How to answer the interview question "What motivates you?" with example answers

When you're asked about what motivates you at work in an interview, it's tough to know exactly what answer the interviewer wants to hear. This open-ended question doesn't necessarily have a right or wrong response. The answer you give could be the difference between you getting the job or not. It's helpful to prepare an answer for this question before your interview. By asking this, an interviewer wants to get to know you and understand your suitability for the role.

In your response, give your interviewer insight into who you are and why you're the best person for the job. Demonstrate your desire to perform the duties associated with the job but also convey what makes you want to come to work every day. This guide helps you learn more about why interviewers ask what drives you and how you can answer when you're asked about your motivation.

Why interviewers ask what motivates you at work

While all the questions an interviewer asks are likely relevant to determining your fit for the position, asking what motivates you helps an interviewer learn how well the job will suit you as an individual. Everyone has their motivation for why they show up to work each day. Your interviewer wants to know whether the role will be enough to keep you engaged, challenged, and happy.

A paycheck may play a large part in why you show up to work, but for most people, money alone isn't enough to motivate a strong work ethic or desire to excel. A recent study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin noted that both pay and meaningful work were important factors in accepting a job. It shouldn't surprise you that the company you want to work for wants to gauge your motivation when it comes to your job.

What to consider when answering this interview question

Before your interview, plan your answer to the question, "What motivates you?" This will help you answer the question concisely and in a way that makes sense for the position. Use the job description to help guide your answer. Make your answer honest and truthful but also ensure it is relevant to the role. For example, you may love buying new shoes with your paycheck. However, unless the job is in a shoe factory, professing your love of shoes isn't going to get you the job.

"Make your answer honest and truthful but also ensure it is relevant to the role."

Consider aspects you've enjoyed in past roles. Use stories about your success in previous positions to explain your motivation. Align your response with details gleaned from the job description and what you know about the company.

What motivates you at work examples

What drives you to succeed at work will differ from what motivates everyone else. These are some examples of things that might inspire you to do your best work:

Helping team members with their tasks and seeing them succeed
Learning new skills or gaining information that makes you better at your job
Bringing people together to do their best work
Taking on new challenges or working your way to a promotion
Ensuring customer satisfaction or providing a top-notch experience to customers and clients
Reaching and exceeding career goals or taking the lead in a friendly competition

How to answer when asked what motivates you to succeed

No two answers to the interview question "What motivates you?" will be alike. Here are some ideas to help you craft the perfect response.

Know what you like about the work you do

When you understand what you want from your work, you're more likely to find a job you love. If talking to customers and ensuring they have a positive experience makes you want to show up to work, discuss this when your interviewer asks about motivation. If you're someone who enjoys helping others solve problems, relate this to the interviewer. Some people find satisfaction in collaboration and seeing a project through by bringing people together. Knowing what parts of your job you love can help you answer this question.

Provide an example to illustrate your drive

Use your experience to illustrate what drives you to succeed at work. For a sales job interview, provide an example of how you reach sales goals by striving to be the top sales agent. Explain that being the best is what motivates you. In an interview for a management position, talk about a time you encouraged your team to overcome challenges to complete a difficult task. Discuss how you enjoy the results of seeing people work toward a common goal.

Keep your answer short and simple

A short and simple answer to what keeps you motivated at work shows the interviewer that you not only understand yourself but also the role you're applying for. Don't give a long, drawn-out answer that makes it seem like you're unsure about what inspires you. Being concise will give the interviewer confidence that you're the right person for the job.

Be honest and sincere with your response

When answering interview questions, it's tempting to try to give the response you think the interviewer wants to hear. Your answer to the interview question "What motivates you?" needs to be honest and sincere. Otherwise, you risk sounding phony. If you get the job because you gave an answer that isn't true, you may end up being miserable in the role because you aren't motivated. If what motivates you isn't part of the job's duties, you're better off continuing your job search until the right role comes along.

Sample answers to explain what keeps you motivated at work

Consider these sample answers for different workplace motivations to help you create the best response to this common interview question.

Motivated by achieving goals

"Some people say I'm a bit of an overachiever because my biggest motivation at work is to meet and exceed goals. In my previous role, the management team implemented an employee of the month program where we could earn a gift card and get our name on the wall. To make the cut, we had to meet certain criteria, such as keeping our department clean and receiving positive feedback from customers. I was the employee of the month for nine months in a row."

Motivated by helping others

"I'm a people person, so my biggest motivation is when I can help others at work. One of my best achievements happened when we hired a new employee who didn't seem to fit in at first. I got several complaints about the new hire in their first couple of weeks. After talking to everyone on the team, I discovered that the new employee had been rushed through the onboarding process because of another employee's upcoming vacation. I got them some additional training, and from then on, they thrived in their role."

Motivated by learning new things

"My motivation comes from the challenges I often face. I enjoy learning and trying new things, which serves me well in my job. I love doing something different every day. For me, a job where I can resolve a customer complaint one day and work on a new product launch the next is ideal. My current position allows me to put together teams and start new projects while also troubleshooting computer problems and answering customer questions."

Knowing what you love about your work will help you answer the interview question, "What motivates you?" Your response can also ensure you find a job that matches your motivation and inspires you to go to work and do your best. Upload your resume so CareerBuilder can help you find your next job.