your self-awareness and ability to articulate your professional identity. This demonstrates maturity and clarity about your career path. Finally, understanding your motivations helps interviewers gauge how you handle challenges, stay committed to goals, and what kind of support or opportunities you need to succeed. Ultimately, it’s about finding a mutual fit that benefits both the employee and the employer.
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?
Can you tell me how you maintained 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 in your work or team performance?
What do you do to stay motivated and keep your skills updated in your field?
How do you balance long-term goals with short-term tasks to ensure continuous progress?
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 or setbacks?
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:
To understand your intrinsic drive and what pushes you to perform at a high level consistently beyond just meeting minimum requirements.
How to answer:
Focus on internal factors like challenging problems, impact, learning, or achieving quality results, connecting them to excellence.
Example answer:
I am motivated by the opportunity to tackle complex problems and see the tangible impact of my work on projects and team goals. Achieving high-quality results and continuously learning new skills also drives my desire to excel.
2. Can you describe a time when you successfully motivated a team or colleague?
Why you might get asked this:
To assess your leadership potential, interpersonal skills, and ability to positively influence others towards shared objectives.
How to answer:
Use the STAR method. Describe the situation, task, your action to motivate (e.g., encouragement, clear goals, support), and the positive result.
Example answer:
A teammate was discouraged by a difficult project phase. I initiated regular check-ins, highlighted their progress, and helped break down tasks, which improved their morale and motivation, leading to renewed focus and timely completion.
3. How do you stay motivated when faced with challenges or setbacks?
Why you might get asked this:
To evaluate your resilience, problem-solving approach, and ability to maintain focus and motivation under pressure or during difficult times.
How to answer:
Discuss your coping mechanisms, such as breaking down the challenge, focusing on the learning aspect, or seeking support, emphasizing persistence.
Example answer:
I view challenges as learning opportunities. I break down large problems into smaller steps and focus on solving one at a time. Maintaining a positive outlook and remembering the long-term goal helps me stay motivated through setbacks.
4. Why are you interested in working at this organization?
Why you might get asked this:
To gauge your genuine interest in the company specifically, not just any job. It assesses your research and values alignment.
How to answer:
Connect your motivations to the company's mission, values, culture, specific projects, or opportunities that genuinely excite you.
Example answer:
I am deeply motivated by this organization's commitment to sustainable innovation and its impact on the community. Your work in [mention a specific area] particularly excites me, aligning perfectly with my desire to contribute to meaningful advancements.
5. What’s your understanding of the role and why are you interested?
Why you might get asked this:
To confirm you understand the job requirements and to connect your motivations directly to the responsibilities and opportunities the role offers.
How to answer:
Briefly summarize your understanding of the key duties and highlight 2-3 aspects of the role that align with what motivates you (e.g., specific tasks, challenges, collaboration).
Example answer:
I understand this role involves managing complex data sets and collaborating across departments. I'm motivated by the challenge of organizing information efficiently and the opportunity to work cross-functionally to achieve shared project goals.
6. Can you tell me how you maintained motivation while doing repetitive work?
Why you might get asked this:
To assess your ability to handle routine tasks with sustained focus and enthusiasm, important for roles with repetitive components.
How to answer:
Describe strategies you use to make repetitive tasks engaging, such as setting small goals, focusing on accuracy, improving efficiency, or seeing the bigger picture impact.
Example answer:
I find motivation by focusing on the importance of accuracy in repetitive tasks and by setting personal speed or efficiency goals. I also look for small ways to optimize the process, which keeps my mind engaged.
7. How do you define success for yourself professionally?
Why you might get asked this:
To understand your career aspirations and values. Your definition of success reveals what you strive for long-term.
How to answer:
Define success in terms of growth, impact, learning, achieving goals, or contributing to team or company success, rather than solely monetary terms.
Example answer:
I define professional success as consistently meeting or exceeding objectives, continuously learning and developing new skills, and making a positive, tangible impact on my team and the organization's goals.
8. Can you describe a time when you set a personal goal and achieved it?
Why you might get asked this:
To illustrate your self-motivation, planning skills, and ability to commit to and achieve objectives outside of direct supervision.
How to answer:
Choose a goal relevant to professional development or a transferable skill. Describe the goal, the steps you took, the challenges, and the successful outcome.
Example answer:
I set a goal to learn a new programming language last year. I dedicated an hour each day to online tutorials and practice, which allowed me to build a small application independently, successfully achieving my learning objective.
9. How do you prioritize your tasks when you have multiple deadlines to meet?
Why you might get asked this:
To assess your organizational skills, ability to manage workload, and how you maintain focus and motivation under time pressure.
How to answer:
Explain your prioritization method (e.g., urgency vs. importance matrix, list-making, daily planning) and how you maintain clarity and motivation when juggling tasks.
Example answer:
I prioritize by assessing the urgency and impact of each task. I create a daily or weekly plan, focusing on high-priority items first while staying flexible. Crossing items off my list provides motivation and a sense of accomplishment.
10. What motivates you to go above and beyond your regular job responsibilities?
Why you might get asked this:
To identify initiative, commitment, and willingness to take ownership and contribute beyond the basic requirements of the role.
How to answer:
Connect it to your desire to learn, contribute, help the team, solve problems, or improve processes, showing you are proactive.
Example answer:
I'm motivated to go above and beyond when I see an opportunity to make a greater impact, learn a new skill, or help a teammate succeed. Contributing extra effort feels rewarding when it benefits the overall project or team performance.
11. How do you handle situations where you receive minimal feedback or recognition for your work?
Why you might get asked this:
To assess your ability to maintain internal motivation and drive, independent of external validation.
How to answer:
Emphasize internal motivation sources, like personal satisfaction from quality work or achieving goals, and mention proactive steps like seeking feedback.
Example answer:
While feedback is valuable, my primary motivation comes from the satisfaction of producing high-quality work and achieving personal standards of excellence. I also proactively seek feedback when needed to ensure I'm on the right track.
12. Can you share an instance where your self-motivation led to significant improvement in your work or team performance?
Why you might get asked this:
To see concrete evidence of your initiative and how your intrinsic motivation translates into positive results.
How to answer:
Use the STAR method. Describe a problem or opportunity you identified and how your self-driven actions led to a measurable improvement.
Example answer:
I noticed a bottleneck in our data processing workflow. Driven by a desire for efficiency, I independently researched and implemented a small script that automated part of the process, improving team productivity by 15% without being asked.
13. What do you do to stay motivated and keep your skills updated in your field?
Why you might get asked this:
To evaluate your commitment to continuous learning and professional development, crucial for staying relevant and motivated in a changing field.
How to answer:
Mention specific activities like reading industry publications, taking courses, attending webinars, or experimenting with new tools/technologies.
Example answer:
I stay motivated by viewing learning as essential. I regularly follow industry blogs, take online courses on platforms like Coursera, and experiment with new software or techniques in my spare time to keep my skills sharp and stay inspired.
14. How do you balance long-term goals with short-term tasks to ensure continuous progress?
Why you might get asked this:
To understand your strategic thinking and ability to connect daily work to broader career aspirations, showing focused motivation.
How to answer:
Explain your method for aligning daily tasks with larger objectives, perhaps using a planning system or reviewing goals regularly.
Example answer:
I break down long-term goals into smaller, actionable short-term tasks. I use a project management tool to track daily progress and ensure my immediate efforts are always contributing towards my larger professional objectives, maintaining motivation through visible progress.
15. What are some positive aspects of your work?
Why you might get asked this:
To understand what you enjoy in a work environment or role, helping assess cultural fit and job satisfaction potential.
How to answer:
Highlight aspects like collaboration, problem-solving, learning opportunities, making an impact, autonomy, or specific types of tasks you find rewarding.
Example answer:
I find positive aspects in collaborating with talented colleagues, the opportunity to solve challenging technical problems, and the feeling of accomplishment when a complex project comes together successfully. These elements keep me motivated daily.
16. What’s different about your job now from when you started?
Why you might get asked this:
To see your growth trajectory, adaptability, and how your motivations or responsibilities have evolved, indicating self-improvement and learning.
How to answer:
Focus on how your skills, responsibilities, or confidence have increased. Relate these changes to what motivates you now compared to before.
Example answer:
When I started, I was focused on mastering core tasks. Now, I am more motivated by mentoring junior colleagues and taking on strategic planning responsibilities, showing my growth into a leadership role and evolving motivations.
17. Can you tell me more about what you do?
Why you might get asked this:
Often an opener, it allows you to frame your experience in terms of your motivations and contributions, setting the stage for the rest of the interview.
How to answer:
Provide a concise summary of your current role, focusing on key responsibilities and highlighting aspects that align with your professional motivations and the target role.
Example answer:
In my current role, I manage marketing campaigns from concept to execution. I am particularly motivated by analyzing campaign performance data to identify optimizations and improve results, a process I find both challenging and rewarding.
18. How do you stay motivated during repetitive or monotonous tasks?
Why you might get asked this:
Similar to question 6, but perhaps probing for different strategies or a more detailed explanation of your approach.
How to answer:
reiterate strategies like setting small goals, focusing on quality/accuracy, looking for efficiency improvements, or listening to podcasts/music if appropriate for the task.
Example answer:
For monotonous tasks, I stay motivated by setting small, timed goals and focusing intently on accuracy to complete them efficiently. I also sometimes listen to educational podcasts, turning the time into a dual-purpose activity.
19. What strategies do you use to maintain your motivation when faced with obstacles or setbacks?
Why you might get asked this:
Another angle on resilience (similar to Q3), asking specifically about your active strategies for overcoming demotivation.
How to answer:
Mention strategies like reframing the situation, seeking advice, breaking down the obstacle, focusing on lessons learned, or reminding yourself of the bigger picture.
Example answer:
When facing obstacles, I actively reframe the situation as a puzzle to solve rather than a barrier. I seek input from colleagues and focus on identifying concrete steps to move forward, maintaining motivation by focusing on progress.
20. Tell us about a team you’ve worked with and how you contributed to its motivation.
Why you might get asked this:
To assess your teamwork skills and how you positively influence group dynamics and collective motivation, relevant for collaborative roles.
How to answer:
Describe a specific team experience and explain how you fostered a positive atmosphere, encouraged others, celebrated wins, or facilitated communication to boost morale and motivation.
Example answer:
On a recent project team, I made an effort to celebrate small milestones publicly and encouraged open communication about challenges. This fostered a supportive environment that kept everyone motivated, even during tight deadlines.
21. How does your current role align with your long-term career goals?
Why you might get asked this:
To understand if you are strategic about your career path and if your current role is a logical step towards your future aspirations, indicating focused motivation.
How to answer:
Connect the skills you are gaining or the experiences you are having in your current role to the requirements of your desired future roles.
Example answer:
My current role in [mention area] is helping me build strong project management and analytical skills. This aligns perfectly with my long-term goal of moving into a senior leadership position where these capabilities are essential for driving strategic initiatives.
22. Can you describe a situation where you had to overcome a significant challenge?
Why you might get asked this:
A common behavioral question that probes resilience and problem-solving, showing how you maintain motivation when things get difficult.
How to answer:
Use the STAR method. Describe a substantial challenge, your actions to address it, emphasizing persistence, critical thinking, and maintaining a positive attitude, and the outcome.
Example answer:
During a project launch, a critical system failed unexpectedly. It was challenging and stressful. I focused on staying calm, quickly assessed the situation, coordinated with the technical team, and communicated clearly, helping the team stay motivated to resolve it under pressure.
23. How do you handle conflicting priorities and tight deadlines?
Why you might get asked this:
To assess your ability to manage stress, make decisions under pressure, and maintain productivity and motivation when faced with multiple urgent demands.
How to answer:
Explain your approach to prioritizing, managing expectations (communicating with stakeholders), and staying organized. Highlight your ability to remain focused despite pressure.
Example answer:
I handle conflicting priorities by first clarifying requirements and deadlines with stakeholders. I then prioritize using a matrix based on urgency and importance, break down tasks, and stay organized with a task list. This structured approach helps me remain motivated and effective.
24. What personal qualities do you believe are most important for success in this role?
Why you might get asked this:
To see if you understand the demands of the role and can connect relevant personal attributes to the required motivation and performance.
How to answer:
Identify 2-3 key qualities mentioned in the job description or crucial for the role's challenges (e.g., adaptability, resilience, proactivity, curiosity) and explain why they are important.
Example answer:
For this role, I believe adaptability and proactivity are crucial. The ability to quickly adjust to changing priorities and take initiative without constant direction is essential for staying motivated and effective in a fast-paced environment.
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:
To assess your coachability, openness to feedback, and proactive approach to self-improvement, demonstrating a motivation to grow.
How to answer:
Describe a specific instance of receiving constructive feedback, how you processed it, and the concrete steps you took to implement changes and improve, highlighting the positive outcome.
Example answer:
After receiving feedback that my presentations could be more concise, I actively worked on structuring my content tighter and practiced delivery. This experience motivated me to seek feedback more regularly and resulted in clearer, more impactful presentations.
26. How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?
Why you might get asked this:
To understand your ability to manage boundaries, prevent burnout, and maintain long-term motivation by recharging and having interests outside of work.
How to answer:
Describe your strategies for setting boundaries, prioritizing tasks efficiently during work hours, and making time for personal life, hobbies, or family.
Example answer:
I maintain work-life balance by setting clear boundaries, like not checking emails late in the evening unless urgent. I also prioritize tasks ruthlessly during the workday and make sure to dedicate time for exercise and family, which helps me stay refreshed and motivated.
28. Can you describe your approach to goal-setting and how it contributes to your motivation?
Why you might get asked this:
To understand your planning process and how setting clear objectives drives your motivation and performance.
How to answer:
Explain your goal-setting method (e.g., SMART goals) and how defining clear, achievable targets provides direction, a sense of purpose, and motivation as you track progress.
Example answer:
I use SMART goals to ensure my objectives are specific and measurable. This structured approach provides clear direction for my efforts and allows me to track progress, which is highly motivating as I see myself moving closer to achieving them.
29. How do you measure your success in achieving your goals?
Why you might get asked this:
To assess your focus on results and whether you define success in concrete, measurable terms, reflecting a results-oriented motivation.
How to answer:
Describe the metrics or criteria you use to evaluate your progress and the final achievement of goals.
Example answer:
I measure success by tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) related to my goals, such as project completion rates, efficiency gains, or learning milestones. Achieving measurable results and receiving positive feedback are my key indicators of success.
30. What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to stay motivated in their role?
Why you might get asked this:
To assess your empathy, ability to reflect on motivation, and potential to mentor or support colleagues.
How to answer:
Offer practical advice based on your own strategies, focusing on identifying the root cause of demotivation, setting small goals, finding meaning, or seeking new challenges.
Example answer:
I'd advise them to identify what specifically is draining their motivation. Then, perhaps set smaller, achievable goals to regain momentum, find aspects of the role they still value, or talk to their manager about new challenges or learning opportunities.
Other Tips to Prepare for a What Motivates You Interview Question
Preparing for what motivates you interview question involves introspection and practice. Start by reflecting deeply on what genuinely excites you about work. Is it problem-solving, collaboration, leadership, learning, making a tangible impact, or something else? Your answers should be authentic and specific, drawing from your past experiences. As leadership expert Simon Sinek says, "People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it." This applies to your job search too; hiring managers are interested in your 'why'. Practice articulating your motivations concisely and connecting them to the specific requirements and culture of the role you're interviewing for. Tailoring your answers shows genuine interest and fit. Consider using the STAR method to structure behavioral responses.
To refine your delivery and content for the what motivates you interview question, mock interviews are invaluable. Tools like the Verve AI Interview Copilot can provide realistic practice, offering instant feedback on your answers, pacing, and confidence. Using Verve AI Interview Copilot allows you to experiment with different ways of expressing your motivation, ensuring your message is clear and compelling. It helps you identify weak points in your responses and improve clarity. The Verve AI Interview Copilot, available at https://vervecopilot.com, is designed to help you feel more prepared and confident for any interview question, including those challenging what motivates you interview question. Consistent practice, combining self-reflection with AI-powered feedback, is key to mastering this crucial interview area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Should I mention money as a motivation?
A1: While compensation is important, focus on intrinsic motivations like impact, learning, or challenges rather than salary.
Q2: How specific should my answers be?
A2: Be specific with examples from your experience; general statements about motivation are less convincing.
Q3: What if my motivations don't perfectly match the job?
A3: Highlight the motivations that do align and express enthusiasm for aspects of the role that could become new motivators.
Q4: Can I have multiple motivations?
A4: Absolutely. It's common to be motivated by a combination of factors like challenge, team collaboration, and impact.
Q5: How long should my answers be?
A5: Aim for concise answers, typically 1-3 minutes, using the STAR method for behavioral questions.
Q6: Is it okay to mention personal motivations?
A6: Yes, if they directly relate to or influence your professional drive, like a passion for a field stemming from a personal interest.
