For job seekers, it’s critically important to ensure that the role you’re considering aligns with your motivations. We spend most of our waking hours working, and when you’re misaligned in a role, daily work can feel like a slog.
The best time to ensure you’re in a job that fits with your motivation is to ask pointed questions during the interview process. If you’re looking for a job now and interviewing with prospective employers, look for signs that your job aligns with your key Motivational Dimensions.
Aligning your new job with motivation is paramount
Finding a job that aligns with your core motivations isn’t just about career satisfaction – it’s essential for long-term success and fulfillment. When your work resonates with your innate motivational drivers, you’re more likely to stay engaged, perform at your best, and find deep meaning in what you do.
Your unique motivational pattern is enduring and irresistible. It will express itself regardless of your environment. This means that working in a role that conflicts with your core motivations can lead to:
- Frustration
- Burnout
- Diminished performance
Even if you have the skills to do the job well, if it isn’t in your motivational sweet spot, each day may seem futile.
For example, a Relator in an isolated role with little team interaction may struggle to find satisfaction, while an Achiever in a position without opportunities for recognition or advancement might feel stifled, regardless of their competence.
A job with the right fit benefits
By actively seeking positions that match your Motivational Dimension, you’re not just choosing a job – you’re creating an environment where you can thrive, contribute meaningfully, and sustain your passion over the long term. The effort invested in finding this alignment pays dividends not just in job satisfaction, but also in your overall well-being and career trajectory.
Benefits of working in a job that matches your Motivational Dimension include:
Increased job satisfaction
When your work activities match what naturally energizes you, you experience greater fulfillment and wake up looking forward to each day.
Sustained peak performance
You’re more likely to consistently perform at your best because you’re drawing from internal motivation rather than external pressure.
Natural engagement
Rather than forcing yourself to stay focused, you become naturally immersed in tasks that align with your core motivational patterns.
Reduced stress and burnout
When work aligns with your motivations, it feels less draining and more energizing, helping prevent emotional exhaustion.
Enhanced productivity
You accomplish more with less effort because the work resonates with your natural drivers and motivation patterns.
Greater career advancement
When operating from your motivational sweet spot, you’re more likely to stand out and create meaningful impact in your role.
Authentic self-expression
You can be yourself at work rather than trying to fit into a role that doesn’t match your natural motivational patterns.
Increased resilience
When faced with challenges, you’re more likely to persist because the work connects to your core motivational drivers.
Deeper professional relationships
Understanding and working from your motivations helps you collaborate more effectively and build stronger workplace connections.
These benefits emerge when there’s alignment between your unique Motivation Code and your daily work activities, leading to both professional success and personal fulfillment.
Ask the right questions
Asking the right questions during the interview process can uncover hidden opportunities or even red flags. It also highlights that you’re proactively evaluating the position and your fit in the organization. This inquisitiveness highlights your ability to be self-driven and directed and innovative. It also shows that you’re performing the due diligence of a high performer.
Achievers
- What opportunities exist for individual recognition and advancement?
- How does the company celebrate and reward outstanding performance?
- Can you describe how high performers are differentiated and developed within the organization?
- What metrics are used to evaluate individual success in this role?
Drivers
- What are the most significant challenges this role will tackle?
- How does the organization set and track progress toward goals?
- What would success look like in the first 6-12 months?
- Can you describe a recent obstacle the team overcame and how they approached it?
Influencers
- What opportunities exist to shape and influence company direction?
- How does this role contribute to developing others?
- Can you share examples of how employees have successfully implemented new ideas?
- What impact could I make in this position beyond the core responsibilities?
Learners
- What professional development opportunities does the company provide?
- How does the organization support continuing education and skill development?
- What resources are available for research and learning new technologies/methodologies?
- How does the team share knowledge and expertise?
Optimizers
- What processes or systems need improvement in this role?
- How receptive is the organization to process improvement suggestions?
- Can you describe a recent efficiency improvement that was implemented?
- What systems are in place for gathering and implementing optimization ideas?
Orchestrators
- How much autonomy is given in planning and organizing projects?
- What opportunities exist to lead and direct strategic initiatives?
- How does the organization approach project planning and execution?
- Can you describe the decision-making structure for major initiatives?
Relators
- How does the team collaborate on projects?
- What team-building activities or initiatives does the company support?
- Can you describe the team culture and how people work together?
- What opportunities exist for mentoring or supporting other team members?
Visionaries
- How does the organization approach innovation and new ideas?
- What opportunities exist to shape the future direction of products/services?
- Can you share examples of how creative thinking has been implemented?
- How receptive is the organization to exploring new approaches or solutions?
For all Motivational Dimensions
- Listen carefully to the interviewer’s responses for alignment with your motivational needs.
- Ask follow-up questions to dig deeper into areas most important to your Dimension.
- Consider requesting to speak with potential teammates to gain additional perspective.
- Look for concrete examples rather than general assurances.
- Pay attention to the interviewer’s enthusiasm (or lack thereof) when discussing areas important to your motivations.
Remember to frame questions professionally and be prepared to discuss how your motivational drivers would benefit the organization. The goal is to determine genuine alignment while demonstrating thoughtful interest in the role.
You’re interviewing an employer as much as they’re interviewing you
If you’re looking for a job now and interviewing with prospective employers, it’s really up to you to look for signs that your job aligns with your key Motivational Dimensions. No one knows your motivations as well as you do, especially if you’ve gone through the Motivation Code assessment. If you haven’t yet taken MCode, you can do so easily.
If you’re paying attention and asking the right questions, a new employer will tell you in the first few minutes if the job is right for you. But the key is knowing yourself and what drives you. Once you fully understand who you are and what you need as a high performer, saying yes to the perfect job becomes much easier.
