What motivates you?
Together with a few other questions — such as "what are your strengths and weaknesses," and "where do you see yourself in five years" — the inquiry "What inspires you?" is one of the most popular interview questions job hopefuls receive. The fact that the issue is open-ended and susceptible to interpretation makes it much more difficult. There are many reasons why a hiring manager or interviewer might ask this question, but you can be sure that they're trying to figure out at least two things: whether or not your personality will fit the open position, and whether or not you know yourself well enough to articulate what motivates you.
About the former, a prospective employer will look to see if your values, as well as your work style and the rewards you enjoy receiving, correspond with what they can give in the position. When it comes to the latter, being aware of who you are shows that you are a smart, proactive, and level-headed individual who any organization would be happy to have on its staff.
Why This Is Asked: By asking this question, an employer can determine whether you'll be happy in the position and what drives you.
Essential Things to Consider: Describe how achieving goals and targets motivates you and how your work ties into this.
Sample Response:
"My greatest source of motivation is a sense of success. I genuinely like accepting challenges and coming up with original solutions to them. It is amazing to know that I have contributed significantly to the firm when I am able to finish a project or task."
