Question – "When have you been most motivated?"
This question is more than an interview question; it is a
question that you should be asking yourself before the
interview. When have you been most satisfied in your work?
When did you feel like you were making a difference or
making a contribution? Basically, it's about knowing what
you want.
A simple exercise that will help you answer this question
will also help you look inside yourself to think about what
you want "more of," and what you want "less of" in your
next job. People usually perform at a higher level if they
are satisfied with the work that they do – and as a
result are more motivated to give 100% - plus.
Exercise to Find the Answer
An exercise that will help you with the answer to this
question as well as assist you in looking inward to
determine when you were working at your fullest potential
is a simple one. Begin by making a list of the tasks at
your last job – the tasks that you were particularly
proud of, or were energized by. In other words, "when your
job turned you on." Think about the last time you were so
involved in a project or task that you woke up thinking
about how you could improve the situation. Write those
experiences down and try to determine what the factors were
that were satisfying for you.
Let's say you were a "Project Leader." The tasks list would
read something like – "Led a team - Coordinated and
monitored project progress - Assured the flow and
completion of work on schedule – Monitored
expenditures and budget."
What were the stimulating tasks of this job? Was it the
leadership aspect? Or, was it the challenge of coordinating
the details, and people? Was it completing the project on
time or below budget? Were there customers involved
(internal or external) – if so, is that what you
found most challenging? What didn't you like, and hope that
you will do less of in your next job?
After you have written this list for your current job, try
doing the same thinking about previous jobs. If you
recently graduated from college, use the classes that were
most stimulating and interesting for you, or the projects
you worked on with teams.
By making lists of motivating experiences from your last
two or three jobs, you will hopefully begin to see patterns
of projects and tasks that stand out. Analyze what you did
before. Do you want more of this type of responsibility in
your next job? The answers to these questions will give you
the answer to the motivation question as well as
possibilities for fulfillment in future jobs that have
similar responsibilities.
Take this list of motivating experiences and script an
answer to the question, "What motivates you?" Scripting
answers prepares you and also makes you sound more
confident.
The Perfect Answer
There is no such thing as the "perfect" answer to this
question. Your answer will be individual and based on your
own experience and analysis. It will reveal to the
interviewer and to yourself what you thrive on in your
work. Even if you are not asked this question, your
pre-interview thinking, analysis, and scripting, will help
you be more focused and in control of want you want in your
next job. Knowing what you want will make you feel more
confident about finding the right job.
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Carole Martin, The #1 Interview Coach in America, is a
celebrated author, trainer, and mentor. Carole can give you
interviewing tips like no one else can. Get a copy of her
FREE 9-part "Interview Success Tips" report by visiting
Carole on the web at The Interview Coach
http://www.interviewcoach.com
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