Motivational Interview Questions: How to Answer Them Effectively

Introduction

During a job interview, the interviewer aims to evaluate several aspects of you as a prospective employee, including your skills, work culture fit, and self-motivation.

In order to gauge the latter, they may ask you motivational interview questions.
This article aims to examine prevalent motivational interview questions and provide guidance on how to approach and respond to them effectively, including helpful tips and sample answers.

A.) The Importance of Motivation Questions in Job Interviews
Motivation is a critical factor in the workplace, and employers are always looking for motivated employees.
Hiring managers need to use effective interviewing techniques to find motivated employees. Hence, motivation questions have become commonplace in job interviews. However, constructing the right motivation question is crucial for employers to get meaningful answers from candidates.
By asking the right motivational interview questions, they can determine if the potential employee is genuinely motivated.

B.) Constructing Effective Motivation Questions
To elicit a conversation or a statement, motivational questions start with words like – why and what.
Employers avoid questions like “How motivated are you?” as they tend to elicit null responses.

C.) Using Motivational Interviewing – Tips to Succeed
Using motivational interviewing questions that start with words like “what” or “why” can encourage conversation and give the interviewer a truer answer about how motivated the person being interviewed is.

Preparations

Here are some tips on how to answer these types of questions effectively –

A.) Preparing for Motivation Questions
To handle motivational questions effectively, ask yourself, “What are the sort of things I like doing, and what do I expect to get from this job?”
In other words, you should think about what motivates you and why you like doing a particular job.

When preparing your answers, focus on the job’s duties and be as specific as possible.

B.) Examples of Effective Motivation Statements

To make your answers more convincing, avoid using timid or uncertain language.

Instead, use enthusiastic and descriptive language to express your passion for the job.

Here are some examples of effective motivation statements:

1. I love working with people. Interacting with people is what gets me out of bed every morning.
2. I love selling. This is what I love doing the most.
3. I enjoy the sort of challenges [A,B, C] I will get here.
4. I like working with numbers. I can’t get enough of this kind of work.
5. I always enjoyed working on my own.
6. I love learning new things and I am a curious person.
7. I love coaching. To see people in progress.
8. I really enjoy solving complex problems. I’m very keen on solving technical issues.
9. I get a deep sense of satisfaction when I teach children.
10. I am a handyman and love hands-on work, such as computers, hardware, etc.
11. I really go for working in this sort of environment.

Examples of Questions and Answers

Employers commonly ask motivational interview questions, such as what the person liked most about their last job or if they set personal goals. Here are some examples of effective answers.

Question 1: Tell us what you liked most about your last job, and what you found most exciting.

Why employers ask this question: Employers want to know what motivates you and if you are enthusiastic about the job you are applying for.

Effective answer examples:

• As a journalist, I found it exciting to cover a new story every day.
• As a programmer, I enjoyed the daily challenges of working with technology.

 

Question 2: Did you set up personal goals? Were you successful? Why do you feel you were successful?

Why employers ask these questions: Employers want to know if you have both professional and personal goals and if you are motivated to achieve them.

Effective answer examples:

• My professional goal is to become a district manager with company XYZ, and my personal goal is to pay off my home within 10 years.
• My professional goal is to win the Pulitzer, while my personal goal is to adopt two children from a third-world country.

 

Question 3: Would you say you are a self-starter? What would you say motivates you?

What employers want to know: Employers want to know if you are a self-starter who can take the initiative and if you can motivate yourself.

Effective answer examples:

• I work well as a team player, but I also excel at taking on projects on my own.
  At my previous job, I implemented a system that curbed the theft rate by 50%. I am motivated by challenges and finding solutions to them.

 

Question 4: What do you like about your previous job?

The interviewer aims to discover whether you are passionate about your profession and whether you genuinely enjoy your work.
Responding to this question with enthusiasm and interest demonstrates your motivation for the job. Your answer should reflect your interest in the key areas of your profile.

 

Question 5: Have you set personal goals for yourself? Were you successful? Why?

This question helps the interviewer understand whether you have a clear professional goal or plan, indicating a high level of self-motivation.
You should be genuine when answering this question and provide a well-thought-out response.

 

Question 6: Are you a self-starter? What motivates you?

Employers seek self-starters who are motivated and show initiative – Such individuals are more likely to bring about progressive changes in the company they work for.
Answering this question with examples of personal motivation and initiative-taking will demonstrate your self-motivation.

 

Question 7: Which project have you been involved in that you found the most exciting? Tell us about it.

Projects are an integral part of a job, and some of these projects can be career-defining for the employee.
The interviewer aims to gauge your level of passion and motivation for your profession.
Preparing a list of exciting projects beforehand can help you answer this question thoughtfully.

 

Question 8: Give an example of a situation where you went above and beyond your responsibilities to get the job done.

Employers seek individuals who are dedicated and committed to their work.
The interviewer aims to understand whether you are willing to take up additional responsibilities and deliver beyond expectations.
Providing a recent example of going above and beyond in your previous job will demonstrate your work ethic and motivation.

 

Conclusion,
Employers value motivated, self-starting employees who can take the initiative and achieve personal and professional goals.
Employers construct effective motivation questions to get meaningful answers from candidates.

Motivational interview questions are essential in determining your level of self-motivation, dedication, and work ethic.
You, in turn, should prepare for motivation questions by identifying what motivates you and using enthusiastic and descriptive language to express passion for the job.

Enthusiastically Express Your Motivation – Answering these questions thoughtfully and with enthusiasm can help you stand out and demonstrate your potential as a valuable addition to the company.
Using these motivational interviewing tips can help you show enthusiasm and give examples of how you are motivated.

By doing so, you can increase their chances of getting hired by demonstrating enthusiasm for the job.