Knowing What You Want in Your Next Job
By Carole Martin
Question – “When have you been most motivated?”
This question is more than an interview question; it is a
question that you should be asking yourself before the interview.
When have you been most satisfied in your work? When did you feel
like you were making a difference or making a contribution?
Basically, it’s about knowing what you want.
A simple exercise that will help you answer this question will
also help you look inside yourself to think about what you want
“more of,” and what you want “less of” in your next job. People
usually perform at a higher level if they are satisfied with the
work that they do -- and as a result are more motivated to give
100% - plus.
Exercise to Find the Answer
An exercise that will help you with the answer to this question
as well as to assist you in looking inward to determine when you
were working at your fullest potential is a simple one. Begin by
making a list of the tasks at your last job -- the tasks that you
were particularly proud of, or were energized by. In other words,
“when your job turned you on.” Think about the last time you were
so involved in a project or task that you woke up thinking about
how you could improve the situation. Write those experiences down
and try to determine what the factors were that were satisfying
for you.
Let’s say you were a “Project Leader.” The tasks list would read
something like – “Led a team - Coordinated and monitored project
progress - Assured the flow and completion of work on schedule –
Monitored expenditures and budget.”
What were the stimulating tasks of this job? Was it the
leadership aspect? Or, was it the challenge of coordinating the
details, and people? Was it completing the project on time or
below budget? Were there customers involved (internal or
external) – if so, is that what you found most challenging? What
didn't you like, and hope that you will do less of in your next
job?
After you have written this list for your current job, try doing
the same thinking about previous jobs. If you recently graduated
from college, use the classes that were most stimulating and
interesting for you, or the projects you worked on with teams.
By making lists of motivating experiences from your last two or
three jobs, you will hopefully begin to see patterns of projects
and tasks that stand out. Analyze what you did before. Do you
want more of this type of responsibility in your next job? The
answers to these questions will give you the answer to the
motivation question as well as possibilities for fulfillment in
future jobs that have similar responsibilities.
Take this list of motivating experiences and script an answer to
the question, “What motivates you?” Scripting answers prepares
you and also makes you sound more confident.
The Perfect Answer
There is no such thing as the “perfect” answer to this question.
Your answer will be individual and based on your own experience
and analysis. It will reveal to the interviewer and to yourself
what you thrive on in your work. Even if you are not asked this
question, your pre-interview thinking, analysis, and scripting,
will help you be more focused and in control of want you want in
your next job. Knowing what you want will make you feel more
confident about finding the right job.
Carole Martin is a celebrated author, trainer, and an interview coach.
Her books, "Interview Fitness Training Workbook" and "Boost Your
Interview IQ" (McGraw Hill) have sold thousands of copies world-wide.
Receive Carole's FREE job interview tips by visiting her web site at:
http://www.interviewcoach.com