It is often said that a career in healthcare is a 'thankless job.' How can we keep you motivated and engaged, even on the days when you feel your work goes unnoticed?

How to Answer
1st Answer Example
2nd Answer Example

The interviewer would like to know how they could continue to motivate you - even on the hardest of days. Employers like UHN want to ensure their employees feel recognized and rewarded for their achievements. When employees feel recognized, morale and performance are boosted. Individuals have different preferences regarding how they like to be recognized, so be honest and genuine in your response. Consider various ways recognition is given (public praise in a staff meeting, a private email or chat from your manager, monetary rewards, employee of the month, etc.) and include those you enjoy receiving.

"My chosen career was helping people at exactly the point they were least capable of censoring themselves or giving back. So, I stopped needing thanks from my patients. It's not like I don't need positive reinforcement. Everyone does. But I made a point to find it in other places instead of expecting it from my patients. Nowadays, I make an effort to expressly thank the people I work with when they do a good job. I focus on being grateful to be allowed to see private, raw, emotional parts of people's lives."

"I am an easily motivated individual, and it does not take much to keep me engaged. I am fully aware that healthcare-related positions can seem thankless. Honestly, the best thanks that I can get is a pat on the back now and then. The majority of my motivation comes from simply helping people."

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How to Answer: It is often said that a career in healthcare is a 'thankless job.' How can we keep you motivated and engaged, even on the days when you feel your work goes unnoticed?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for an UHN job interview.

7. It is often said that a career in healthcare is a 'thankless job.' How can we keep you motivated and engaged, even on the days when you feel your work goes unnoticed?

How to Answer

The interviewer would like to know how they could continue to motivate you - even on the hardest of days. Employers like UHN want to ensure their employees feel recognized and rewarded for their achievements. When employees feel recognized, morale and performance are boosted. Individuals have different preferences regarding how they like to be recognized, so be honest and genuine in your response. Consider various ways recognition is given (public praise in a staff meeting, a private email or chat from your manager, monetary rewards, employee of the month, etc.) and include those you enjoy receiving.

Written by Jaymie Payne on April 22nd, 2023

1st Answer Example

"My chosen career was helping people at exactly the point they were least capable of censoring themselves or giving back. So, I stopped needing thanks from my patients. It's not like I don't need positive reinforcement. Everyone does. But I made a point to find it in other places instead of expecting it from my patients. Nowadays, I make an effort to expressly thank the people I work with when they do a good job. I focus on being grateful to be allowed to see private, raw, emotional parts of people's lives."

2nd Answer Example

"I am an easily motivated individual, and it does not take much to keep me engaged. I am fully aware that healthcare-related positions can seem thankless. Honestly, the best thanks that I can get is a pat on the back now and then. The majority of my motivation comes from simply helping people."

Next Question