What do you look for?

As some of you know I recently moved to ATL a little over a year ago and I was having a tough time transitioning the whole work/job thing. I ultimately held 3 jobs and turned down another all within a 3 month period before the wedding. Talk about stress!! But I had an amazing realization about what I need in a work/job situation.

Job #1: You see the first job had me isolated in this horrible office with my tyrant boss breathing down my neck. The worst part of this is that there was absolutely no reason and no one would come to our offices because we were across the plant. I didn't realize it at the time I took the job that this isolation would be an issue (not including that the boss lady was the spaun of satan) but it was. So when I quit the job I decided that since I'm such a people person I needed to be in an environment where I interacted with people, money was not going to be a driving force.

Job #2: So I start this job (through a temp agency) and I was amongst great ladies and communication was good. However, this was a Japanese environment and the schedules were crazy. The best way for me to describe this is that there were bells that would go off to let us know when we could leave for lunch and when we should be back from lunch. They also rang at break times and watched the clock, never be late! This was way too strict for me (also this boss was a little over the top, but it wasn't the turning point of the decision). So alas I needed a place to have some schedule flexibility to get the best work out of me.

Job #3: Well let me first say that I am still there (almost been there a year) and it's alright, but not perfect. Let's see I have a somewhat flexible schedule, I have great co-workers and interaction with others. However, my boss is the most ADD person I have ever met. My co-workers in the department call her the tephlon queen because everytime she messes up she somehow comes off scott free. But I have to say the worst part is that she has no education or experience in HR which makes her very scattered, paranoid, and bossy because her butt is always on the line. But with the Grace of God I am surviving. I just take the good parts of my job into account when I'm getting upset and it's not so bad I just overlook her and don't take things personally.

Now I say all of that to say.... since moving here I have come to realize that $$$ to me is low on the list of what I look for in a job and I would have never thought that or learned that without my experiences. Isn't it amazing what you can learn out of the craziest of scenarios??

So here's my list of what I look for...when looking for a job?
1. Flexibility
2. An boss that is understanding, encouraging, and educated
3. Environment - open area for chatter
4. Good pay

So for those of you who have worked in the same job for awhile (and I know a few of you making changes)and are about to move away from that...don't just let money be your deciding factor. Take under consideration all the attributes that you use/need in your work life that are necessary to making you happy in your job.

What's are the most important things to you???