Your CV did its job: you have an interview. The recruiter now looks for three things: can you do the work, will you stay, will the team want to work with you. Every question below serves one of those three. Prepare them and you will be ahead of most candidates.
Before the interview: the preparation that makes the difference
- Re-read the ad and highlight the five words that recur: those are the criteria. Prepare one example for each.
- Research the company: Chghol page, website, Facebook, LinkedIn, news. One precise sentence about it is worth ten vague compliments.
- Prepare your documents: two printed CVs, copies of degrees and certificates, ID, a notebook.
- Check the route the day before. In Algeria, traffic is the first cause of lateness: allow a 30-minute margin.
- Dress: clean, sober, suited to the sector. Suit for banking and firms; clean shirt and trousers for industry and retail.
- Language: the interview is held in the language of the ad. If spoken to in French, answer in French; a little Arabic or Darija to relax is normal, but stay professional.
Questions about you and your background
- 1
“Tell me about yourself.”
Two minutes at most: who you are professionally, your last two experiences with one result each, why you are here. Do not recite your civil status.
- 2
“Why do you want to leave your current job?”
Never criticise the former employer. Talk about what you seek: more responsibility, a sector, a more structured company, a job closer to home.
- 3
“Why is there a gap in your CV?”
Answer simply: exam preparation, training, personal project, military service, family reason. Say what you learned or did during that period.
- 4
“What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
Two strengths useful to the role, with an example. A real weakness and how you manage it (“I want to check everything myself; I learned to delegate with checkpoints”).
- 5
“Where do you see yourself in five years?”
The recruiter wants to know whether you will stay. Talk about progression in the trade or company, not another sector or abroad.
- 6
“Why you and not someone else?”
Take the ad’s three main criteria and show you meet them, with numbers.
Questions about the trade and the role
- 1
“Describe a difficult situation and how you handled it.”
Situation, what you did, result. Pick an example tied to the role: an unhappy client, an impossible deadline, a breakdown, a corrected mistake.
- 2
“Which tools do you master?”
Name them and your real level. You may be tested on the spot: do not overstate.
- 3
“What do you know about our company?”
Sector, products, size, a recent news item, and why it attracts you. The most discriminating question: half of candidates prepared nothing.
- 4
“How do you react under pressure?”
A concrete example with volumes or deadlines, and the method you use: priorities, communication, organisation.
- 5
“Are you mobile? Do you accept shift hours, travel?”
Answer honestly: a yes that becomes a no after hiring costs everyone. State your real limits.
- 6
“Have you managed a team?”
If yes: how many people, how you organised work, a result. If not: an example of coordination, training a colleague, leading a project.
- 7
Technical question or practical case
Increasingly common: an accounting entry, a bug to find, a quote to price, a sales role-play. Reason out loud: the method counts as much as the answer.
The salary question
- 1
“What are your salary expectations?”
Give a net range consistent with the market and the ad: “between DZD 60,000 and 70,000 net, depending on bonuses and benefits”. If the ad displayed the salary, say you are within that range and ask for the breakdown (base, bonuses, transport, meal).
- 2
“What is your current salary?”
You do not have to answer precisely. “I am at about X net, and I am aiming for Y for this role given the responsibilities” is enough.
- 3
“Would you accept less to start?”
For a first job, experience can be worth a concession. But never go below the SNMG or below what the ad announced, and ask for a written review date.
The questions you should ask
- “What does a typical day look like? What are the priorities of the first three months?”
- “How is the team organised? Who would I report to?”
- “What is the next step and when will I hear back?”
- “Is the position permanent? What is the probation period?” — law 90-11 caps it at 6 months (12 for highly qualified positions).
- Avoid asking nothing: it reads as a lack of interest.
After the interview
- The same day: a short thank-you message (e-mail or WhatsApp, whichever channel the recruiter used), recalling one point of the discussion.
- Note the questions you answered poorly: they will come back.
- No answer by the announced date: one follow-up, polite, three to five days later.
- If you receive an offer: ask for it in writing (position, net and gross salary, bonuses, start date, probation) before resigning from your current job.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a job interview last?
Between 20 minutes for a first phone call and one hour for an on-site interview with a practical case. Beyond three interviews for the same role, ask the company about its process.
What if I am asked about my marital status or marriage plans?
Those questions have nothing to do with your skills. Answer briefly and bring the discussion back to the role: “My personal situation lets me be fully available for this position.”
Should I bring original degrees?
Bring copies; originals are shown at hiring. Never leave an original with a stranger.
Can I negotiate after accepting verbally?
Difficult and frowned upon. Negotiate before accepting, then ask for the written offer. A verbal yes commits your credibility.
How do I prepare for an interview in English?
Prepare your introduction and three examples in English, practise out loud, and say so if your level is intermediate: candour is better received than freezing in the room.