How to answer what motivates you

Hi there,

You do not need to force this question into the STAR format. “What motivates you?” is less about recounting one specific event and more about showing self awareness, values, and a credible connection to the role.

A clear way to structure your answer is:

1. Name one or two genuine motivators, such as solving complex problems, learning quickly, creating tangible impact, working with others, or helping people develop
2. Support them with a short example from work, university, or an extracurricular activity
3. Connect them to the role by explaining why that environment would allow you to pursue those motivators

For example:

“I am most motivated by turning complex and ambiguous problems into practical solutions. I realised this while leading a cross functional university project, where I enjoyed bringing different perspectives together and building a clear plan. That is one reason consulting appeals to me: I would be able to work on diverse business challenges while collaborating closely with teams and clients.”

The answer does not have to be unusual. It needs to be specific, honest, and supported by an example. Avoid choosing a motivation simply because it sounds impressive, as interviewers will often ask follow up questions.

For further help with motivation and other personal fit questions, see our guide on Tell Me About Yourself and the Three Whys and practise with the Stress Questions tool.

Note: This question was asked some time ago, but preparing authentic motivation answers remains relevant for many candidates today. Sign up for free to access further preparation resources and connect with the PrepLounge community.

It's important to provide a genuine response that aligns with your personal values and professional goals. Here's a structured approach :
Reflect on Personal Values
Relate to Professional Goals
Provide Examples
Stay Positive and Authentic
 

Example Response:
"What motivates me is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact. I thrive on challenges that allow me to problem-solve and innovate, whether it's improving processes, creating new solutions, or mentoring others. For instance, in my previous role, I was driven by the chance to lead a team through a major project that not only achieved our targets ahead of schedule but also improved overall efficiency by implementing streamlined procedures. This experience showed me the power of teamwork and innovation in driving success. I am excited about the prospect of contributing my skills and motivation to your team, particularly in roles that involve [mention specific aspects of the job or company mission that align with your motivation]."

By structuring your answer around these points, you can effectively convey what motivates you while demonstrating how it relates to your professional journey and the specific role or organization you're interested in.

Hi there,

Focus on three things:

1. Structure: You don't need the STAR framework for this but could still number your points and signpost them before diving deeper into it - similar to a case framework you present
2. Authenticiy: It's not about being cliche or not. It's about being authentic and discussing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation honestly. Interviews can spot if an answer is genuine (e.g., you are motivated by seeing progress in the people you are working with)
3. Examples: Provide examples from your life to support these statements (e.g., you remember a situation where you coached a fellow student and saw them improve on a specific topic)

Don't overthink it!

Cheers,

Florian

Hi there,

I would be happy to share my thoughts on your question:

• First of all, I would advise you not to force-fit your answers into a canned framework such as STAR or PARADE, but simply make a meaningful structure that does justice to the answer.
• Moreover, from my perspective, there are no universally valid examples as this really depends on your personal situation.
• Lastly, I would highly advise you to focus on authenticity, not uniqueness. Although it may be refreshing for an interviewer to hear a different answer to this question - if what you say is what you feel, there is no need to worry.

If you would like a more detailed discussion on how to best prepare for your upcoming interviews, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.

Best,

Hagen

That's a great question. 

Start by genuinely thinking what is the answer to this question for you. 

You might come up with several things.

Figure out which of them is most relevant for your aspiration to become a consultant. 

Then communicate it through a story example of you exhibiting that motivation and sense of purpose. 

Aim to deliver it in 2-3 minutes.

That's about it. 

Best,
Cristian

hey!

helpful examples could be your dreams, goals, or values. Be aware of what your values are and how they motivate what you do in daily life and what you strive for (general dreams, career goals, life goals, etc.). 

BR, 

Alessa

You don't need “star”. You need structure and compelling storytelling. [not saying one shouldn't use star, just saying that it is not mandatory].

What motivates you is a variant of “why should we hire you” or “why are you a good fit to consulting”.

It is fine to be cliché. What really matters here is that your answer is aligned with what consultants do and underlines your specific strengths.