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Every working professional has to find an answer to ‘What Motivates You?’ every day, whether to show your boss that you are serious, to reach new heights in your career, to an interviewee, or to oneself for personal growth. However, lacking motivation can lead to procrastination, decreased productivity, and feelings of apathy, leading to poor work performance and low moods.
Motivation is an internal state that drives us to pursue and achieve our goals. It acts as a ‘why’ behind our behaviors and shapes our decisions and actions, whether personal or professional. At times, it also determines how much effort we will put into achieving them.
Knowing your personal and professional motivators is an asset for job interviews and career development. It helps you make informed career choices and present your best, authentic self in the interview.
Motivation is a personal experience, but its impact and drive are very similar in all of us. It could be Intrinsic or Extrinsic. Either way, it can impact your life and career differently.
Whether your source of motivation is Intrinsic or Extrinsic, it leads you to take the required action for needed results. Both serve the purpose of keeping you on track and bringing you closer to your goals.
What motivates you in life can directly impact your life and career. Hence, identifying your drive becomes an essential step. It will provide you with a clear compass for decision-making. It also helps you align your values and passions, which can lead you to achieve your goals in life. This will lead you to greater fulfillment and motivate you, resulting in overall career satisfaction.
Most of us are driven by a few common motivators to use our time more effectively. These motivators are essential for us to lead happy and fulfilled lives.
Personal Growth, Financial Rewards, Recognition, and Purpose are considerable motivators in today’s competitive and fast-paced world. These motivators keep us energetic and ready daily to reach our goals. Our ways to achieve those goals can vary, but the motivators are usually the same.
Employers ask what motivates you to understand what drives your passion, work ethic, and long-term career goals. They want to assess whether your motivations align with the job role and company culture. Here are the key reasons why they ask this question:
Combining your values, passions, and core drivers can motivate you. Breaking your old patterns is necessary to build new ones. These patterns motivate you to keep going and lead you to fulfillment.
Personal values and passions are core to motivation. They give shape to life goals and also help you achieve them.
Setting short-term and long-term goals will make it easier for you to track and achieve them. Both play essential roles in motivation and achievement in life.
They are achieved within weeks or months and are smaller and achievable objectives. They get you closer to your long-term goals with small and measurable steps. They provide immediate gratification that can boost your confidence and motivate you further.
Long-term goals take years to achieve. They require larger aspirations to give you direction and demand sustained efforts to accomplish them. This leads you to keep your focus on the big picture.
Staying motivated at work for a prolonged period is essential. That’s why asking yourself, ‘What motivates you at work?’ is necessary. There are a few factors to keep in mind to find answers to what motivates you to work:
A few key drivers motivate you to do a good job.
When your job role is aligned with your motivation, dedication, and interest increase, you can quickly excel.
For example, if you are creative, you can stay easily motivated in job roles that demand innovation. If you are goal-oriented, structured roles can be more suited for you.
What motivates your interview question is the most common to ask. It can come in several forms.
What motivates you to work? Sample answers can vary from those of your competitors or be similar. However, it is an important question to answer, and your answer could drive the result of the interview.
Answering what motivates you effectively requires self-awareness and alignment with the job role. Follow these steps to craft a strong response:
Reflect on what drives you at work—solving problems, teamwork, achieving goals, or learning new skills.
Align your motivation with the role. If it’s a sales job, emphasize hitting targets; for creative roles, highlight innovation and problem-solving.
Show your motivation in action with a real-life example.
Example:
“I’m motivated by problem-solving and helping others. In my last role, I resolved a complex customer issue, improving retention and customer satisfaction. Seeing the impact of my work drives me to excel.”
Understanding what motivates you to work can help you craft a compelling response in interviews. Here are what motivates you to work sample answers and tips to frame it effectively:
“I love expanding my skill set and continuously improving. In my last job, I actively sought training opportunities, even funding some myself, because I believe staying up to date makes me more innovative and valuable in any role.”
“I’ve been fascinated by coding since middle school, thanks to my mother, a Software Developer. Now, as an expert in Java and C++, I thrive on solving complex coding challenges. Every problem I tackle pushes me to grow and fuels my motivation.”
“Planning and organizing keep me at my best. I ensure my workload is structured so I meet deadlines without compromising quality. Having a clear roadmap allows me to stay productive and focused on delivering the best results.”
“Customer service motivates me. In my last role, I enjoyed answering customer queries and resolving issues. Seeing their satisfaction and earning positive feedback reassured me that I was making a meaningful impact.”
“Leading a team of 10 was one of my most rewarding experiences. I focused on optimizing workflows and ensuring collaboration, which led to improved efficiency. Helping my team succeed together is what keeps me motivated.”
“Building strong, productive teams is what excites me. I’ve managed software development teams, improving processes to ensure 100% on-time project completion for six months straight. Seeing a team perform at its best is my biggest motivator.”
“I’m results-driven. Having clear targets and developing a strategy to hit them excites me. In my current role, my team and I set aggressive goals, and I thrive on crafting step-by-step plans to achieve them successfully.”
“Numbers tell a story, and I love uncovering insights through data analysis. At my current job, I create monthly sales reports that directly influence business decisions. Knowing my work contributes to strategy keeps me motivated every day.”
Feeling motivated at the moment and staying motivated over some time is a whole different thing. Staying motivated over a long time is crucial to delivering your best efforts in the long run. You can do that by building resilience and cultivating positive habits in your daily life.
Positive habits such as regular reflection, self-care, and celebrating small wins will help you stay motivated for a long time.
Understanding what motivates you in both your personal and professional life is key to long-term satisfaction and growth. When your goals align with your values, ethics, and passions, you develop a strong sense of purpose that keeps you engaged and driven. This self-awareness not only helps in making informed decisions but also ensures that your career path is fulfilling and meaningful.
For many, the answer to what motivates me could be the desire to learn, solve challenges, contribute to a team, or make a difference in the world. By identifying your own key motivators, you can take strategic steps to push past obstacles, stay committed to your aspirations, and achieve success with confidence.
Now is the time to reflect on what motivates you and use that insight to shape a rewarding and purposeful future. Start today, and let your motivation drive you to new heights!
Interviewers ask this question to learn what drives you at work and see if it matches the role and their company culture. They want to know if your personal goals align with their organizational needs. If you thrive on teamwork or love working on innovative ideas, they’ll assess how these traits.
Your drive to do well often comes from your passion for the work, hitting goals, and being recognized for your efforts. Achieving goals gives you a sense of accomplishment and pushes you to keep going. And when others acknowledge your contributions, it reinforces your motivation to perform at your best.
When answering this question, focus on motivations that reflect your passion, work ethic, and personal growth. Avoid mentioning money or fear of failure, as these may not leave a strong impression on hiring managers. Instead, highlight aspects like teamwork, continuous learning, achieving goals, or making a meaningful impact. A well-thought-out response will demonstrate your enthusiasm and alignment with the role.
Your life’s motivation often comes from your values, like growing as a person, building strong relationships, or positively impacting society. For example, if you’re always eager to learn, that shows a growth mindset. If you value relationships, it shows you prioritize collaboration and connection.
Research the company and consider how their mission or values connect with you. For example, if they focus on sustainability and you’re passionate about the environment, point that out. Also, mention specific opportunities they offer, like skill-building programs or innovative projects, and explain how these match your career goals.
Authored by, Amay Mathur | Senior Editor
Amay Mathur is a business news reporter at Chegg.com. He previously worked for PCMag, Business Insider, The Messenger, and ZDNET as a reporter and copyeditor. His areas of coverage encompass tech, business, strategy, finance, and even space. He is a Columbia University graduate.
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Chegg India does not ask for money to offer any opportunity with the company. We request you to be vigilant before sharing your personal and financial information with any third party. Beware of fraudulent activities claiming affiliation with our company and promising monetary rewards or benefits. Chegg India shall not be responsible for any losses resulting from such activities.
