You could have been unemployed for quite long and after an intense job search, you got shortlisted for a job interview. You are lucky you got the job, however, before you get lost in the moment, a few things must be considered before signing that contract.

Comprehending certain factors can assist you in deciding whether you want to commit to a company, or weigh-in, in case you have two offers at hand.

For Rose Mukabaranga, a human resource manager in a retail firm, the company’s culture matters a lot, this is because it can assist in growing and impacting your career.

She says, culture can include how people are promoted within the company, how ideas are created, or whether or not employees are permitted to make customers happy and all the details of work-life balance.

"When considering a new position, the company’s stability should be key, as this allows you to enjoy stable pay and benefits, and reduce stress levels. An unstable business might reduce your hours, and lessen your pay or remove certain benefits. Therefore, working for a company with a strong financial performance may provide stability, as they are more prospective to retain staff and even expand,” she says.

The human resource personnel highlights that you ought to consider a position that comes with strong networking opportunities to have a positive effect on your capability to do the job and future advancement.

She adds that networking will help you progress and improve your skills, stay on top of the latest trends in your industry, meet potential mentors, partners, and clients, and gain access to the necessary resources that will nurture your career development.Mukabaranga adds that it’s vital to mind about the people you’re yet to work with. This is because the team, and the co-workers that will surround you every day are vital for your happiness and success at a job.

You can tell the kind of people the employers are, or environment, depending on how they address you and the questions they ask, she says.

The HR expert also notes that you shouldn’t look at a higher salary but instead consider the salary you could live with, what matters more is the potential of the whole package as compared to the monthly pay.

However, she says that if the salary is not satisfying, go ahead and negotiate, but if you’re not sure about the salary, consider creating a budget so you will know exactly how far your pay check can stretch each month.

According to the Balance Careers, an online business platform, evaluate employee benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, vacation, sick leave, life, and disability insurance. These can represent 30 per cent of your total compensation package. It’s important to take the time to review what you’re offered, to make sure it’s what you and your family need at this stage of your working life.

"Before accepting a job, be sure that you are clear on the hours and schedule you need to work. Also, confirm if any travel is involved. If the position requires 45 or 50 hours of work a week and you’re used to working 35 hours, consider whether you will have difficulty committing to the schedule. If the nature of the job requires that you will need to be on the road three days a week, be sure that you can commit to that, as well.”

Moses Ishimwe, an employee at a law firm states that if you’re interested in advancement, it’s worth finding out about what training opportunities the company has to offer you. Some companies will even go an extra mile to offer compensation of tuition fees for relevant higher education courses, which is a great opportunity for anyone looking forward to develop.

He says, it is necessary to know your responsibilities before taking on the role, if you don’t know, then make efforts to do so. Read through the job specifications and draw all of the information you can from that.