What motivates you at work?
How you answer this question should inform your interviewer of what you are looking for when it comes to ensuring your job satisfaction, and your confidence that you can find that here at Vanguard. Whatever your motivators, which should be unique to you, come informed with what they advertise they offer their employees. "When we're recognized for what we do well and can recognize others in meaningful ways, it cultivates feelings of inclusion, connection, and belonging, as well as makes our work feel more impactful. Our Recognition@Vanguard program makes it easy to extend social recognition or award 'points' to peers as a fun way to say thank you."
This question serves as an opportunity to establish your expectations, and to avoid falling into the trappings of a carrot-and-stick career progression. By setting up clear expectations and specific timelines for when you hope to achieve each of your career goals and their milestones by, you'll be setting up yourself for success in making your five-year career plan attainable. However, if you specify that you'd like to be rewarded with opportunities for advancement, you have set no parameters for when they need to fulfill their obligations, resulting in a carrot-and-stick career progression. Lastly, avoid suggesting that you are motivated by financial perks, as you'll only be advertising that you are only in it for the money, and motivated by little else. This suggests you can be bought by the highest bidder, and may likely salary springboard the first chance you get.
"I am very competitive with myself, as it were. I enjoy learning something new, mastering skills, and planning out what I need to learn next according to my career goals. When I start to get good at something, I love repeating it until I master it and look forward to the next challenge. I am motivated by attaining my career goals according to the timelines I have set up for myself. Lastly, I'd say I am motivated by camaraderie, close collaboration, and the high energy of driving the team to score every goal. Yeah, being part of a winning team. Nothing more motivating than that."
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