How to ace your next motivation-based interview+ sample answers

Welcome to this week's edition of The Job Seeker Hub Weekly Newsletter! This week, we are exploring motivation-based interviews. Understanding this interview style is crucial for showcasing your genuine passion and long-term fit for a role.

What Are Motivation-Based Interviews?

Motivation-based interviews are designed to assess what drives you as a candidate. They go beyond skills and competencies, focusing on your personal motivations and career aspirations and how well they align with the company’s values and goals.

Why Employers Use Them

Employers use motivation-based interviews to:

• Gauge Long-Term Fit: Determine if your career goals align with the company’s vision.

• Assess Passion: Identify candidates who are genuinely enthusiastic about the role and the industry.

• Understand Drives: Learn what motivates you to excel and how you might be satisfied in the role.

Common Questions in Motivation-Based Interviews

Prepare to answer questions such as:

• What interests you about this role?

• Why do you want to work for our company?

• What are your career aspirations?

• What motivates you to get up and go to work every day?

• Can you describe a time when you were particularly motivated at work?

• What does career success mean to you?

Tips for Acing Motivation-Based Interviews

1. Research the Company: Understand the company’s mission, values, and culture. Align your answers to reflect how these resonate with your personal motivations.

2. Reflect on Your Motivations: Think about what truly drives you in your professional life. Is it growth, learning, creativity, teamwork, or something else?

3. Be Authentic: Employers can tell when you are being genuine. Share real experiences and be honest about what excites you.

4. Connect the Dots: Relate your motivations to the specific role you are applying for. Show how your personal drive aligns with the job responsibilities and company goals.

5. Prepare Examples: Have concrete examples ready that demonstrate your motivation in action. Stories about past achievements or challenges you overcame can be very compelling.

Example Answer

Question: “What interests you about this role?”

Answer: “I am particularly excited about this role because it allows me to combine my passion for digital marketing with my love for data analytics. I have always been motivated by the challenge of creating innovative campaigns and then using data to measure their success and optimise future strategies. Additionally, your company’s commitment to sustainable marketing practices aligns with my personal values, which adds another layer of motivation for me to contribute and grow with your team.”

Final Thoughts

Motivation-based interviews are your opportunity to showcase not just your skills but your genuine passion and alignment with the company. By preparing thoughtfully and being authentic, you can convey why you are the perfect fit for the role.

Opportunities of the Week:

_{Capstone 2025 Summer Internships}

Role description: Capstone’s 2025 Summer Internship is a 10-week summer program. You will be given a project that is both educational and a value add to the business; at the end of the summer, you will present your project to the senior leadership team.

1. Software engineering: Apply here.

2. Quantitative Risk: Apply here

Got questions, ideas, or want to say hello? Connect with me on LinkedIn—I’d love to hear from you!

Looking for more sample answers to strength-based interview questions? TJSH is working hard behind the scenes to create a booklet with the most common interview questions. Make sure to follow The Job Seeker Hub LinkedIn page to be the first to know when it drops!

PS: Have you heard the news? 👀👀 We are also on Instagram. Head over to our Instagram to meet our new team.

Until next time,

TJSH Team :)