What Motivates you?

Chuzzle

My friend was asked this question in a recent interview and it got me thinking of what I'd say if faced with the same question.

In all honesty MONEY is what motivates me - the more I'm getting paid the harder I'll work. But I'm sure regardless of how honest this is this isn't really the best answer to give nor something that potential employers would like to hear.

So what would your answer be?

SueC_2

Results. The sense of a job well done. Having made a positive contribution to something. Having bought value to a situation.

Vader123

Customer satisfaction.

Vader

cazziebo

Making a difference - whether that's for customers, colleagues, community, whatever.

(tbh - I would never hire anyone that says money is all that motivates them. There will always be another employer out there who can pay more, and I wouldn't invest in someone who doesn't have any loyalty. Although, I don't believe money can ever be a sole motivator. Once you get above the basic needs then people need more. People might do outrageous things just for money but that is usually to satisfy another need - get out of debt, finance a lifestyle choice, pay for a sabbatical etc. If money is the only motivator then there usually isn't much job satisfaction.)

sillygoose

I would be cautious of giving answers like 'customer satisfaction' or 'the satisfaction of doing a good job'. Most employers know that the reason you are doing it is for money, even if its considered 'vulgar' to say so.

Telling the employer what you think they expect to hear can be construed as a hint of dishonesty in fact.

I prefer to balance it. Instead of talking about money directly you can say you are looking for a successful company with opportunities that will enable you to provide security for your family and the means for you to give them the best possible life.
This shows ambition (hard work in other word), responsibility and highest possible motivation (the employer may know the work isn't very motivating!).

I would balance with the statement that that you need to be happy and challenged in your work role to help drive you towards your goals.

C_Mababejive

The fact that i have a good job which pays good money and has good benefits. Its not all tickety boo and has some gruesome bits but heres the important bit...I could be doing a lot worse.

Thats why i do it to the best of my ability and when i feel bad,i just think...i could be a lot worse off.

minerva_windsong

Making a positive contribution (I use that rather than 'making a difference' as in what I do it's quite hard to make a difference directly, if you see what I mean), and new challenges.

Mattjimf

Being challenged and learning something new.

I really don't care how much I get paid, if I'm working in a job where I'm given the chance to learn something new or where the job means I have to solve a problem or situation I'll be happy, if it's both then it's even better.

terra_ferma

I think this debate is a bit pointless if we don't know what field of work we are talking about.
If you say money in my line of work people will genuinely laugh and think you are joking, or think you have gone to the wrong interview, as in the public/non-profit sector money is not very good, and getting worse.
However, I expect that if I went for a sales job and I said making a difference and provide excellent services to the community, they would escort me out of the building...

terra_ferma

Mattjimf wrote: »

Being challenged and learning something new.

I really don't care how much I get paid, if I'm working in a job where I'm given the chance to learn something new or where the job means I have to solve a problem or situation I'll be happy, if it's both then it's even better.

Don't take it the wrong way... but if you said that to me I would never give you a job. Unless you were clearly someone with a lot of money who wants to work because you have nothing better to do (and I know people like that, strange as it may sound...)

I would think you are taking the pixel, just trying to give what you think is the best answer.

Chuzzle

terra_ferma wrote: »

I think this debate is a bit pointless if we don't know what field of work we are talking about.
If you say money in my line of work people will genuinely laugh and think you are joking, or think you have gone to the wrong interview, as in the public/non-profit sector money is not very good, and getting worse.
However, I expect that if I went for a sales job and I said making a difference and provide excellent services to the community, they would escort me out of the building...

I'm talking about admin jobs for any sector. She was asked this over the phone by a recruitment agency after a couple of seconds of thought her reply was "having a clear desk at the end of each day", the person on the other end of the phone quickly went onto the next question!

All the comments so far have given me food for thought and I realise now what motivates me and it is challenges, which I'm not really getting in my current job so I'm thinking maybe Customer Services is a better job to go for, rather than admin/purchase ledger