What are the pros and cons of intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation for my career?

You've been applying to jobs for months, and you finally got the call.

You've been offered your dream job at Poodle! You've always wanted to work there as a kid, and you finally have the opportunity to.

A second call comes a while later, and you've gotten another job offer at Alpha — a company known for its high reputation and salary. Everyone wants to work at Alpha, and this is the opportunity of a lifetime.

Now what?

This is a battle between an intrinsic motivator and an extrinsic motivator. What are the pros and cons of each, and how do they affect your career?

Intrinsic motivation drives you to do something because you want to. No reward or consequence pushes you to do something. You do it because it's meaningful, interesting, or satisfying on its own.

Examples:

• You're a chef who spends a lot of time creating new recipes. You love to cook at work and at home, and it brings you joy. This is intrinsic motivation because cooking is not just a job but a passion!

• You're a ballet dancer who likes to practice new moves even when there's no upcoming show. This is intrinsic motivation because you love the art and expressing yourself!

Extrinsic motivation drives you to do something because of a reward or pressure. You do it because you get something out of the task rather than to fulfill a passion or personal goal. External factors include money, praise, awards, meeting expectations, and avoiding punishments.

Examples:

• You're a computer programmer taking on more tasks to have a higher completion rate. You hope this will earn you a bonus or promotion. This is extrinsic motivation because you're looking for a reward rather than fulfillment from your work.

• You're a researcher working hard to finish a project because if you don't complete it in time, you'll lose funding. This is extrinsic motivation because you're working to avoid a punishment.

Pros of intrinsic motivation:

• Personal satisfaction and a sense of meaning

• Greater creativity as you invest more time/effort in your interests

• Long-term motivation, as you're engaged/focused on what you want to do

Pros of extrinsic motivation:

• Provides clear goals and expectations for a task

• Can encourage you to complete a boring/uninteresting task

• Promises a reward/avoided punishment for completing a task

Cons of intrinsic motivation:

• Doesn't guarantee immediate rewards (ex. money, status)

• May lead to overcommitment as you are too invested and can't mark clear boundaries

• Often inconsistent as personal interests/goals change over time (ex. lose interest = motivation lost)

Cons of extrinsic motivation:

• May make you reliant on rewards to complete a task

• High chance of burnout to chase the next reward

• Difficult to sustain in the long run (ex. bonuses and recognition will work once but may not be available all the time)

For intrinsic motivation:

• You grow and learn more quickly because you genuinely want to improve

• You may choose a career that interests you/is more fulfilling over a career that has more money/a higher status

For extrinsic motivation:

• You perform well on jobs (even if they're not interesting to you), which builds your track record and can lead to higher pay/positions

• You build discipline as you complete tasks, which will help you meet deadlines and expectations

Uzier wanted to be as successful as his older brother, who was a lawyer. Although Uzier had a passion for mathematics, he worked hard to become a lawyer to make his parents proud of him, too. He told himself he'd figure the rest out after he got a job. He finally reaches his goal and is now a successful lawyer, but he doesn't find satisfaction in his career and is often burnt out. Uzier reflected on what motivated him to become a lawyer and realized that they were mostly extrinsic.

What signs does he have that his career choice was extrinsically motivated?

A. The motivation was short-term.

B. He didn't pursue his actual interest.

C. He was doing it for his parents.

D. He wanted to secure a job.

Back to the beginning: do you accept the job offer from Poodle or Alpha? This depends on what your intrinsic and extrinsic motivators are — and what is important to you.

Extrinsic motivators like prestige and salary can sway you toward immediate success, but don't forget your "why" and what will make you happy in the long run. The best choice is to find the best of both intrinsic and extrinsic motivators to create both short- and long-term goals!

So who will you call back: Poodle or Alpha? Sort out the intrinsic and extrinsic motivators to make the best career choices!