Interview Q What Motivates You - Walrath Recruiting, Inc.

Interview Q What Motivates You - Walrath Recruiting, Inc. This question can throw off almost any candidate in an interview if theyre not prepared. Its incredibly broad, and you can only truly effectively answer it if you know why its being asked. Thankfully, were here to help! Well cover why it benefits a company to ask this question, and how you should answer, after the break. Motivation Station To begin, a company isnt asking this to find out your lifelong career aspirations. They are however looking for what keeps you going day to day, especially in the position theyd like to hire you for. Knowing what drives an employee to do great work is something every manager would like to understand. It also reassures them that youre not simply there for the money. Money is without a doubt considered in every job search.  However, when you answer make sure you dont focus on money as your only motivator. This will instantly discourage an employer. Think about why theyre asking. They want to make sure there is enough of what motivates you present in this position to make you excel in it. If that motivation isnt there, you wont be a worthwhile employee. So when you  come up with your answer, you want to think about what motivates you, what youre excited by, and what is required for the job. When those three factors line up, you have your answer. While it can be hard to think of what pushes  you to work harder, there is an easier way. Think about when youve found the most satisfaction in your past positions. Think of the days you would go home with a story you were excited to share with family or friends. Those are days on which you were motivated. Other Factors Influencing Motivation People are not just motivated by doing work they love. As we stated previously, some people are motivated by money, but dont mention that. Others are motivated by recognition, promotions, and having access to the tools that allow them to do their job. These are all great motivators to bring up. However, you still want to be able to focus on some aspect of  the work. Highlight the congruities between the job and what motivates you and then hit on other points. This illustrates why you would be a good fit, and also ensures they provide you with the motivation you crave. If you are able to further define these points with stories work your work history, even better. Follow the advice here and you will be well prepared to discuss your motivations.