It seems to me if we are working 8+ hours each day, that work should add meaning to our lives and thus make us feel fulfilled, satisfied and happy. Leaders lead first by example (find meaning in their own work) and then by inspiring others to find meaning in their own work. What are the characteristics of meaningful work? Here are 10 characteristics:

1. It doesn't feel like work. First of all work that is meaningful doesn't feel like work at all. To outsiders it may look like work but to you it is something you enjoy and want to do.

2. It is aligned with your values. Values are those ideas and beliefs that matter most to us. They are the traits or qualities that you really care about. When you work from your values you feel fulfilled and happier.

3. It contributes to your vision. A vision is a picture you have in your mind's eye of what you want to have in your work and your life. If your work helps you to reach that vision, it will be more satisfying.

4. It uses your unique set of gifts. The work depends on you and your talents. Success in the work depends on your contribution.

5. You feel like you are making a contribution to the world. There are two levels to a vision. One is what you see for yourself and your immediate family and the other is a more encompassing one. It is one that helps a larger population in some significant way.

6. You have a passion for what you are doing. There is something about the work that gives you energy, enthusiasm and genuine excitement. It is that spark that makes the work enjoyable and fun.

7. You feel adequately rewarded for what you do. Compensation for the work done is not always monetary. If those you work for don't feel the work is important, it may create doubt in you. A good leader will tell you how important your work is and show you with remuneration. Satisfaction also comes from the end result which is a reward in itself.

8. You are proud of what you have accomplished. Whatever work you are doing must be done in a way that you feel pride in what you do.

9. You are expressing your life purpose. Whether you know your life purpose or not if the work is meaningful to you, you are expressing that purpose in some way. Some people use their positive work and life experiences to find their life purpose. Those who know their life purpose might look for a job that will be suitable vehicle to express their purpose.

10. You have a core of people who believe in what you are doing. Since you are not working in a vacuum there must at least a couple of people who support what you are doing and believe in your work. Part of being rewarded for what you do comes from others who are enthusiastic about you and your work.

Alvah Parker is a Practice Advisor (The Attorneys' Coach) and a Career Changers' Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points, an email tip list and Road to Success, an ezine. Subscribe now to these free monthly publications at her website http://www.asparker.com/samples.html and receive a values assessment as a gift. Work becomes more meaningful and enjoyable when you work from your values. Parker's Value Program© enables her clients to find their own way to work that is more fulfilling and profitable. Her clients are attorneys and people in transition who want to find work that is in line with their own life purpose. Alvah is found on the web at http://www.asparker.com She may also be reached at 781-598-0388. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alvah_Parker

It's 2009 and the economy has certainly seen better times. Some industries, such as real estate and finance, are struggling due to the difficulty that consumers are having getting credit. Other fields are also suffering for a variety of reasons that are affecting markets across the United States. Unemployment is currently at a higher rate due to companies laying off workers in efforts to stay competitive, or better yet, stay alive.

Despite job cuts at many organizations, one field that is in constant demand is information technology. Companies will always need qualified people to maintain their workstations and servers, and it is important for every business to keep a solid network for the transmission of data and communication to its clients and stakeholders. Below are some IT roles that are currently in demand, as well as why they are important and the skills desired for each.

.Net Developer

The .Net developer writes desktop and web-based business applications. Microsoft platforms are also extended and customized by the developer for customer relationship management, enterprise resource planning and other areas. This role is needed at many companies because all business needs may not be able to be served by enterprise software in its original form. The .Net programming framework allows for application interfaces to be changed and customized as needed for in-house functions as well as internet based programs. Candidates for this job should be armed with a bachelor's degree in computer science or software engineering and also be comfortable with many areas of application data such as coding and unit testing. Employers also look for developers with "full lifecycle" project experience.

Project Manager

Project managers serve as a link between IT team members and other key individuals involved with a project to ensure that it is completed on time. The PM is the "go to" person for a project layout and status, and it is his or her job to make sure that the project is going as planned while being the liaison between the IT team and the business. Project managers are important because they save companies time and money by ensuring that projects stay on track. Organization is the key skill needed for this role, along with a bachelor's degree in an IT or business-related field, a background in applications development and experience managing complex projects.

Database Administrator (DBA)

DBA's are responsible for installing, backing up, testing and securing production databases in an IT environment. They make changes to databases based on business needs, and the DBA may work on different kinds of database software depending on the departments being supported. DBA's are very important to businesses because maintain and protect the data integrity of an entire organization. The competitive database administrator will have a bachelor's degree in computer science or software engineering along with certifications and experience with platforms such as Oracle and SQL server.

If you are not currently in the IT field, consider obtaining the proper IT Training at a certified institute. Then you will be on your way to obtaining one of these great careers.