Five Questions/Answers for your High-end High-tech Scientific Job Interview

High-end high-tech scientific jobs hunting has become really competitive task over the last two decades mostly due to the international context of the huge as well as medium conglomerates. In the most general case 3-4 equally exceptional applicants are considered for a given position and what could really make a difference is the job interview. Being prepared is a key element to success, and being able to put your application in the context of the technical job description as well as sell appropriately your personal skills. There are five questions that for sure you will be getting and you should be prepared to answer: 

• Why did you apply to this position? well, the answer should be obvious: repeat your academic and professional background and explain how it is well aligned with the job description. Furthermore, put into the context the positive characteristics of the company you are applying for...things like international mobility, access to real scientific problems, societal impact, diversity of problems are usually appreciated. 
• Did you apply to other positions and if yes how these applications are rated with respect to the one you are interviewing? Well, if it happens to be your first application, just mention that you are still in the process of deciding what is the best professional path, but given the exceptional perspectives of the advertised job you have decided to apply. If it happens that you have applied, interviewing with direct competitors, there is nothing wrong providing this info while explaining though the the job description is different (pay attention to do not provide direct preference but put emphasis on the differences between them).
• What are your long-term perspectives in the company? The key here is to be concrete, show ambition while not being aggressive. Clearly state that your immediate objective is to exceed the expected duties of the job description while better understanding the needs of the company from your unit. Once this has happened then getting more responsibilities and assuming leading technical lead in this unit would be appropriate and eventually once you have learned and understood the overall structure and the needs of the company  move towards a more operational role assuming leadership in one of the business units. Put emphasis if appropriate on international and thematic mobility.
• Can you please provide me a short description of your work/curriculum? Depending on the interlocutor you should shift from abstract but relative clear answers to technical ones. Please recall that most of the senior management is not technical anymore but still have a "scientific" background. Make efforts to explain them in the context of science what you have done without bombarding them with useless details that anyhow cannot be understood. Be clear and direct, short answers with "interesting" content are much better than long ones with useless content.
• What are your salary expectations? Never/ever do not answer this question directly. The best possible answer is to refer to people you know with quite similar job and let them know their average salaries. Once this is done, just state that you are sure that a company with the qualities of the one you are interviewing for knows how to appreciate the individual paths and the added value of its employes and therefore you are sure that the offer that you will be getting reflects the quality of your application.  

Please keep in mind that it is important to maintain the discussion whenever is possible and show confidence during the individual meetings. Avoid lengthy answers and repetitions of things, and make all possible efforts to put into context your academic/employment path.  If it happens that you do not have convincing answers to the above questions, do not waste your time and the one of the company, apply elsewhere.