I want to start this post with an outpouring of gratitude. I am genuinely grateful for my past employers and work experiences because they all provided me with learning opportunities. I also want to thank them for all of the people each position allowed me to come into contact with. If you review my work experience, you will see I've done many things in my life, all of which I am grateful to have experienced. I do not regret a single position I have ever held. 

Since I've worked since I was 16 years old and am now 38, I have an idea for the type of company I would like to work for or start myself someday. Here are my criteria going forward for the kind of company I would want to work for:

1. Transparency. I want to work for a company that is transparent about the reason they do things. I aim to work for a company that does not tolerate drama or bullying. I want to work for a company with a family environment where employees look out for each other and care about each other professionally and personally.

2. Healthy perspective. I aim to work for a company with a healthy, positive attitude toward the people they employ. I'm looking for a company that assumes the best of their employees and focuses on their strengths instead of suspecting the worst of their employees.

    

3. Good intentions. I want to work for a company that knows its employees act with good intentions and is hard-pressed to assume otherwise.

4. Rewards hard work. I want to align with a company that believes in its employees' talent, tenacity, and loyalty and chooses to promote within the company. Sometimes the most valuable player is overlooked and taken advantage of. Ignoring the MVP creates bitterness and disbelief in the company leadership.

5. Rewards loyalty. I want to work for a company that does not take advantage of its employees and financially rewards them for their long-standing commitment. 

6. No bad-mouthing. I want to work for a company that does not tolerate bad-mouthing or speaking poorly of their employees. This is especially important regarding company leadership and how they talk of their employees. The golden rule should be used- do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

7. Respect. I'm looking for a company that treats every employee with respect and acknowledges each employee for their contribution to the company's greater good. No matter how small the role each employee takes on, they should be treated with the utmost respect because every unique position helps to create companywide success.

8. Treat us like people. I do not want to work for a company that treats its employees like they are numbers or bodies to warm company spaces.

9. Team perspective. I want to work for a company that works as a team and values all its employees as indispensable team players. It takes an entire team to make a difference, not just one person. 

10. Fosters relationships. I want to work for a company that fosters excellent relationships with its employees—every single one of them.

Those are my criteria for my next job. Although some might suggest that I'm looking for a company that doesn't exist, I aim to find it now. Please let me know if you know of a great company that meets these criteria. I'm on a mission to find a company that has heart and compassion for others and operates with integrity and character.