Here's how you can effectively respond to the question "What motivates you.
When you're in an interview, the question "What motivates you?" can be a pivotal moment to showcase your passion and drive. It's not just about stating what you like; it's about connecting your personal motivations to the role and company you're aiming to join. Your response can demonstrate your alignment with the company's values and your potential to thrive in their environment. Remember, employers are looking for candidates who are not only skilled but also genuinely enthusiastic about what they do. So, take this opportunity to reflect on what truly drives you and be ready to articulate it in a way that resonates with your interviewer.
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Anamika -Human Resource Manager || IIM-Calcutta Alumnus || LinkedIn Top HR Voices || Motivational Speaker || Soft skills…
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Francisco JoséEstratégias Inovadoras | Liderança e Gestão | Inteligência Comercial | Métodos Ágeis | Planejamento Estratégico e KAM |…
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Josh Gottesman, MBA, SHRM-SCPDon’t just dream big, DO BIG! | CHRO | SHRM Speaker | Talent Architect: Building skills that last
To effectively answer "What motivates you?", you need to understand what motivation means to you. Motivation can stem from a variety of sources such as personal growth, achievement, recognition, or the desire to contribute to something larger than oneself. By identifying what truly drives you, you can provide a sincere and compelling answer. Reflect on past experiences where you felt most energized and productive. What were you doing? Why did it feel rewarding? These insights will help you craft an answer that not only reveals your motivation but also demonstrates your self-awareness and introspection.
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“The only limits you have are the limits you believe.” When asked "What motivates you?" in an interview, here's how to respond effectively: Connect to the Role Mention what excites you about the job, like challenges or growth opportunities. Highlight Personal Values Talk about what drives you, such as learning, teamwork, or helping others. Provide Examples Share specific stories that show your motivation and how it led to success. Show Enthusiasm Express genuine excitement about the role and how it fits your motivations
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A motivação é uma força poderosa que nos impulsiona a agir, a buscar nossos objetivos e a enfrentar desafios. Ela varia de pessoa para pessoa e pode ser influenciada por diferentes fatores. Quando alguém pergunta “O que te motiva?”, é uma oportunidade para refletir sobre o que nos move, o que nos inspira e o que nos mantém focados em nossas metas. A motivação é pessoal e única para cada um. Ao responder à pergunta “O que te motiva?”, seja autêntico e reflita sobre o que realmente importa para você.
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One of the most helpful ways I find to unpack the motivation is by asking the miracle/future state question. Imagine 6-12 months from now you are in your ideal role/living your dream life - what is different about you then? what is your day looking like, who are you spending time with etc. This helps people to tap into their emotions, feelings and deeper motivations
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A cada persona le motiva una forma de vivir la vida. No existe una forma de responder a esa pregunta si no es bajo el prisma de la persona en cuestion. No se trata de responder para quedar bien, sino para respondernos que es lo que nos motiva y buscar esa motivacion en nuestro dia a dia. A veces, tarda en aparecer. Para algunas personas no aparece nunca porque no hacen ese trabajo de introspeccion. Un analisis adecuado puede ayudar a entender su vida, sus preocupaciones, sus valores y sobre todo, hacia donde debe crecer, para que aparezcan sus motivaciones.
Your motivations should align with the company's values and culture. If the organization values innovation, for example, you might discuss your drive to create new solutions and your enjoyment of being at the forefront of industry changes. Researching the company beforehand will give you insights into what they deem important. A match between your personal drivers and the company's priorities suggests that you will be a good fit and likely to stay motivated in the long term. This alignment shows the interviewer that you've thought about how you can contribute to the company's success and are likely to be engaged in your work.
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To align the values I suggest this flow of inquiry: 5 min meditation to connect with your heart's deepest longing and see what sensations come and note them down. recalling 3 peak moments when you felt motivated in a state of flow and happiest - note them down. Then recall the 3 lowest moments of demotivation and frustrations. Then explore what was going on there and what you would like instead. Check what comments words or phrases repeat and select your to 5 values. Then intuitively rank them and define the conditions how you can experience them more in your life. and check in how in your daily life you can embody them.
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I have to comment that I disagree with the statement your motivations should align with the company's culture and values. The question is what motivates YOU not what motivates the company. What you should do and link what motivates you and how that motivation will benefit and bring value to the organization. Example- if new projects excite you speak to how you are motivated to work with new projects and that you work well with ambiguity.
When responding to what motivates you, it's powerful to provide specific examples. Discuss situations where your motivation led to a positive outcome, like a project you were particularly passionate about or a challenge you overcame. This not only illustrates your motivation but also provides evidence of your achievements and work ethic. Make sure these examples are relevant to the role you're applying for, demonstrating how your drive will transfer to the new position. Concrete examples will make your answer more memorable and convincing.
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In my experience, the most helpful way to showcase examples I using situation task action and result (STAR) framework to ground it in concrete examples and articulate impact in numbers/specific outcomes
Personalization is key when answering motivational questions. Avoid generic responses that could apply to anyone. Instead, share what's unique about your motivation. Perhaps it's a personal mission that aligns with the company's goals or a specific aspect of the job that excites you. By personalizing your answer, you show the interviewer that you've thought deeply about the role and how it fits into your career aspirations. This personal touch can differentiate you from other candidates who may give more standard answers.
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Personal stories or anecdotes help people remember you answer. When you answer generically people will file it away as generic. The personal response will also showcase how you respond and handle certain situations. You never know what the listener might share in common with you until you start sharing.
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A personalização é realmente crucial quando se trata de responder a perguntas motivacionais. Cada pessoa tem uma jornada única, experiências individuais e motivações pessoais que moldam suas escolhas e ações.
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The more genuine your responses are the better your chances of getting hired. Motivation showcased out of personal anecdotes are the best
Employers value candidates with a growth mindset, those who see challenges as opportunities to learn and improve. When discussing your motivation, highlight how it encourages you to embrace new experiences and continuously develop your skills. This might involve a commitment to lifelong learning or a pattern of seeking out feedback and applying it constructively. By framing your motivation around growth, you signal to employers that you're someone who will actively contribute to their organization's evolution and your own professional development.
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What I find most helpful in cultivating growth mindset is developing a habit of reflection weekly/monthly/quarterly and yearly basis to observe what went well; what was challenging and what lessons I can draw from this - applied to both work and life!
Finally, directly connect your motivation to the specific role and responsibilities. Explain how the position aligns with what drives you and how it will enable you to fulfill your professional and personal goals. This shows the interviewer that you're not just looking for any job but are interested in this particular role at their company. Making this connection can also reassure the employer that you're likely to remain motivated and engaged, reducing the risk of turnover and ensuring a better return on their investment in hiring and training you.
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Effective way to do this is to connect your past experiences to the relevant tasks for the new role and how your skills or transferrable skills and experience will contribute to the role and team/function at large. Think about addressing particular challenge and how you can help solving it and creating value for the team and the organisation
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When responding to "What motivates you?" in an interview, it's essential to be honest and personal, providing specific examples. I focus on what truly drives me professionally. For instance, I might say, "What motivates me is the opportunity to tackle challenging projects and see tangible results. In my last role, I led a project that streamlined our client onboarding process, reducing time by 30%. Seeing the direct impact of my efforts on the company's efficiency and customer satisfaction was incredibly rewarding." Tailoring your answer to reflect your genuine motivations and linking them to past achievements shows authenticity and alignment with the role you're seeking.
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