What Motivates You
Beyond salary, what truly motivates you to come to work every day and perform at your best?
Why Interviewers Ask This
Interviewers ask this to assess cultural alignment and intrinsic drive, specifically looking for passion beyond financial compensation. At Uber, they need candidates who are motivated by the mission of moving the world's people and goods, ensuring you will remain resilient during high-pressure situations and committed to solving complex logistical challenges long-term.
How to Answer This Question
1. Identify your core driver: Pinpoint a specific non-monetary value like problem-solving, autonomy, or user impact that resonates with Uber's fast-paced environment.
2. Connect to the mission: Explicitly link your motivation to Uber's goal of optimizing transportation networks or improving global mobility.
3. Provide a concrete narrative: Use a brief STAR-like structure (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to describe a past moment where this internal drive led to tangible success.
4. Highlight resilience: Mention how this motivation helps you navigate setbacks or ambiguous problems common in gig economy platforms.
5. Keep it forward-looking: Conclude by explaining how this same drive will fuel your contribution to Uber's future projects and team goals.
Key Points to Cover
- Demonstrating alignment with Uber's mission of moving the world
- Showing intrinsic drive through a specific, measurable past achievement
- Highlighting resilience and problem-solving in high-pressure scenarios
- Proving you understand the scale and complexity of Uber's operations
- Focusing on user impact rather than personal career advancement alone
Sample Answer
What truly motivates me is the opportunity to solve complex, real-world problems that have a direct, measurable impact on people's daily lives. While I appreciate fair compensation, my deepest satisfaction comes from bui…
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Focusing too heavily on salary or benefits, which signals a lack of genuine interest in the company's mission
- Giving vague answers like 'I love learning' without connecting them to specific business outcomes or Uber's context
- Describing external rewards such as promotions or public recognition as primary drivers instead of internal satisfaction
- Failing to provide a concrete example that proves your stated motivation actually translates to performance
Sound confident on this question in 5 minutes
Answer once and get a 30-second AI critique of your structure, content, and delivery. First attempt is free — no signup needed.