Don't work at a place like this...

In an ideal world, we'd all be paid handsomely to work in a company we love doing work about which we're fervently passionate, all while being surrounded by wonderful people.

If this sounds like your situation, congratulations -- you're the envy of many a disgruntled working bee in Corporate America.

Most of us, however, take issue with some aspect about our jobs. Though many of these aren't easy to pinpoint until you've been on the job for at least a month or two, think twice about remaining in or going to a company where:

1. There's no room to grow. Are you the ambitious type? If all that stands in the way of getting that coveted VP spot is, well, ten other people, you're better off looking elsewhere. Even if you're just waiting for your boss to retire, you may be left waiting for a while.

2. You have no voice. If your boss and other higher-ups discourage creative freedom, you might grow to resent the job very quickly. Companies that are so resistant to change couldn't care less about their employees' ideas -- they just want to do things their way.

3. Lots and lots of red tape. The process of getting stuff approved in a large corporation can feel like a job in and of itself. If you need to get sign-offs for everything from writing an email to ordering supplies, or if attending meetings where nothing gets done is a chief part of your job, you may sense that nothing ever gets done.

4. You feel disrespected. If the company can't respect you as an employee, there's no reason to respect them as an employer. Whether it's subtle teasing or outright harassment, you should never be made to feel uncomfortable in a workplace setting.

5. Your pay and benefits aren't commensurate with your skills and experience. If you sense you're being taken for granted, it behooves you to update your resume and see what else is out there.

6. The company doesn't believe in work/life balance. Does the company expect you to work 40 hours per week, or 60 hours? Will you have to be on call into the late hours of the night? If having a good work/life balance is important to you, you'll want to steer clear of companies that run their employees ragged.

While larger companies have the resources to offer people a hefty pay and benefits package, they also tend to be heavily bureaucratic, which can put a damper on those who want to flex their creative muscle.

Small companies, on the other hand, give employees more creative latitude, as the emphasis is on growth and establishing a presence in a crowded marketplace as opposed to process and procedure. The downside is that you're bound to work harder for less pay.

If you can work at a company that pays well, offers great benefits, imposes reasonable hours, and allows you to exercise your creativity, you've hit the jackpot.

Before accepting an offer, be sure to research the company in depth and peruse reviews written by employees on sites like Glassdoor.com.

Best of luck in your job search!

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