Interview question
How to answer “What motivates you?”
Name one or two things that make you do your best work, tie them to what this job involves, and back each with a short example from your own work. Keep it positive, and don't make pay the whole answer.
What is the interviewer checking?
The interviewer wants to know what will keep you doing good work in this job, and whether this job gives you more of it.
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Whether you'll care about the work
Indeed's guide says the question is about whether you'll bring enthusiasm and skill to the role, not your career goals in the abstract.
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Whether your motivation fits this job
Forage's example: someone motivated by bringing in new business, applying for a job with no lead generation in it, probably won't be happy there.
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How you deal with obstacles
Forage says what motivates you in general hints at how you'd handle the hard parts of the job.
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How well you know yourself
Knowing what keeps you focused, and how you measure success at work, is part of a good answer.
How do you answer “What motivates you?”
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Start with why you do this work
What drew you to this field beyond the paycheck: helping people, solving hard problems, building things, getting better at a skill.
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Match it to the posting
Pick the part of the job description that caught your eye when you applied, and connect your motivation to it.
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Prove it with one example
A short story: the situation, what you had to do, what you did and how it turned out. Indeed and Forage both suggest the STAR method here.
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Keep it to one or two
Indeed's advice is to focus on one or two motivators and keep the answer short.
It also comes as “What drives you to do your best?”, “What are you passionate about?”, “What inspires you?” or “What makes you excited about coming to work?” The same answer works for all of them.
What motivates people at work, and how do you prove it?
Indeed lists motivators like these. Pick the one that's true for you and fits the job.
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Solving problems
Say“I like finding out why something broke. When [problem] came up, I traced it to [cause], fixed it, and [result].”
Don't say“I love a challenge.”
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Helping customers or patients
Say“What keeps me going is the difference it makes for [customers or patients]. When [situation], I [what you did], and [result].”
Don't say“I'm a people person.”
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Learning new skills
Say“I'm motivated by getting better at [skill]. I [course or project], and now I [what you can do].”
Don't say“I just love learning.”
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Hitting goals and deadlines
Say“I like a clear target. I plan the work back from the due date, and on [project] that's how we [result].”
Don't say“Pressure is what makes me act.”
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Working with a team
Say“I do my best work with other people. On [project], [team] and I [what you did together], and [result].”
Don't say“I'm a team player.”
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Building something new
Say“I like starting from nothing. At [company], I [built what], and it [result].”
Don't say“I get bored with routine.”
What should you not say?
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Pay as the whole answer
Skip“The paycheck.”
InsteadEmployers know everyone works for pay. Forage says they want to hear what makes you do good work beyond payday, so name that.
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Stress as the motivator
Skip“Deadlines scare me into working.”
InsteadSay the positive side: “I like planning backward from a deadline.” Forage notes the stress version can sound like you wait until the last minute.
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Something vague
Skip“I just love working hard.”
InsteadOne specific motivator and one example.
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Complaints about your last job
Skip“I need to get out of a toxic office.”
InsteadIndeed's advice is to stay positive and not vent. Talk about what you're moving toward.
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What you think they want to hear
SkipA motivator you don't feel.
InsteadForage warns it can sound rehearsed, and a follow-up question will find the gap. Pick something true that fits the role.
Sample answers
Swap in your own facts, and keep it under a minute.
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IF YOU'RE EARLY IN YOUR CAREER
“What motivates me is [motivator]. In my [internship, class project or part-time job], I [what you did], and [result]. That's what drew me to this role: the posting says I'd be [duty from the posting], which is the same kind of work.”
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IF YOU'VE DONE THIS JOB BEFORE
“I'm driven by [motivator]. At [company], [situation]. I [what you did], and [result, with a number]. Your team is working on [something from the posting], and I want to do more of that.”
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IF YOU'RE CHANGING CAREERS
“In [old field], the part I liked most was [motivator]. When [situation], I [what you did], and [result]. This role puts that at the center of the job, which is why I applied.”
You've read the answer. Now say it.
The words come out differently when someone is waiting for them. The mock doesn't ask this exact question. Paste the posting or type a job title, and an AI hiring manager asks for stories from your work, then follows up on what you leave out, like the result or your own part. The example behind your motivation is one of those stories, so practice telling it.
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More in interview questions
- Tell me about yourself About a minute: what you do now, one highlight, and why this job is next.
- Why do you want to work here? One detail from the posting, one fact about the company, and your link to both.
- Why are you interested in this position? The parts of the job you want to do, and the proof you can do them.
- Why should we hire you? Two things the posting asks for, and proof of each.