What motivates you?
Questions about how to motivate you as an employee are less about how to ensure your job satisfaction, although this is one component. Instead, it is a question of how they can help you achieve your career goals, ensuring long-term, continual development that is mutually beneficial in your professional relationship. Use this question as an opportunity to provide a road map for how they can help you reach your professional milestones and career goals and at what intervals you hope to achieve them. Offer your insights on how a career with them can make your aspirations tangible.
Consider Vodafone's value propositions on this subject: "Find your motivation. Whether it's designing the latest products or leading new initiatives, there's always something exciting happening at Vodafone. What keeps our people motivated? A passion for innovation. A need to make a difference. And a culture of recognition. Help us embrace different ways of working to stay connected as an organisation, to share ideas for improving the lives of our customers and create exciting opportunities for our people. Join us here, and you'll find inspiration at every turn."
Avoid giving a vague answer, such as, 'I don't know. I think I might like to move up into a leadership position one day.' This offers no parameter for when you expect to get there. Being vague and unassertive can make you seem unfocused and lacking ambition. Without preset parameters, they can dangle that carrot in front of you for years, and you may never reach it.
"Being celebrated for my accomplishments and rewarded with more responsibility. Being recognized fairly for my merits and contributions, making career advancement opportunities attainable, and in line with my career plans. When leadership takes the time to mentor me, it reassures me that I will have a greater chance of success in reaching my goals."