One of the most crucial job interview question is “what inspires you at work?”.
The employer wants to know what motivates enthusiasm, commitment, and performance in the workplace. Your answer tells much about your professional convictions, especially your alignment with the organization’s cultures, goals, and expectations.
It’s not a basic interview question to be answered in a rehearsed, clichéd way. Instead, it should be the real deal, explaining what actually moves you-damn interesting and incidental to this specific role. This is the kind of basic interview question that often makes a lasting impression, with the myriad of differences separating you from all other candidates.
This article will cover:
- Why employers ask this job interview question
- Steps to prepare your response
- Real-life examples of motivations, with sample answers
- Additional variations of the basic interview question
- Interview Tips for crafting a good response
- Common mistakes to steer clear of
By the end of this article, you will be fully prepare to answer this job interview question confidently in your following interview.
Why Interviewers Ask What Inspires You
When interviewers ask this job interview question, “What inspires you in work?” they are trying to
- Know why you are professionally driven: They want to know what excites you and keeps you engaged in your career growth.
- Determine alignment with the Role: Employers need to assess whether your sources of inspiration match the job’s responsibilities.
- Evaluate Long-Term Fit: This starts with understanding motivation and keeping an idea about the candidate’s enthusiasm and commitment over time.
Your response will give insight into your personality, work ethic, and cultural fit. Employers like candidates who are inspired by challenges, teamwork, or learning opportunities, as those traits generally translate into strong contributions within the workplace.
How to Prepare Your Answer
- Inspiration – Think about why you do what you do
Consider what gives you impetus in your line of work and for what reason. Here are a few prompts to consider:
- What sorts of jobs/projects excite you the most?
- When do you feel most fulfilled in your work?
- What accomplishments are you most proud of and why?
- Professional interview skills or areas you want to develop?
- Write all your thoughts down to clarify what inspires you most.
2. Match Your Response to the Position
Study the job description and company values. Look for areas where your inspirations naturally mingle with the role’s requirements. For example:
- If the role requires problem-solving, share how defeating challenges inspires you.
- If teamwork is paramount in the position, state your love for collaboration.
3. Provide Specific Examples
Your answer will be compelling if you give concrete examples. Share some real-life experiences whereby your inspiration brought about an achievement in the workplace.
4. Structure Your Answer
Follow the STAR method as you prepare your answer.
- Situation – what was the context?
- Task – what challenge was at hand, or what goal was to be achieved?
- Action – state what you did.
- Result – what was the outcome, or what impact was achieved?
Examples of Inspiration and Sample Answers
Inspiration: Learning and Building
Sample Answer:
“I live to solve complex challenges. In my previous position, we faced a huge bottleneck in the supply chain. I worked with cross-functional teams in drilling down data and redesigning processes that reduced delivery times by 20%. Such challenges make me feel alive by thinking through them and contributing to meaningful results.”
Inspiration: Problem Solving
Sample Answer:
“I live to solve complex challenges. In my previous position, we faced a huge bottleneck in the supply chain. I worked with cross-functional teams in drilling down data and redesigning processes that reduced delivery times by 20%. Such challenges make me feel alive by thinking through them and contributing to meaningful results.”
Inspiration: Teamwork and Collaboration
Sample Answer:
“Collaboration inspires me. I worked with different teams to launch a new product line in my last role. We brainstormed together, tested prototypes, collaborated to refine strategies, and seeing how our joint efforts culminated in a successful launch was immensely satisfying. I look forward to contributing similarly to such a collaborative environment here.”
Inspiration: Creativity and Innovation
Sample Answer:
“I am inspired by creativity and innovation. In my last job, I pitched and executed a social media campaign that resulted in a 40% increase in engagement. I love coming up with new ideas for dealing with challenges and highlighting results, which is why I am particularly excited about this position’s focus on generating creative solutions.”
Further Variations of the Basic Interview Questions
Think through all related basic interview questions you may encounter for thorough preparation:
1. What motivates you in your work?
Sample Answer:
“I’m inspired by opportunities to make a positive impact. For instance, when I was in my previous role, I revamped our onboarding process, and we reduced the time it took for new hires to reach full productivity by 30%. Knowing my work contributes to organizational success keeps me motivated and fulfilled.”
2. What are you excited about in this role?
Sample Answer:
“This role excites me because it combines strategy and innovation. At my last job, I designed a marketing strategy that increased sales by 20%. I look forward to applying my skills here and contributing to the company’s growth.”
3. How do you stay inspired during challenging times?
Sample Answer:
“I stay inspired by focusing on the end goal and breaking challenges into smaller, manageable steps. During a recent project, we faced several unexpected delays. By celebrating small wins and motivating the team, we delivered a successful outcome on schedule.”
Interview Tips for Crafting a Strong Answer
- Be Authentic: Speak honestly about what inspires you. Authenticity makes your response more relatable and memorable.
- Keep It Relevant: Ensure your answer focuses on work-related inspirations and aligns with the role you’re applying for.
- Use the STAR Method: Structure your examples using Situation, Task, Action, and Result to make your answer impactful.
- Be Concise: Aim for a detailed response that doesn’t drag on. Keep it focused and to the point.
- Practice: Rehearse your answer to gain confidence and ensure it flows naturally during the job interview questions.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Being Vague
- Avoid: “I’m inspired by success.”
- Why It’s a Problem: This response is generic and doesn’t provide meaningful insight into your motivations.
2. Focusing on Compensation
- Avoid: “I’m inspired by earning a good salary.”
- Why It’s a Problem: While salary is essential, focusing your answer on money may seem unprofessional.
3. Giving Unrelated Examples
- Avoid: “My love for gardening inspires me.”
- Why It’s a Problem: Personal hobbies may not be relevant unless you can relate them to the job.
4. Overloading Your Answer
- Why It’s a Problem: Providing too much detail can smother the interviewer and lessen the impact of your response.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to talk about this job interview question- “what inspires you at work” is an essential interview skill for a job interview. This is your chance to show them that you’re excited about the job, on the right track, and capable of making meaningful contributions to the organization.
Prepare the response carefully, practice the delivery, and be able to come across as a motivated, valuable candidate. Don’t forget to:
- Discuss real, work-related inspirations.
- Use concrete examples to support your arguments.
- Align your motivations with the company’s goals and culture.
With these interview tips by Diksha Arora in mind, you’ll be ready to leave a lasting impression in your next interview.
