ALT-1 How to do a Personal Swot Analysis for Career Progression
SWOT (Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis can be conducted by businesses and individuals to scrutinize existing strengths and weaknesses amidst an environment that can present both opportunities and threats. Just as businesses conduct a SWOT analysis to prepare their marketing and business plans it can also prove to be a useful tool for individuals who want to plan how to move ahead in their careers.
Strengths: Depending upon the type of industry in which you are seeking employment analyze the strengths you possess which can include both physical and mental attributes that will be useful for your career progression. Additionally, list any practical experiences, qualifications or skills you possess that will come in handy in your desired career or any personal achievements of which you are proud.
An expert who is superior in his knowledge of a product or of the market is valued as he is in a monopolistic position and has something that others around him do not. Include personal values like being hardworking, trustworthy and reliable or qualities which others have noted in you like good communication skills. An addition to your list of strengths can be a particular skill that none of your colleagues possess or being socially connected to a group that has important connections. Basically these will be all the positive, life enhancing qualities that you have achieved or acquired over the years which will be your strength in furthering your career.
Weaknesses: You have to be honest with yourself about the weaknesses you have and which others perceive in you which prevent you progressing in your career. These can be character traits like a lack of confidence, being disorganized, getting stressed easily when facing a difficult situation. Other weaknesses include a lack of ambition or rushing to do things which can sometimes cause a person to make mistakes.
Some people find meetings difficult as they cannot openly discuss problems in front of a group of people. Others are lacking in training or experience which makes it harder for them to advance in their careers. Ask yourself how you can improve these weaknesses and what hurdles you need to overcome in your personal circumstances order to do so.
Opportunities: These are the external factors that can influence your circumstances and either fortify existing strengths or improve weaknesses to make you more employable. If it is a lack of training or education that is a weakness then explore the numerous training opportunities that can be pursued either privately or with the aid of an existing employer.
Employees who actively seek to enhance their career prospects are encouraged by their companies to do so as this increases their productivity and input at work. An environment that offers innovative products or services or advanced technological expertise offers the chance to learn a new skill or improve existing ones. Other ways in which opportunities can be exploited in the company for which you work are having a network of lucrative contacts, being able to multitask when a colleague is away or participating in a new project.
Threats. These are the external obstacles that stand in the way of your career. Examples include competition from a colleague who is better qualified, a lack of awareness of opportunities in the company or changes in technology with which you are not yet acquainted. The threat of losing a job due to company cut backs can also be a potential threat.
Discussing options with a colleague or an employer on changing work hours or arranging flexible working arrangements can offer possible solutions. For some, family commitments can pose a threat to their career development due to a lack of care options or the distance involved in travelling to a job.
Working with a life coach can help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses and plan a strategy which allows you to take advantage of the opportunities around you and lessen the threats by finding ways of overcoming them. SWOT analysis requires an honest look at who you are as a person, how you can make the best of what you already have within you and how the environment around you can be utilized to make it even better.
