How to answer this interview question: What motivates you?

[xirtam]

I got asked that once in an interview. Here was my canned response to this management question and others like it.

"In my experience, there's only one thing that will motivate an apathetic individual. That one thing is trauma. As biological organisms, we behave in biological ways. One of the characteristics common to biological organisms is that we all respond to stimuli. There isn't necessarily one stimulus that is responsible for motivating an individual... it's a collection of things. But some people -- the "apathetic" people -- have built up a tolerance for stimuli such that they are "dead" to most common means of motivation. I am not an apathetic person, and hence am able to respond to both positive and negative means of motivation. I don't feel a need to build walls to shelter me from experiencing life. Thus, I respond to pretty much every possible means of motivation excepting, of course, unethical and illegal means. You did bring chocolate to this interview, didn't you?"

I got the job.

 

[benliong]

Originally posted by: xirtam
I got asked that once in an interview. Here was my canned response to this management question and others like it.

"In my experience, there's only one thing that will motivate an apathetic individual. That one thing is trauma. As biological organisms, we behave in biological ways. One of the characteristics common to biological organisms is that we all respond to stimuli. There isn't necessarily one stimulus that is responsible for motivating an individual... it's a collection of things. But some people -- the "apathetic" people -- have built up a tolerance for stimuli such that they are "dead" to most common means of motivation. I am not an apathetic person, and hence am able to respond to both positive and negative means of motivation. I don't feel a need to build walls to shelter me from experiencing life. Thus, I respond to pretty much every possible means of motivation excepting, of course, unethical and illegal means. You did bring chocolate to this interview, didn't you?"

I got the job.

in Neo's words: "Wow"
did they ask for a written reply?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Not much anymore.

 

[xirtam]

Naw, they didn't ask for a written reply.

Of course, what I was thinking was probably Neo's words: "Guns. Lots of guns."

 

[benliong]

Originally posted by: xirtam
Naw, they didn't ask for a written reply.

Of course, what I was thinking was probably Neo's words: "Guns. Lots of guns."

You are the one.

What other stupid in-the-air questions can a interviewer ask?

 

[xirtam]

There are a ton of them. I've thought about them for awhile and developed canned responses to all that I could think up. I can go for up to 3-4 minutes on any management-related question at the drop of a hat. They like that. It's like giving a dog a chew toy.

 

[HKSturboKID]

Well, I would say....

I get motivated when I get my 2 minute power nap at around 2pm. With that I am motivated and energetic and more productive.

 

[StageLeft]

Comfort. The acquisition of it while minimizing the lack of it while reaching that goal.

 

[guyver01]

I am motivated by money. I will do anything for money. Give me a job and i'll prove it to you.