Who would you say inspires you?
In most discussions, you will get one or two personal questions to see how you present yourself. You want to be able to articulate yourself well, responding politely and even passionately when appropriate.
An excellent way to respond to this question is by sharing a story about a person who has been a positive influence on you and your career. If your dad motivated you to push through to finish your education, talk about how that impacted you. Discuss someone who showed you that it was possible to overcome even the most significant obstacles. Tell the story of the person who taught you the skills that brought you to the interview. Any of these options are likely to resonate well with the interviewer.
"I am inspired by my vision of who I dreamed I would be as a child. I loved to engineer all sorts of ships and aircrafts out of Legos when I was younger. My imagination had no bounds, and I was constantly upgrading the features of each design to add value and try new things. I imagined I would one day be an engineer that would design and build the kinds of aerospace technology you develop here at BAE Systems. I have leaned on that vision for inspiration at every step of my career, and I am excited about the opportunity to bring it to life here if selected for the role."
"I have always been inspired by my grandfather. He is the person who gave me an initial interest in the aerospace field. He is the hardest working person I know, and he taught me how important it is to read and continually grow. Because of him, I always seek to learn."
Remember to show your preparedness for the interview by having an immediate answer. The only wrong answer here is, "I don't know." You can even consider describing your ideal future self as your inspiration.
"I am inspired by one of my professors in college. She worked in the aerospace and defense industry for years and is very passionate about educating the engineers of the future to develop responsible and intelligent solutions. I have learned a lot from her, and I hope to find a mentor with the same passion for teaching if hired for the open position."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I’d like to say that my mother. She was a single mum for most of my childhood with little to no help, yet she was a very successful businesswoman for 30 years. She showed me, that it is possible to be a woman, and be a leader.
Krista's Feedback
What a lovely response. It shows you are caring and value family, especially your mum. Perhaps you could add a bit more about how she inspired you to achieve your goals.
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