First a little about me.

My professional experience is varied.  I helped MTV Networks build their satellite radio station from the ground up; I honed my editorial skills writing for FOXNews.com; I currently manage digital media for AAA; I run a successful career advice blog and freelance blogging business.

There have been elements of each job that I’ve enjoyed, and of course, things that I haven’t been a huge fan of.

If the ideal job is out there for me, it’s on Long Island or in Queens (lifestyle choice) and looks something like this…

– The work is challenging. Creative. Evolving. Relevant. Like-minded people collaborate, but unique voices are heard and respected. The work touches lives, maybe even making a difference. Employee roles are well defined and every individual within the organization understands their responsibilities. People are allowed to do the jobs they were hired to do. Employers that hand over all of the responsibility and none of the authority are setting employees up to fail – or be extremely frustrated.

– Workers are paid what they worth.  Most people don’t want a pizza party or a desk trinket. Like it or not, respect, autonomy, and money incentivize performance. That’s a fact.  Raises should be merit-based, with longevity rendered irrelevant. Performance evaluations are a collaborative process, created by the supervisor with employee input. They wouldn’t be a waste of time, but a process that sets goals and holds both parties accountable.

– Working remotely, when necessary, is an acceptable practice. If you don’t feel well or your baby is sick, you have the option to occasionally work from home. If you need to come in two hours late, you would be trusted to make up that time up at a later date. Work hours wouldn’t be arbitrarily chosen and militantly enforced; the nine-to-five grind is so last century. Remote work doesn’t have to be the rule, but the ideal employer should be willing to make exceptions.

– Adults know what it means to dress professionally.

– The general work area should be bright and well-oxygenated. Windows are a plus!

– Conference room gatherings only occur when they need to. Since the best employees/bosses  know how to communicate with each other on a regular basis,meetings should only be held when there’s a reason.  When it comes to time, the ideal employer understands quality over quantity.

If you can offer the majority of what I’ve mentioned above, we should talk.  My web content management experience and blogging / social media skills can deliver impressive results for companies both large and small.

If you’re a job hunter, what are traits do you like to see in an employer?  Feel free to leave a comment below.