“What makes you tick?” is one of the most commonly asked interview questions. It’s also one of the most difficult to answer correctly. Here’s how to respond when an interviewer asks this question.

What “What Makes You Tick” Means

The “What Makes You Tick?” question is a great way to find out if you are a good fit for the job. It also helps employers get to know you as a person and see how your personality would mesh with the team at their organization.

The question asks about your passions, interests, and motivations—which can be hard to answer in just one sentence! So, if you think this is too much information for an interviewee, take some time before answering it to think about what makes YOU tick!

What interviewers want to hear

The “tick” is a word that’s used in job interviews to describe the personality of an employee. It’s meant to reflect their interests and hobbies, which could be anything from playing soccer or tennis to collecting stamps.

The interviewer wants to know what makes you tick—and why? You’ll be asked about all sorts of things during your interview, but these are some of the most common questions:

• What do you do when no one is watching? If a friend was interviewing for this position, what would they want from me as an applicant? What motivates me (and how)?
• Do I have any notable accomplishments or awards that show my capabilities as an employee or team member? How can we encourage more people like me to join our team (or department)?
• Is there anything else you’d like me to know about yourself? This is a common question in interviews, and it’s important that you don’t leave anything out. There may be some things that are obvious, but it’s still good practice to list them out anyway.

These can be things like your education, family history, and hobbies. It’s okay to talk about yourself without sounding boastful or arrogant. Let the interviewer know that you’re interested in learning more about their company and the position.

Responding to “What Makes You Tick”

If you’re asked, “What makes you tick?” It’s important to be honest and not too specific. You don’t want the interviewer to think that they have a good answer for this question, but they still need something more specific than “I’m just me.”

If you were being interviewed by an interviewer who wanted more information on this topic, consider giving them the following example:

• I like eating at restaurants with my family because it gives us time together as a family.
• My favorite place to eat is a Thai restaurant called Pho Duyen because their food is always great!
• They have a great selection of dishes, and the menu is easy to read. They also have good prices, which is important for our family because we’re often on a tight budget.

These are all great things to say about a restaurant, and they give the interviewer a better idea of what you like about this particular establishment. If you’re interviewing for a job in retail or hospitality, consider mentioning how clean the store is, how friendly the staff is, and how well-organized everything appears to be.

How to Answer “What Makes You Tick” in an Interview

When answering this question, you should be honest but not too detailed. You want to keep it simple and connect it back to the job you’re interviewing for.

For example: “I like working with people because I enjoy helping them find ways to make their lives better.” This answer can work well because it’s short and simple while still being honest enough that they’ll know what they’re getting when they hire someone who has those traits in common with themselves.

Remember to be honest, keep it simple, and connect it to the job you’re interviewing for

Be honest. Don’t be afraid to say the things that you feel, even if they don’t necessarily align with the job description or company values. If you’re bringing up a personal issue and it doesn’t relate directly to what they are looking for in an employee, think twice before sharing it with them.

Keep it simple. This can be tricky because many interviewers like their candidates to have an answer ready at all times, but if you’re not comfortable answering this question right away, don’t worry about making one up on the spot—you’ll have plenty of time during the rest of your interview process (questions will come up!) so just relax!

Connect it back to what they are looking for in an employee by explaining how your experience relates specifically to their needs without going into too much detail about past jobs because those details may not matter anymore once hired.

It’s important to remember that your interviewers are not looking for you to tell them how great you are—they want to know why they should hire you and how you will specifically benefit their company.

So make sure your answer centers around this point by connecting it back to what they are looking for in an employee by explaining how your experience relates specifically to their needs without going into too much detail about past jobs because those details may not matter anymore once hired.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a job, it’s important to understand what “what makes you tick” means in an interview. It is not just about answering the question directly but also about how you describe your personality traits and experiences that would make you a good fit for the position being offered. This will help prepare you for any questions that may arise during an actual interview.

Your resume should reflect who you are and what you have done. It should be able to stand on its own, so that the reader can get a sense of your accomplishments and skills without having to read about them in detail. The more interesting, unique, and relevant your background is to the position being offered, the better chance you have of getting hired.

If you need help with your resume, we have a team of experts who can help you create a document that will get you noticed by potential employers.