What No One Tells You About What Drives You And Interview Performance
Written by
James Miller, Career Coach
Navigating job interviews, sales calls, or even college admissions can feel like walking a tightrope. Amidst the flurry of questions about your experience and skills, one seemingly simple query often catches candidates off guard: "What drives you?" This isn't just a casual question; it's a strategic probe into your core motivations, work ethic, and potential for long-term engagement. Understanding and articulating what drives you effectively can be the secret weapon that elevates your performance and leaves a lasting impression.
Why Do Interviewers Ask “What Drives You”?
When an interviewer asks "what drives you," they're looking beyond your resume. They want to gauge your intrinsic motivation, understand your work ethic, assess your potential cultural fit, and determine your long-term engagement with the role or organization [^1]. It’s about uncovering the underlying passion that fuels your actions and decisions. Recruiters seek individuals who are genuinely energized by their work, not just those seeking a paycheck. Your answer to "what drives you" can reveal whether you're a proactive problem-solver, a collaborative team player, or someone committed to continuous learning. It helps them predict how you'll perform under pressure, how you'll contribute to team dynamics, and whether you'll find true satisfaction in the role.
What Are Common Motivations and How to Express Them Effectively Regarding what drives you?
Many factors can define what drives you. Identifying these common motivators can help you articulate your own effectively. Here are some prevalent examples:
Desire to learn and grow skills: This speaks to intellectual curiosity and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Example: "What drives me is the constant opportunity to expand my knowledge base and acquire new skills. I thrive in environments where I can tackle complex challenges and learn from experienced professionals."
Passion for problem-solving and creative innovation: Highlights an analytical mind and a drive for impactful solutions.
Example: "I am profoundly driven by the challenge of problem-solving. There's immense satisfaction in dissecting complex issues, brainstorming innovative solutions, and seeing those ideas come to fruition."
Enjoyment of teamwork and collaboration: Shows a focus on collective success and interpersonal effectiveness.
Example: "What truly drives me is the energy and synergy of strong teamwork. I love collaborating with diverse individuals, leveraging different strengths to achieve shared goals, and celebrating collective successes."
Drive for achieving goals and delivering results: Demonstrates a results-oriented mindset and accountability.
Example: "I am results-driven. Setting clear objectives and then working diligently and strategically to achieve them, even surpassing expectations, is what energizes me most."
Motivation through helping others or customer satisfaction: Points to empathy, service orientation, and a desire to make a positive impact.
Example: "My deepest motivation comes from making a tangible difference for others, whether it's assisting a customer in solving a critical issue or supporting a team member to reach their potential. Customer satisfaction is particularly what drives me."
When discussing what drives you, choose the motivators that genuinely resonate with you and provide brief, compelling examples to illustrate them.
How Can You Discover Your True Motivations Regarding what drives you?
Struggling to identify what drives you is a common challenge. Many candidates find it hard to articulate their authentic motivations versus what they think employers want to hear. The key is self-reflection.
Reflect on Past Experiences: Think back to moments when you felt most energized, proud, or fulfilled. Was it when you successfully led a project, learned a new skill, solved a tough problem, or helped a colleague? These moments often highlight what drives you at your core.
Analyze Your "Flow" Moments: When do you lose track of time because you're so engrossed in a task? What kind of work feels effortless and enjoyable, even when challenging?
Identify Your Values: What principles are most important to you in a work environment? Is it innovation, collaboration, impact, stability, or something else? Your values often align with what truly drives you.
Consider Your Accomplishments: What achievements bring you the most satisfaction? Was it the process, the outcome, or the recognition? This can reveal your intrinsic motivators [^2].
By taking this time for introspection, you can pinpoint the genuine forces that define what drives you.
How to Craft a Tailored Answer About what drives you That Resonates?
A powerful answer to "what drives you" is not just authentic but also tailored to the specific role and organization. Vague or generic responses like "I’m motivated by success" without clear examples won't stand out.
Follow a clear, concise structure [^3]:
State Your Motivation: Clearly articulate what drives you.
Provide a Concrete Example: Illustrate this motivation with a brief, specific story from your past experience (work, academic, or volunteer).
Connect it Back to the Job Opportunity: Explain how this specific motivation aligns with the company’s mission, values, or the day-to-day responsibilities of the role. This shows you've done your research and understand how your drive will contribute to their success.
Example Tailoring: If the role emphasizes innovation, focus on what drives you towards creative problem-solving. If it’s a customer-facing role, highlight your motivation for client satisfaction. This ensures your answer to "what drives you" is relevant and impactful.
What Are Examples of Strong Responses to “What Drives You”?
Here are a few structured examples illustrating how to answer what drives you:
For a Project Management Role:
"What drives me is the challenge of taking complex ideas from concept to completion, especially when it involves coordinating diverse teams. For example, in my previous role, I spearheaded a cross-functional project that integrated a new software system. I thrived on orchestrating the different moving parts, troubleshooting issues in real-time, and seeing the entire project successfully deployed on schedule. This drive for execution and impactful results is why I'm excited about this Project Manager position."
For a Marketing/Creative Role:
"I am fundamentally driven by the opportunity to connect with audiences through compelling storytelling and innovative campaigns. In my last role, I developed a social media strategy for a new product launch that led to a 30% increase in engagement. Seeing the positive response and quantifiable impact of my creative efforts is incredibly fulfilling. This passion for blending creativity with measurable results makes me eager to contribute to your marketing team and help elevate your brand."
For a Healthcare/Service Role:
"What genuinely drives me is the ability to make a tangible difference in people's lives and to provide exceptional support. During my clinical rotations, I found immense satisfaction in patiently guiding patients through their recovery processes and ensuring they felt heard and cared for. This deep commitment to patient well-being and delivering compassionate service is why I'm passionate about this role and your organization's mission."
These examples demonstrate authenticity, provide specific instances, and clearly link what drives you to the target opportunity.
How Can You Apply Understanding of what drives you in Professional Communication Beyond Interviews?
The insights from reflecting on what drives you extend far beyond a single interview question. Integrating your core motivations into other professional communication contexts can build trust, foster engagement, and make you more memorable.
Sales Calls: When you understand what truly drives you (e.g., helping clients succeed, solving their pain points), you can communicate with genuine passion and empathy. Instead of just listing features, you can articulate how your product or service aligns with your drive to solve their specific challenges, making your pitch more persuasive.
College Interviews: Admissions committees want to see authentic passion. Discussing what drives you academically (e.g., intellectual curiosity, desire to contribute to a specific field) or personally (e.g., community impact, leadership development) can paint a vivid picture of your potential contributions to their campus community.
Professional Networking: Knowing what drives you allows you to articulate your professional purpose more clearly. This helps you forge more meaningful connections, as others can quickly grasp your values and areas of interest, leading to more relevant opportunities and collaborations.
Expressing what drives you authentically builds rapport and reinforces your personal brand in any professional setting.
What Are Common Mistakes to Avoid When Answering “What Drives You”?
While preparing your answer for "what drives you," be mindful of these common pitfalls:
Vague or Generic Answers: Responses like "I'm motivated by success" or "I just want to do a good job" are too broad and don't reveal anything unique about you.
Unprofessional Motivations: Avoid stating motivations related solely to salary, benefits, or short work hours. While these are important, they are not appropriate primary motivators to share.
Failing to Connect to the Role: Not customizing your answer to the specific job or company makes you seem disingenuous or unprepared.
Overloading the Answer: Providing too much detail or unrelated stories can dilute your message and confuse the interviewer. Keep it concise and focused.
Lack of Authenticity: Don't provide an answer you think the interviewer wants to hear if it doesn't genuinely reflect what drives you. Authenticity is key to being memorable.
By avoiding these mistakes, your response to what drives you will be powerful and persuasive.
How Can Verve AI Copilot Help You With what drives you?
Mastering an interview question like "What drives you?" requires introspection, strategic framing, and practice. The Verve AI Interview Copilot is designed to be your personal coach in this process. Verve AI Interview Copilot can help you articulate what drives you by providing tailored feedback on your responses, helping you refine your examples, and ensuring your message is clear and compelling. It analyzes your tone, content, and delivery, suggesting improvements to help you connect your core motivations to the specific role effectively. Use Verve AI Interview Copilot to simulate real interview scenarios, practice articulating what drives you, and build the confidence needed to make a strong impression in any professional communication setting. Visit https://vervecopilot.com to learn more.
What Are the Most Common Questions About what drives you?
Q: Is it okay to say money is what drives you?
A: While money is a motivator, it's best to focus on intrinsic motivators like learning, problem-solving, or impact in professional settings.
Q: How do I answer if I’m unsure what drives you?
A: Reflect on past experiences where you felt energized or successful. What were you doing? This introspection often reveals your core drivers.
Q: Should my answer about what drives you be different for every interview?
A: Yes, tailor your answer to align with the company's culture and the specific job's responsibilities to show relevance.
Q: How long should my answer to "what drives you" be?
A: Aim for a concise answer, typically 60-90 seconds, focusing on clarity, a specific example, and a connection to the role.
Q: What if my passion isn't directly related to the job?
A: Focus on transferable skills or values derived from your passion that are relevant to the role, such as discipline, creativity, or teamwork.
