“Who, or what inspires you?” “Do you have a role model?” These questions may seem more fitting for another occasion (something more informal), but they are actually pretty common in job interviews. Your role models tell a lot about your values and beliefs, but also about the kind of life you’d like to live, and even the career you dream of having. Sure enough, there are some common mistakes people make while talking about their inspiration and role models in the job interviews. I will explain them in a while, and I will show you some sample answers to these questions too. Let’s start with a picture though.
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The Basics
- Most common interview questions belonging to this area: Who inspires you? What inspires you in life?
- Less common questions belonging to the area: Do you have any role models? If you could meet anyone for a dinner, who would it be? Who is your favorite person in history?
- Out of 10 random jobs, in how many cases will this area be tested during the hiring process: 6/10. Life isn’t easy and most of us have to work hard. Role models and inspiring people help us to overcome challenges, and to try hard even when we do not feel like working, or do not see the fruits of our efforts. What’s more, we typically try to imitate people who inspire us. Hiring managers know that your role models tell a lot about your life, or the life you’d like to live. That’s why you will often face at least one question belonging to this area.
- Difficulty: 3/5. More tricky than it seems. First of all, it is always important to elaborate on your choice, saying why person A or B inspires you. And secondly, because mistakes are quite common here, and most young people have role models that simply aren’t a good choice for an interview answer. But don’t worry, we will have a look at all these things in detail right now.
- Main goals of the hiring managers with questions belonging to this area: Trying to understand more about who you are by understanding who and what inspires you. Figuring out what kind of life you’d like to live, and whether it goes well with the job you are applying for. Assessing how easily you may lose your motivation at work.
- Your main goals with answers to questions belonging to this area: Showing positive role models, inspiring and hardworking people. Convincing the hiring managers that the job you are applying for isn’t in contradiction to the life you hope to live one day. Demonstrating that you can appreciate other people and their achievements.
7 sample answers
Sample answer no. 1: Referring to your family member as your role model:
My mother is my greatest inspiration. She faced a lot of adversity in her life, and had to raise three children as a single mother. She worked extremely hard to provide for us, but I rarely saw her complain about her fate. What I really admire is her enthusiasm for life, and an ability to adapt quickly to changing conditions. I am extremely grateful for being her child, and I cannot thank her enough for everything. Maybe, by following her example in both my personal and professional life, I can pay back what she did for me. At least that’s what I aspire to.
- Quick thing to notice here: You do not have to talk about celebrities and millionaires. Actually sometimes the best role models are people from our own family. Notice how the applicant names particular abilities and attitudes of their mother that will actually help you in any job (“…enthusiasm for life…ability to adapt quickly to changing conditions…”), and also how she explains the adversity their mother faced (“…had to raise three children as a single mother…worked extremely hard…”). This is the way to do it, instead of simply saying that your own mother inspires you the most.
Sample answer no. 2: Hoping to put a dent in the universe:
I am inspired by people who enjoy leaving their comfort zone, and do not mind venturing into the unknown. Be it the famous climbers and athletes I read about in books, or entrepreneurs or scientists who revolutionized the way is which the world functions today. I would also love to leave my mark in this world, and believe that working for your organization, trying to manufacture new ways of distributing renewable green energy to households, I can have such an impact.
- Quick thing to notice about this answer: Answer like this one will work fine only when you apply for jobs in which you can actually leave your mark. Think tech startups, science, and so on. Applying for a typical corporate job or some mundane role in a retail store, this would actually be a bad answer. Because in such places they do not want to hire entrepreneurs and dreamers. In such places to prefer more down-to-earth people who do not dream big.
Sample answer no. 3: Referring to a famous person from history as your role model:
Mother Theresa is my role model, the one person who has inspired me the most. I always felt the calling to help the sick and poor. Today we have more problems and inequality in the world than ever. Working for your non-profit organization, trying to help homeless people and people on the fringe of society to get back on track, I believe I can follow my calling. And I will always carry a small picture of Mother Theresa in my breast pocket, to motivate me to continue trying, even if the results aren’t good, or if I struggle with motivation.
- Quick thing to notice here: Everyone knows Mother Theresa, and her example is definitely inspiring. But just like with the previous answer, it will work well only in certain types of interviews–for social work, healthcare, positions in non-profit organizations, etc. On the contrary, in the corporate world, where greed rules and one knows more enemies than friends, you should opt for another role model.
Sample answer no. 4: A rather philosophical response:
Every person who tries to live in harmony with themselves, other people, and the environment, inspires me. Most people spend their time rushing somewhere, pursuing an illusion of happiness. That’s not the path I’d like to follow. I’m not in for petty corporate wars and daily conflicts with my colleagues, or for trying to make an impression on people around me. No, that’s not my journey. I prefer cooperation to competition, I want to follow healthy and balanced lifestyle, and bring some value to the lives of people around me. And I am lucky enough to have around me few people who are on the same journey, and they are my daily inspiration.
- Quick thing to notice about this answer: The applicant certainly showed a beautiful philosophy of life, one I personally resonate with. But it isn’t a good answer for most job interviews. It will work only in places that follow similar philosophy and promote similar values in the workplace. And that’s maybe 5% of all jobs you can have :). Good match is the key here…
Sample answer no. 5: Job applicant trying to become a role model:
To be honest, instead of looking for role models, I try to become one. I would love to be an inspiration for people around me, for people at work. How do I want to do it? I want to try my best each day, be attentive to the needs of my colleagues, enjoy my time at work, bring some positive energy to the office. And I constantly work on my skills and knowledge, learning new things and languages. I am sure that if my subordinates see such an example, it will be inspiring for them.
- Quick thing to notice here: A nice spin on question about inspiration and role models. I like how they clearly outlined the way to inspire others (“…try my best each day…bring some positive energy to the office…constantly work on my skills..”). Definitely an answer you can stand out with, especially when applying for any managerial role, or for any job in which you’ll lead a team of people.
Sample answer no. 6: Inspired by people who overcame extreme adversity:
I am mostly inspired by people who overcame extreme adversity. People who crossed Siberia while escaping from labor camps for war prisoners, sailors who managed to survive without food for a month or more when shipwrecked on the ocean, or people who pursued innovative ideas that others condemned, and often suffered imprisonment or even dead as a result of their beliefs. Luckily I do not find myself in their shoes, but I still have my personal battles and personal demons I try to conquer. People who overcame much harder obstacles are my inspiration, and they motivate me to continue trying to win in my small daily battles.
- Quick thing to notice here: We all face some adversity in the workplace, and people who overcame extreme adversity can inspire us to deal with our own small battles. Hence it isn’t a bad answer. However, I would prefer a more specific example. For example, naming 1-2 famous people in particular (or one two book names in particular), and even particular characteristics you share or hope to share with them.
Sample answer no.7: Praising the interviewer:
Speaking honestly, you inspire me. You are such a young woman, and you already work as an HR director in a big company. I’d love to learn more about your journey–where you studied, what results you achieved in your former jobs, how you managed to progress so quickly in your professional career. Maybe if we become colleagues I will get a chance to learn more about your way. But hats down really and you are definitely an inspiration for me.
- Quick thing to notice about this answer: An interesting spin on the question about role models. We all love honest words of praise. Hence if you managed to learn something about your interviewer beforehand, you may try this one. Just make sure that you really know what you are talking about. In any case, especially in a corporate world it is good showing strong drive and motivation in the interview. If a person sitting opposite to you personifies such things, you can definitely call them your role model.
Advanced information
Mistakes people make while answering questions about inspiration and role models in job interviews.
- Choosing a wrong role model. A very common mistake, especially nowadays. People name various Influencers on IG, Facebook, X, Tiktok, or whatever platform, for their role models. This is as bad as answer as it can be, for several reasons. First of all, these people are entrepreneurs, working for themselves, and the most famous ones make millions each year. Frankly, that’s not going to be the case in any job you are applying for. Also many of them do nothing except of selling some dream or illusion and posting pictures promoting their fake lifestyle. Calling them your role models shows that you hope to live a similar lifestyle one day. Needless to say, a life or an employee has nothing to do with such a lifestyle. And lastly but not least, they often promote very wrong values and attitudes to life. That won’t make a good impression on the hiring manager. To sum it up, making this mistake alone can easily cost you your chances in any given interview.
- Failing to make a connection with the job. Any inspiration you choose, it is important to elaborate on it. Failing to show the connection of your inspiration/role mode and the job you are trying to get is another common mistake. Because while some role models are great for certain jobs, they simply won’t work in other occasions (check sample answers no. 2. no. 3, and no. 4 for good examples).
Few points from the perspective of the hiring managers/interviewers
- We care mostly about your attitude and your views. For us it doesn’t really matter whether you speak about someone famous we know, or opt for your good friend or family member as an inspiration. As long as you explain what inspires you about them, and as long as it is something positive for us, you’ll be fine. Characteristics such as that they are hardworking, managed to overcome adversity, have strong ethical values and principles, approach life and work with enthusiasm, etc will work for any job interview.
7 keywords to remember when answering questions belonging to this area
- Tell us not only who but also why they inspire you, make connection with the job you are applying for, influencers are never a good choice, the person you choose for your answer shows what kind of a lifestyle you hope to live one day, you can hope to become an inspiration yourself, philosophical answers are tricky with this one, the name is not important for us–only the values and attitude it presents matters.
So that’s it! You’ve just covered area no. 17 out of 25 areas that cover 99% of questions you may ever get in the interviews. Just 8 areas left! Check the next one: Working on projects, or go back to homepage for the full list of 25 areas and pick one you want to learn about and practice right now.
