Benjamin Todd

What makes the difference?

Why are computer games engaging while office admin isn't?

Researchers have identified four factors.

1.

The freedom to decide how to perform your work.

2.

Clear tasks with a clearly defined start and end.

3.

Variety in the types of tasks.

4.

Feedback so you know how well you're doing.

Each of these factors has been shown to correlate with job satisfaction in a major meta-analysis, R equals 0.4, and they're widely thought by experts to be the most empirically verified predictors of job satisfaction.

That said, playing computer games is not the key to a fulfilling life.

And not just because you won't get paid.

That's because you also need... 2.

Work that helps others The following jobs have the four ingredients of engaging work that we discussed.

But when asked, over three quarters of people doing them say they don't find them meaningful.

Revenue analyst Fashion designer TV newscast director These jobs, however, are seen as meaningful by almost everyone who does them.

fire service officer, nurse or midwife, and neurosurgeon.

The key difference is that the second set of jobs seem to help other people.