We all normally have to go through this process at some stage if we are in the employment market. It can be stressful unless you prepare well for it. One of the areas I have found that is very often lacking in the preparation for a job interview is looking at presenting the areas where you can solve a problem that an employer has. This will increase your chances dramatically, so how do you actually do this?

Firstly, research on the internet for any press articles that have reviews of the company you are approaching for a job interview. These will give you an insight into the overall company position and very often the view of outsiders of the structure of that company.

Go to the company web site and find the CEO or Presidents name and research for any statements released by them relating to future direction and strategy of the operation. If you can try and get an insight into the company's last balance statement this not only helps you make sure the company is stable and will not be getting rid of you as soon as you join but will indicate areas where they maybe are weak.

Now you need to drill down to the department you are looking at joining. You can very often get a feeling of what the problems are by simply asking a member of staff how they feel about working for that organisation, just say you are considering two positions and wanted to understand the positives and negatives of that particular firm.
Having gathered as much information as you can, putting it to use needs skill. Do not approach and say you have a major problem that I can sort out for you; company's very often do not want to admit to weakness areas.

The right way is to put the information into your covering letter in that you believe you can bring value to a certain area and you would enjoy a meeting to explain more. For example: "I believe with my skill set I will be able to bring added value to the area of marketing and enhance the penetration into that sector of the market. I have some ideas to discuss with you that I think you will agree would strengthen that operation." Remember to prepare some ideas from your research into the weaknesses that you have identified but never name individuals as an area of weakness, you never know who is a friend of who.

Lastly think if two people sent you a CVs and one said I have some ideas to bring value to you who would you see first

Brian Stanley has recruited over the past 30 years some of the best people in the finance industry. there is a growing site of helpful advice on how to prepare for job interviews at http://www.interviewingaid.com