No matter what level you’re interviewing for, it’s a question that always comes up. The question seems simple and is often asked in a very straightforward manner. Still, most job candidates say that this is their most hated interview question. As you prepare for your next interview, consider these as possible answers for the question, “what motivates you?”

Succeeding at a task

If you’re successful in your job, you’ll be motivated to keep doing it well. The best way to answer this question is to describe a specific achievement that you’re proud of and how it made you feel. For example, “I was able to process a large amount of invoices in record time and improve our efficiency by 20 percent.”

Remember to always be specific and use examples from your past work history that will show an interviewer how you’ve been successful at doing these things before and that the company can expect similar results if they hired you.

Following your passion

Talk about your passions. Many people mistakenly believe that they need to be paid well in order to do their best work. In fact, what drives them is passion — not necessarily financial compensation or job security. When talking about what motivates you, make sure you’re not just using words like “money” or “security” but also include terms like “freedom” and “flexibility.” These words speak volumes about how much autonomy and control you want over your life and career choices — which are important things for any employer to know.

Having fun

Think about what makes you happy at work. The first thing to do when answering this question is to think about what really motivates you on the job. What do you like about your career? What makes you feel good about yourself? What gives you satisfaction?

If your current job doesn’t offer much in the way of opportunities to have fun or experience these feelings, then you may need to look for a new position where these things are happening more often. If so, include them in your answer.

Takeaway

As humans, we all respond to incentives whether it’s money and a nice car, good food, a supportive community, or an office with a window. Knowing what motivates you to achieve in your professional life can be instrumental in your success as an employee. Hopefully one of these examples will work for you, but even if none of them do, remember that there’s a good chance that your interviewer really just wants to see how well you communicate. And if you can communicate effectively, clearly, and genuinely then you’re off to a great start!

Not getting calls for interviews? Consider a professionally written resume.

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