This question aims to determine whether you find your career rewarding and enjoy your work or if you are good at what you do and want to build a reputation for it, or if you landed in this career and simply do it for the money. When answering this question, consider what the interviewer is looking for in their ideal candidate.
They are looking for someone with a desire to learn and grow, who finds their work challenging. They want someone who finds making a difference for their company to be a rewarding experience, are loyal, have a sense of duty. They want someone who strives towards further opportunities for advancing their career with them. Such a long-term candidate provides them with a clear roadmap for keeping them satisfied in their career. Then some are simply good at what they do, like to be recognized for it, desire to make a name for themselves, and are competitive towards that aim. Such candidates might be worth hiring, yet could pose red flags, such as not being a team player and being more focused on their own goals over the teams. Lastly, those looking to be rewarded through compensation will likely be passed over since they are up for the highest bidder and potentially would be a short-term hire, launching them back into the lengthy and expensive recruitment process.
