Job interviews are nerve-wracking. We feel pressure to answer every question perfectly and hope none of the prompts stall us.
It can feel like everything in an interview is new — and scary — territory. But like most things, performing well in a job interview comes down to practice. Practicing answers to some of the most common questions will help you think about the right material to ace every question that comes your way.
No matter the industry or role you’re applying for, one of the most common questions is “What motivates you?” Interviewers ask this question because the answer says a lot about you.
One person might be motivated by the prospect of getting promoted, while another might be motivated by doing intentional work that fuels their life's passion. None of these answers are wrong, but recruiters might prefer the latter type.
In this guide, you'll learn what to say and what not to say, with sample answers to help you prepare for the interview.
What does the interviewer really want to know?
To understand how to answer “What motivates you?”, it’s important to know why the interviewer is asking.
An interview is the hiring manager’s opportunity to learn as much as possible about you as a person and an employee. Asking open-ended questions (questions that can’t be answered “yes” or “no”) is a way to get you to respond in a detailed and honest manner.
“What motivates you?” is also a behavioral question — your answer reflects your behavior, suggesting your personality type and work style and whether you’re a good culture fit for the company. If you answer “Attaining greater work-life balance,” they might infer you want deadline flexibility.
If you answer “Getting as far ahead in my career as possible,” they could expect you to work hard toward frequent promotions.
You also want your employer to understand what motivates you best, too, so you gain the affirmation and feedback necessary to succeed. You might be interested in climbing a corporate ladder that a company doesn’t have if their team is small or has little mobility.
Answering this question well ensures you and the employer have the information required to decide whether to move forward with the application.
9 tips for effectively answering “What motivates you?”
Making a good first impression is typically the top goal when meeting a new employer. After the first 5–15 minutes of an interview, 52% of job interviewers have made their decision. Giving thoughtful, honest answers from the beginning will help you stand out as a candidate.
Here are some general rules for question-answering to help you make your mark:
1. Show you’re the right candidate
Thoroughly study the company when preparing for the interview. Check out their LinkedIn and other social media platforms, website, and any other public information. Learn about their values and mission, and pay attention to the language used to describe them.
When answering “What motivates you?”, align your work values with the company to show you fit in with their culture, mission, and work environment.
2. Be specific
Real-life examples are essential to put theory into practice. Numbers, stats, or particular challenges are great for illustrating the kind of worker you are. Rather than explaining what you would do, tell them what you’ve done.
3. Focus on work-related motivators
A job interview isn't the place to talk about your hobbies or personal pursuits — unless the recruiter asks. Keep your answer professional. Here are a few work-related motivators to consider:
4. Be clear and straightforward
A great answer doesn’t just address the specific question but also demonstrates your communication skills.
A valuable communication skill is communicating your ideas quickly and effectively. Imagine your “What motivates you?” interview answer like a map: You’re trying to get from A to B as concisely as possible, without roadblocks or detours.
5. Talk yourself up
The interview is your opportunity to put a face to the name. Be your biggest champion. Talk about what you're passionate about, the work experiences that have impacted you and the ones you’d like to gain, your skills, and how all these things contribute to your admirable work ethic.
6. Stay positive
Use your energy and tone of voice to project the positivity you’ll bring to your new job. Imagine the "What motivates you?" question as your chance to give a motivational speech. Avoid talking about what doesn't motivate you, and keep your answer insightful and upbeat.
7. Avoid generic answers
You’ve made it this far in the recruitment process because the hiring manager wants to know you better. Empty, generic answers tell them nothing about who you are and what you’ll offer their team.
Always give responses that provide insight into your personality, performance at previous jobs, and skill set, using real-life examples to back this information up.
8. Don't take too long to answer
While you should always take a beat to ensure you’ve understood the question correctly and decide on a response, don’t take too long to respond.
A roundabout answer that veers in every direction could be interpreted as a sign you didn't properly prepare for the interview and are improvising, which could reflect poorly on your work ethic, interest, and commitment.
9. Money isn't the answer
Salary discussions are an essential conversation job seekers must have before deciding on a position, but now’s not the time.
Replying "A big paycheck" doesn't say anything about your work ethic or how you'll perform teamwork. In a worst-case scenario, a recruiter might interpret this answer as being too blunt, which could poorly reflect your ability to communicate with clients, managers, and other team members.
Example answers for "What motivates you?"
Your resume is where you show a potential employer your accomplishments, work experience, and skills. Your interview is the chance to showcase how all these components make you uniquely suited for the position.
Ultimately, the interviewer should leave the room understanding why you applied for the job: because you’re a great fit.
Here are some motivation-focused answer examples to help you express your qualifications.
Question: What motivates you to do a good job?
Position: Software engineer at a tech company.
Example: I'm really interested in solving problems. At my previous jobs, we worked on complicated app development, and the challenge of writing code for a big puzzle and stepping back to imagine how all the pieces fit together is really rewarding.
I get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing the final product after so much trial and error, especially if it's with a particularly challenging project.
Why this is a good answer: It highlights your problem-solving skills while demonstrating that you’re self-motivated and thrive on difficult work.
Question: What motivated you to apply for this position?
Position: Social media manager at a PR agency.
Example: I want to do work that’s intentional and impact-driven. When I looked through your client portfolio, the type of campaigns you’ve built, and your case studies, I noticed your interest in telling stories that connect with customers and push brands forward.
At my last job, I built successful campaigns for my clients, but the culture was too focused on getting the work done and moving on to the next client. I want to be in an environment that values more meaningful work.
Why this is a good answer: It highlights past accomplishments, how you achieve goals and measure success, and your motivation to cater to the client's well-being and grow as a professional.
Question: What motivates you?
Position: Manager at a consulting firm.
Example: I’m motivated by helping different parts of an organization meet common overarching goals. I love the dynamic of being the in-between for a client and the in-house development teams. It's a real challenge to help each side accomplish its vision.
I've managed dozens of successful projects in the last few years, and I’m proud of my ability to push our teams to balance creativity and pragmatism.
Why this is a good answer: It highlights your work experience, management style, and ability to communicate the importance of creativity and practicalness.
Stay motivated to give a good interview
The best part about preparing for interview questions is that it gives you a chance to self-reflect. Figuring out what effectively motivates you will help you answer the “What motivates you?” question, but it’ll also help you excel in every other area of your life.
You’ll know how to incentivize and encourage yourself to achieve your goals, including the goal of acing this interview.
In this process, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of your authentic self, which will help you move in a direction true to your desires. And, hopefully, that will include this new job.
