Tell me about your last manager. What did they do to motivate you?

"My last manager was tough when it was required and gave kudos when it was deserved. It was a tough love type of relationship. It helped guide me to become self-motivated. I did not need to wait for feedback from him to keep going on a day to day basis. Also, as a manager, I now know that consistent feedback is important for my team members."

"I was motivated by my previous manager through opportunities for earning bonus' and in-store credits. She knew how to make us competitive but still keep the competition friendly. It was a fun environment, and I was sad to see her go when a competitor poached her."

"My last manager was one of the greatest creative minds I have ever worked for. I learned so much and was motivated to come to work every day. When I am in an environment of constant learning, where things do not become stale, I stay incredibly engaged."

"In my most recent role, I spent a lot of time working on the road, so I did not see my manager all too often. She kept me motivated through words of encouragement and openly recognizing any wins, big or small that I experienced along the way. She was also very quick to provide positive customer feedback which I enjoyed."

"The principal whom I now work for is quite hands off and allows a lot of independence in the classroom. I like this because it shows me that she has an appreciation and trust for my teaching methods. I am best motivated when I know that I have the room to work with my ideas and vision for my students' learning."

This question is a two-part inquiry where the interviewer first wants to see how you speak about your most recent manager. The second part is that the interviewer wants to know how to motivate you on the job best. Be sure to always speak highly of your previous boss, no matter the situation. Even if you did not appreciate their management style, this is the time to dig deep and think of at least one positive.

"My last manager had an open door policy which was refreshing. She encouraged questions and new ideas. I appreciated her management style because it instilled confidence in me."

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.