How to Answer "What Matters to You?" in a Job Interview to Showcase Your Values and Fit?

Effectively answering the "What matters to you?" interview question requires a strategic balance of authenticity and professionalism, directly linking your personal values and career motivations to the role and company. A well-crafted response can significantly enhance your candidacy by demonstrating cultural fit and long-term potential. The most effective answers connect personal drivers to professional contributions.

Why Do Interviewers Ask "What Matters to You?"?

This question is a form of behavioral interview technique, designed to uncover your core motivations and personality traits beyond your technical skills. Interviewers use it to assess cultural add—how your unique values and working style would complement and enhance the existing team dynamics. Understanding this intent is the first step to formulating a compelling answer. The goal is not to hear a generic response, but to gauge your self-awareness and see if your personal compass aligns with the company's mission and the day-to-day realities of the job.

How to Structure Your Answer to "What Matters to You?"?

A strong response follows a clear, concise structure that respects the interviewer's time while delivering impactful information. Based on our assessment experience, a successful formula involves three key steps:

1. State Your Core Principle: Begin with a direct, honest statement about what genuinely drives you in your career. This could be a value like "continuous learning," "making a tangible impact," or "collaborative problem-solving."
2. Provide a Brief, Relevant Example: Illustrate your principle with a short anecdote from a previous role or academic experience. This makes your answer credible and memorable.
3. Connect to the Current Opportunity: This is the most critical step. Explicitly state how your stated value is fulfilled by the specific role, team, or company you are interviewing with. For instance, if you value innovation, mention a specific project the company is known for.

This structure ensures your answer is personal, professional, and persuasive.

How to Align Your Values with the Company's Mission?

Before your interview, conduct thorough research on the company’s employer branding. Scour their "About Us" page, mission statement, and recent press releases. Identify 2-3 values or projects that resonate with you personally. In your answer, you can say:

• "What matters to me is working on products that solve real user problems, which is why I was particularly drawn to your company's recent initiative to [mention a specific project]. My motivation comes from seeing a direct line between my work and positive user outcomes."

This approach shows you've done your homework and have a genuine interest in their organization, not just any job. It transforms a personal question into a demonstration of your strategic fit.

How Can You Be Authentic Without Being Unprofessional?

Authenticity is crucial, but it must be framed within a professional context. Avoid discussing highly personal or controversial topics. Instead, focus on professional values that are important to you. For example:

• Instead of saying, "I just want a job that pays the bills," you can reframe it professionally: "At this stage in my career, financial stability is important, but I'm primarily seeking a role where I can grow my skills in [specific area] and contribute to long-term projects, which this position offers."

This honesty is refreshing to interviewers and demonstrates maturity. It’s acceptable to show ambition or a desire for work-life balance, as long as it's communicated professionally and tied to how you will be a reliable, focused employee.

To prepare, write down your top three career values and find concrete links to the job description. Practice your answer aloud to ensure it sounds natural and confident. A concise, focused response that links your values to the role will always be more effective than a lengthy, generic one. This preparation turns a challenging question into a prime opportunity to stand out.