Meaningful work is in the eye of the beholder—if it’s meaningful to the person who is doing it, then it is meaningful. However, it is perhaps possible to identify some general principles that apply broadly to work. After all, while meaningful work may not necessarily have any objective features, there are nevertheless social norms that define different kinds of work in different ways.

Such norms are communicatively constructed; in other words, we can think of meaningful work as symbolically created by individuals and groups as well as by larger societal discourses that circulate through society in various media. People experience work as meaningful to the extent that they have agency, or choice-making control, over the way their work is conducted. A second characteristic of meaningful work is that it enhances our sense of connection to others.

Third, work can also be meaningful if we are awarded opportunities to affect the organization for which we work, or to shape particular social issues that are important to us. A fourth characteristic of meaningful work refers to the use of our skills in our work. We all want to be in jobs and careers where our talents are put to good use and allowed to flourish.