Work Motivation Hierarchy Test

In 10 minutes, uncover what motivates your future work goals, from recognition to helping others, leadership, creativity, or pay. With just 5 items, it quickly supports clearer career direction for teens and young adults.

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Questions: 510 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

16,264 views

1,413 completions

1,177 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

20/25

Service (S)

Measures how strongly a person is motivated to help others and put the interests of the cause above personal gain.

Lower service focus

Balanced service focus

Strong service focus

5 – 14: Lower service focus | 15 – 19: Balanced service focus | 20 – 25: Strong service focus

A score of 20 indicates a strong service focus, with a pronounced preference for helping and being useful to others in work situations.

example score

12/25

Money (M)

Measures the extent to which material rewards and career advancement motivate a person at work.

Low money focus

Moderate money focus

High money focus

5 – 9: Low money focus | 10 – 19: Moderate money focus | 20 – 25: High money focus

A score of 12 indicates a moderate focus on money, where financial rewards matter but are not the sole driver of work choices.

example score

9/25

Creativity (C)

Measures how strongly a person is motivated by self-expression and finding new solutions through their work.

Low

Moderate

High

5 – 9: Low | 10 – 19: Moderate | 20 – 25: High

A score of 9 indicates a low creativity motive, meaning self-expression and novelty are currently a less central driver in work choices.

example score

20/25

Power (P)

Measures the strength of a person’s drive to control, influence, and lead others in work-related situations.

Low

Moderate

High

5 – 14: Low | 15 – 19: Moderate | 20 – 25: High

A score of 20 falls in the High range, suggesting a pronounced preference for taking charge and influencing decisions in group tasks.

example score

11/25

Fame (F)

Measures how strongly a person is motivated by recognition, public attention, and social status in work and career choices.

Low

Moderate

High

5 – 9: Low | 10 – 19: Moderate | 20 – 25: High

A score of 11 indicates a moderate focus on fame, suggesting recognition matters but is not the dominant work driver.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

High school career planners

46%OF USERS

Teenagers choosing subjects, colleges, or first jobs use it to see what motivates them most and which career paths fit.

School counselors and psychologists

31%OF USERS

Career guidance specialists run it in groups or one-on-one to quickly understand students’ dominant motives and tailor recommendations.

Parents of teens

23%OF USERS

Parents take it with their child to support career conversations and reduce conflict about “the right” future direction.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Service (S)

Average

17.1

Normal range

13.4 — 20.7

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Money (M)

Average

11.8

Normal range

8 — 15.5

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Creativity (C)

Average

15.5

Normal range

12.4 — 18.7

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Power (P)

Average

11.3

Normal range

7.8 — 14.7

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Glory (G)

Average

16.7

Normal range

13.6 — 19.7

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It identifies which work motives are most dominant. The motives include Fame, Service, Power, Creativity, and Money.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It is intended for high school students and young adults. It is used for career guidance and self-understanding in planning future work directions.

How long does it take to complete?

Completion time is about 10 minutes. The questionnaire includes 5 items.

How should responses be selected?

Select the response that best matches typical preferences rather than an idealized answer. Use the first accurate choice and avoid overthinking.

How should results be interpreted?

Higher scores indicate stronger motives relative to the others. Results support discussion of suitable roles and environments but do not determine a single career choice.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Work Motivation Hierarchy Test - Symptoms and Signs

work motivation values

This brief self-report measure is used to clarify an individual’s primary work-related drivers, particularly in career exploration contexts. The Work Motivation Hierarchy organizes motivation into a ranked profile to support discussion of occupational values and preferences.

The instrument includes 5 items and typically requires about 10 minutes to complete. Responses are summarized to indicate the relative prominence of common motivational themes (e.g., recognition, service orientation, influence, creativity, and financial reward), which can be used to guide vocational counseling or psychoeducational feedback. The Work Motivation Hierarchy is intended as a screening-level aid rather than a standalone diagnostic tool.

Author: E. L. Deci, R. M. Ryan

Literature: Kanfer, R., Frese, M., & Johnson, R. E. Motivation related to work: A century of progress. Journal of Applied Psychology. 2017.

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