SWOT Analysis in Your Career Planning


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SWOT Analysis in Your Career Planning

A key tool in the strategic planning process can also be applied to career planning. This tool is a marketing analysis using the SWOT technique. A SWOT analysis focuses on the internal and external environments, examining strengths and weaknesses in the internal environment and opportunities and threats in the external environment. Imagine your SWOT analysis to be structured like the table below:

To construct your own SWOT analysis to set a course for your career planning, examine your current situation. What are your strengths and weaknesses? How can you capitalize on your strengths and overcome your weaknesses? What are the external opportunities and threats in your chosen career field?

INTERNAL

Strengths

Weakness

Internal positive aspects that are under control and upon which you may capitalize in planning.

Work Experience
Education, including value- added features
Strong technical knowledge within your field (e.g. hardware, software, programming languages)
Specific transferable skills(e.g., communication, teamwork, leadership skills
Personal characteristics (e.g., strong work ethic, self-discipline, ability to work under pressure, creativity, optimism, or a high level of energy
Good contacts/successful networking
Interaction with professional organizations

Internal negative aspects that are under your control and that you may plan to improve

Lack of Work Experience
Low GPA, wrong major
Lack of goals, lack of self-knowledge, lack of specific job knowledge
Weak technical knowledge
Weak skills (leadership, interpersonal, communication, teamwork)
Weak job-hunting skills
Negative personal characteristics (e.g., poor work ethic, lack of discipline, lack of motivation, indecisiveness, shyness, too emotional

EXTERNAL

Oppurtunities		Threats
Positive external conditions that you do not control but of which you can plan to take advantage Positive trends in your field that will create more jobs (e.g., growth, globalization, technological advances) Opportunities you could have in the field by enhancing your education Field is particularly in need of your set of skills Opportunities you could have through greater self-knowledge, more specific job goals Opportunities for advancement in your field Opportunities for professional development in your field Career path you've chosen provides unique opportunities Geography Strong network		Negative external conditions that you do not control but the effect of which you may be able to lessen Negative trends in your field that diminish jobs (downsizing, obsolescence) Competition from your cohort of college graduates Competitors with superior skills, experience, knowledge Competitors with better job-hunting skills than you Competitors who went to schools with better reputations. Obstacles in your way (e.g., lack of the advanced education/training you need to take advantage of opportunities) Limited advancement in your field, advancement is cut-throat and competitive Limited professional development in your field, so it's hard to stay marketable Companies are not hiring people with your major/degree