How to Answer the “What Motivates You?” Interview Question

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When you get asked “What motivates you” in an interview, you need to give your interviewer an answer that demonstrates how you’re a great match for the role. We’ll show you how with our guide and examples below.

Before any job interview, you need to prepare yourself for a number of common job interview questions. “What motivates you?” is one question you must be prepared for.

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Why interviewers ask what motivates you

Interviewers ask what motivates you because they want to know whether your values and interests fit their organization. They want to know you’re interested in more than just a pay check (even if that is the case!).

Here are some variations of this popular interview question to look out for:

What drives you?
What energizes you to perform your best?
What motivates you to come to work every day?
What motivates you to succeed?
What inspires you to do your best?

Employers may also ask more tactical questions:

Are you self-motivated?
How do you stay on task?

How to answer “What motivates you?”

Follow these four steps to outline the right motivations professionally and confidently:

1. Identify what motivates you as a professional

Understanding what actually drives you as a professional will is key to giving an honest and compelling answer.

Some professionals are motivated by challenges and rewards, others by passion and enjoyment.

Types of Motivation

Extrinsic Motivation	Intrinsic Motivation
Meaning: "Driven by reward"	Meaning: "Driven by enjoyment"
Examples: Competition Growth opportunities Social connection Influence	Examples: Interest in a field or speciality Curiosity Personal values Sense of purpose

How you present your motivations is important for appealing to different employers.

For example, corporate employers value competitive spirit and growth mindsets, whereas NGOs and research institutions are more about curiosity and passion for the specific field.

2. Figure out what excites you about the position

To make your answer specific and relevant, you need to get clear on what interests you about the specific role itself. Here are some questions to help you get clarity:

When you read the job description, what details excited you?
What are you eager to gain experience in through this role?
What growth opportunities are you eager to pursue?
Are you drawn to the company culture?

3. Determine where the two overlap

Once you’ve figured out what motivates and interests you about the position, write them out as lists and identify any overlap between the two:

Venn diagram showing cross over of motivators and position-specific interests.

Pinpointing the overlap between your interests and motivations will help you clearly communicate to employers why you’re a great match for the role.

4. Tie your motivation to your goals

Tying your motivation to your goals is an effective way to answer the question “What motivates you?”

Demonstrating how your professional goals motivate you shows your interviewer what results you’ll achieve as an employee.

Software engineer example

I’ve always been motivated by learning new skills and honing existing ones. Right now I’m trying to achieve my goal of mastering five programming languages.

From this example, the interviewer will know that they can expect the candidate to develop a diverse technical skill set that will make them a valuable member of the team.

Moreover, they’ll likely be impressed by their drive and make note of their readiness to adapt, learn, and build on their skills.

If you can illustrate how your own professional goals are aligned with company goals or needs, you’ll make your answer even more enticing.

Head of HR example

I know that your company is currently poised to launch a new DEI initiative. As a professional, it is my goal to apply my industry knowledge and skills to guide hiring practices that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Example answers to “What motivates you”

Use these example answers to clear, compelling answers to this interview question:

@resumegenius When an interviewer asks, “What motivates you?” it’s your chance to show what drives you and how you fit with the role. Here are some tips to prepare your answer: 1. Identify what motivates you as a professional 2. Figure out what excites you about the position 3. Determine where the two overlap 4. Tie your motivation to your goals This approach helps you give an authentic answer that connects your passion to the job. #interviewtips #jobinterview #interviewquestion #jobseeker #jobsearchtips ♬ original sound – Resume Genius | Career Tips

What motivates you at work?

As a designer, I find that I’m really driven by the collaborative process of designing on a team. I love working with others on creative projects because our interactions spark new and exciting ideas that wouldn’t have materialized otherwise, leading to designs that are innovative, fresh, and energizing.

I know that your design team is well-known for its collaboration. I’d love to apply my extensive technical background and diverse experience to help lead a highly collaborative and progressive design team at [company name].

What motivates you to work hard

In both my academic and professional career, I have been motivated by the urgent need for greater environmental protection, care, and positive change. I believe very strongly in taking action to combat climate change, for current and future generations, and know that it’s an undertaking that requires complete dedication, perseverance, and commitment.

Earthjustice has been at the forefront of many precedent-setting legal battles for environmental justice. I’d love to contribute to Earthjustice’s commitment of engaging with the issues in ways that have a significant and lasting impact. Working at your company will inspire me every day to work hard to bring about positive change.

What motivated you to apply for this position

I saw in your listing that you’re looking for a highly organized administrative assistant who has excellent multitasking and time management skills. Based on my experience as a TA managing classes of over 100 students, where I organized course materials, graded papers and exams, and tracked grades and assignments, I believe that I am a good fit for this position. I’d love the opportunity to work at my alma mater and help students apply to programs that further their academic and professional prospects.

What you should never say

There are a few factors you should never focus on when answering “What motivates you?”:

Money or benefits: Saying that pay is your main motivator makes it sound like you don’t care about the role.
Religion or politics: Leave personal politics out of your job interview. Unless directly related to the position, these topics can do more harm than good.
Avoiding negative outcomes: Framing your answer around avoiding failure, criticism, or being fired can make you seem driven by fear rather than genuine interest in the role.
Personal convenience: Focusing on things like an easy commute, flexible hours, or job security can make it seem like you’re more interested in comfort than contributing to the company.

Additional interview resources

Now that you know how to respond to “What motivates you?”, it’s time to familiarize yourself with some of these other common interview questions:

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Seb is a Certified Professional Resume Writer with 10 years of combined experience in career counseling and editorial work. With a MA in International Communications from National Chengchi University (Taiwan), he helps job seekers translate their experience into employer-ready applications for global job markets.

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