How To Answer “What Gets You Up In The Morning?” (With Examples)

Interviewers often pose the question, “What gets you up in the morning?” or “What fuels your passion?” This inquiry goes beyond simple answers like “my morning coffee” or “breakfast.” They are genuinely interested in understanding what drives you.

This article will guide you on how to articulate your response to “What gets you up in the morning?” with a focus on what interviewers seek in your answer. We’ll also provide illustrative example answers to help you craft your perfect response.

Key Takeaways:

• Share what motivates you on both a personal and professional level.

• Incorporate storytelling into your answer, showcasing your skills and strengths.

• Keep your response professional and concise to respect the interviewer’s time.

Why Interviewers Ask This

Interviews are designed for hiring managers to gauge how you would fit into their team. Thus, be prepared for personal questions like this one. This question helps interviewers understand your core values, what you prioritize in life, and what drives your motivation. Surprisingly, they are interested in more than just your academic and professional background.

If you’ve been waiting for the opportunity to discuss your true passions, this is your moment to shine.

Answering this question effectively is a chance to differentiate yourself from other candidates and demonstrate your value to potential employers.

How to Answer “What Gets You Up in the Morning?”

You will likely encounter this question during your job search.

Failing to answer thoughtfully or providing a generic response could be detrimental. Here’s how to impress them:

• Discuss your motivations. As previously mentioned, interviewers want to know what inspires you. While your response should relate to your professional background, feel free to incorporate personal values that enhance your professionalism.

• Share your career goals. This is an excellent way to demonstrate your ambition. Discuss your future aspirations, and be prepared with accomplishments that illustrate how your motivations have driven success.

• Reflect on your values. Consider what motivates you in life — a desire to contribute, help others, or give back to your community. Personal motivations can humanize you and ease the interview process.

• Use storytelling. This question lends itself well to narrative responses. Explain why your values matter, how you intend to integrate them into your career, or how they have influenced your career path.

• Be confident. Highlight specific tasks you excel at and how they energize you throughout the day. Show pride in your work — your reasons for working are as vital as your qualifications.

• Be detailed. Showcase your strengths and background with examples from your work or education that relate to the job’s required skills.

• Connect your motivations to your qualifications. While your motivations are essential, don’t overlook your qualifications. Ensure your response highlights how your motivations contribute to your success.

“What Gets You Up in the Morning?” Examples

Don’t bore your interviewer with mundane answers; instead, energize them with compelling examples:

1. “What Gets You Up In The Morning” Adding Value Example Answer

   Aside from a strong cup of coffee, the opportunity to add tangible value for someone is what truly motivates me. I thrive on working towards measurable results and understanding their impact on people, the business, and myself.

   And yes, caffeine is a must — no decaf here!

2. “What Gets You Up In The Morning” Healthcare Example Answer

   My passion for helping others is my greatest motivation. Knowing I can educate and assist someone through my work keeps me energized throughout the day.

   Making a difference in someone’s life is what led me to pursue a career in healthcare.

   Why it’s a good answer: This response clearly articulates the candidate’s values and how they align with their career choice, emphasizing the fulfillment they derive from their work.

3. “What Gets You Up In The Morning” Green Industry Example Answer

   My primary motivation is to enhance the world around me.

   I’ve realized that I can positively impact the environment through sustainability. While studying Sustainable Technology, I discovered my passion for renewable energy, especially solar. I’m driven by the prospect of maintaining and installing these technologies, knowing I’m contributing to environmental preservation.

   In the future, I aspire to become a project manager and help others create a sustainable impact.

   Why it’s a good answer: This candidate effectively connects their values to their industry, highlighting their qualifications and future ambitions.

4. “What Gets You Up In The Morning” Statistics and Data Analysis Example Answer

   Curiosity is what drives me. Since childhood, I’ve been fascinated by data and statistics, which is why I love being a data analyst. The desire to continually learn and grow in this field motivates me every day.

   I strive to integrate learning into my daily routine, whether it’s through an online course or insightful YouTube videos — it’s enriching and keeps me at the cutting edge of my industry.

   Why it’s a good answer: This response emphasizes the candidate’s genuine passion for learning and growth, showcasing a proactive mindset that recruiters value.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

With such an open-ended question, it’s easy to lose focus. Here’s how to stay on track:

• Use personal examples, but not too personal. Share how your desire to help others may lead you to volunteer, but avoid overly personal anecdotes that distract from your professional story.

• Respect the recruiter’s time. Avoid filler content about how much you admire the company; focus instead on how your attributes align with the job.

• Avoid vague statements. Simply stating that you love a particular industry is insufficient. Provide specific examples and articulate why you are passionate about that industry.

• Don’t use uncertain language. Convey enthusiasm through descriptive and positive language. Generic answers may signal a lack of interest, which is not conducive to landing a job.

What Gets You Out of Bed in the Morning FAQ

1. How to answer what gets me out of bed in the morning interview question?

   When responding to “What gets you out of bed in the morning?”, articulate your passions and professional motivations. Ensure your answer maintains a personal touch while remaining relevant to the job.

   Illustrate your response with a narrative that highlights your motivations and how they relate to the skills required for the role.

2. What is a “What gets you up in the morning” example answer?

   An example response could be: “Solving problems to enhance the world around me is what drives me. Since childhood, I’ve enjoyed finding ways to improve efficiency. For instance, during first grade, I created a gift-wrapping assembly line for my family, complete with instructions.

   This passion helps me maintain high efficiency and accuracy in my work, enabling me to develop processes for past employers that improved productivity and minimized errors.

Final Thoughts

Demonstrate that you’ve thoughtfully considered how this job fits into your life. By discussing your future goals and the inspiration behind them, you signal to the interviewer that you are forward-thinking and actively pursuing career advancement.

Every answer you provide during the interview process should aim to distinguish you as the ideal candidate. Sharing personal insights and interests offers a valuable opportunity to set yourself apart from other applicants.

Now that you’re prepared, enjoy your morning coffee. We all know how you truly start your day.

Ask the Experts

How To Answer “What Gets You Up In The Morning?” Tips From An Expert

Debraca Russell
MBA CPCC

“What gets you up in the morning” is a question I genuinely appreciate! It has become the new Tell Me About Yourself (TMAY). I’m eager to hear what drives you. If your answer lacks passion beyond salary, I find it hard to engage with subsequent questions. Every interview question seeks a deeper understanding. Providing superficial answers won’t yield a good return on your investment (ROI) in terms of time and effort during your job search.

Be professional and genuine. My motivation for becoming a career coach stemmed from my desire to be a change agent. I loved the process of interviewing and hiring individuals who needed a chance, such as recent graduates with minimal experience or those with challenging backgrounds. I actively sought opportunities to hire qualified underdogs.

Passion manifests differently across industries. Genuine passion makes it easy to convey your message. For example, asking an artist to explain how to paint is complex, but inviting them to demonstrate is effortless.

References

1. University of New Hampshire – Interview Skills

Author

Maddie Lloyd

Maddie Lloyd was a writer for the Zippia Advice blog focused on researching tips for interview, resume, and cover letter preparation. She's currently a graduate student at North Carolina State University's department of English concentrating in Film and Media Studies.