Best Response

Not saying this is the right interview answer. But as an actual honest answer, it's primarily success - if you can reach a high level of achievement in a field you're interested in, I think that's the main driver of career satisfaction. And I think happiness is largely dependent on three things: a) forming meaningful relationships with others, b) having enough money to secure a comfortable lifestyle (not living paycheck to paycheck), and c) satisfaction with your career, doing something you're interested in and good at.

 

The answer to this should be tailored towards whatever are seen as the greatest strengths/outcomes in whatever industry you are interviewing for.

Very generic/uninspiring examples: IB-Being part of something big and working on a project over time that allows you to see huge results in the end S&T-quick daily results. Live and die by your own contributions. Meritocracy PWM-helping others to improve quality of life and reach a point where the no longer have to worry about money concerns

"I know you think you understand what you thought I said but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
 

I am motivated to drink the blood of my enemies and conquer for the glory of the pastafarian empire.

Totally kidding.

I just tell them I want to become the best at what I do over time. It's general enough and has always worked. SirTrades' answer is probably better advice.

Get busy living
 

What if I said that I want to be a part of an organization that hires the best brains, and I want to attain a position where I can pay it forward by selecting the future top talent?

"He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man." ― William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing
 

It's a good enough answer. Id bet the analyst smirked because he knew its one of those bs questions. You can also go for stuff like I like challenging work environments and feel I perform best under pressure, finance/the markets have always been an interest of mine and I thought I'd get a great view into both, I like to win in your best Charlie Sheen imitation, basic BS lines as long as you don't say money up front. I've had people say a good line and then say secondarily that money was a reason but saying money will turn some people off, which I think is the biggest crock of shit because I'd like to know one person who didn't get into finance because of money.

 
Dingdong08:

It's a good enough answer. Id bet the analyst smirked because he knew its one of those bs questions. You can also go for stuff like I like challenging work environments and feel I perform best under pressure, finance/the markets have always been an interest of mine and I thought I'd get a great view into both, I like to win in your best Charlie Sheen imitation, basic BS lines as long as you don't say money up front. I've had people say a good line and then say secondarily that money was a reason but saying money will turn some people off, which I think is the biggest crock of shit because I'd like to know one person who didn't get into finance because of money.

How times have changed. $$$$$ was the only real acceptable answer back in the day. It was just a question to weed out hippies (which, let's be honest, wasn't a big concern anyway). There's a difference between hoping/liking to make a lot of money and those who will do almost anything to get more money. We wanted the latter.
 

Just to add another two cents in, the only thing I look for in an answer is that it is internal motivation rather than seeking the approval of others. It can be I want to the best I can be, I like a challenge, I want to be like Scrooge McDuck and swim in my vault of gold coins while smoking blunts rolled with $100 bills, my main goal is to have my own harem of women who fan me with grape leaves while stuffing my face with foie gras and fellating me, whatever. Not that I want to impress others.

 

BLUF: There is no way you can answer this question by writing a generic pre-answer. It comes instinctively without thought. Whether it is money, power or whatever your answer needs to be honest. It will rise you up in the morning and take you far. I met an ER analyst who told me his motivation was the chip on his shoulder that he carries into to work since everyone thinks they are better then him. Long story but the point is that hopefully you get my reply.

Family

Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum
 

I've done a little thinking about this. The answer I've come up with is that it depends on the stage in your life and the accumulation of your experiences in life up until this point. Money is a reasonable answer if we're being honest, but, underlying money is a deeper concern.

For instance, passing on your genes is a strong underlying urge in all of us, even if it is subconscious and it seems like you just want to get your dick wet. Money, of course, helps in your efforts to pass along your genes. Money also helps in raising and defending your family, which happens later in life (point #1 does not go away, by the way).

If you want power, it's basically more access to pussy as well. It also helps in raising a family. It's all about passing on little versions of you.

But, what if you're like me and past the point of gene transmission in your life? For me, I am mostly concerned about protecting my reputation from beyond the grave and with passing on my traits (even if not genetic) to future Wall Streeters. You guys are my little versions of me at this stage.

That being said, it's probably not best to use any of this in an interview. Just stick with 'intellectual challenge' or some such bullshit.

Apologies if this doesn't make sense, I'm back on the wagon (or off the wagon, I can never remember which means I'm drinking heavily again).

 

Interesting question. Whats a good way of saying I want to tear shit up (in a good way). By tear shit up I mean: Make $, exceed expectations, win, outperform my competitors, winning, be the guy that helps his competition but still outperforms them, win, win, help others( from a similar or worst of background) win, win, win, win a game of resilience, tear shit up.

Or whats a good response that will be closes to my truth?

 

I feel like that would be a tough one to answer legitimately, especially in a finance interview when prestige and money are part of the equation for many people. During Mock interviews with friends and family I've been asked that numerous times and I'm glad you asked the question because I've been cautious in terms of how to answer the question, especially in a concise manner to an interview - someone non-friend/family.

Side Note: I'm actually really interested in the psychology of motivation, after reading a book called "Drive" by Daniel Pink (Awesome book for Business/Econ/Life)- and many people have a combination of internally and externally derived components of their motivation. The majority of the internal motivation is what really drives you but may not exactly be suited for an interview because it is in many cases "deep" or "emotional" . People whose internal character or personality traits are naturally aligned with your stereotypical go-getter (Competitive, Driven, Ambitious, etc.) can obviously touch on those facts in an interview and back them up with examples through jobs, leadership activities, sports, etc.

Personally I would answer this question by saying something along the lines of how I take pride in anything I do and from a young age and have always been competitive to be the best in anything I do - over time that pride and ambition spilled over into academics, internships and all of my interests...blah blah blah.

I could be TOTALLY WRONG but that's just my take and assumptions. I've yet to be asked this in a real interview yet so hopefully some other WSO members can touch on this and correct me if I'm wrong.

Happiness. Period. Extend upon this with why IB. I want to go into this career because x,y, and z and those things will give me the job satisfaction that I'm looking for as I look to start a career.

In the end what are you really looking for? You're trying to get something that you believe will make you happy. It may or may not actually make you happy, but that is usually the end goal for anyone: pleasure, happiness, what have you.

 

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