Personal
SWOT Analysis
The better you know yourself, the better your
relationship with the rest of the world. Toni Collette
What is a SWOT Analysis
Used in business to assess an organizations
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and
Threats
Internal assessment performed by Subject Matter
Experts from various disciplines
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What Does it Do?
Helps identify
Things that an organization is very good at
Things that are in need of assistance
Things that organizations should take advantage of
Things that threaten the organization
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What is a Personal SWOT Analysis?
Personal assessment of an individuals
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
Inward look at:
What makes a person valuable
What areas need to be worked on
What things a person can take advantage of
What threatens their ability to take advantage of
opportunities
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How Can it Help?
Helps identify personal, managerial, educational,
technical strengths & weaknesses
Helps identify missing links in their career chain
Helps identify positions/functions in which people can
excel and which they need additional training
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How should it be conducted?
YOU
Identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities,
perceived threats
Friend/Family/Work Associate
Identifies your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities,
perceived threats
COMPARE
Compare your assessment to their assessment
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Friend/Family/Work Associate?
Someone you trust
Someone whose opinion you value
Someone who can and will be honest with you
Someone who you will listen to
Someone you will take constructive criticism from
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SWOT Definitions
Strength
Internal positive aspects that are under your control.
(i.e. Things you are really good at, value you have to
offer, etc.)
Weakness
Internal negative aspects that are under your control
and that you can improve. (i.e. lack of experience,
limited knowledge, etc.)
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SWOT Definitions
Opportunities
Positive external conditions that are not under your
control but which you may be able to take advantage.
(i.e. Company growth, field shortage, etc.)
Threats
Negative external conditions that are not under your
control but the effect of which you may be able to
lessen. (i.e. field obsolescence, competition, etc.)
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SWOT Matrix
Strengths Weaknesses
Internal Assessment
Opportunities Threats
External Assessment of
your TARGET industries,
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jobs, careers
SWOT Analysis Example
Strengths Weaknesses
Work Experience Lack of Work Experience
Education Limited Education, Wrong Major
Technical Expertise Limited Technical Knowledge
Transferable Skills Lack of Job Knowledge
Personal Characteristics Weak Interpersonal Skills
Good networking contacts Negative Personal Characteristics
Associations, Business groups
Opportunities Threats
Positive Trends in Your Field Negative Trends in Your Field
Enhancing Education Competition in Your Field
Fields in Need of Your Skills Training & Education Obstacles
Geography ability to move Limited Advancement in Field
Strengthening Your Network Limited Ability to Develop
Utilizing Skills in Different Way Limited Positions in Your Area
Enhancing Personal Development
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Personal SWOT Checklist
Strengths Weaknesses
Technical (Writing, Programming, Network, Technical (Writing, Programming, Network,
Web, TelCom, etc.) Web, TelCom, etc.)
Soft Skills (Facilitation, Team Building, Soft Skills (Facilitation, Team Building,
Management, Presentation, Writing, Editing, Management, Presentation, Writing, Editing,
Training, etc.) Training, etc.)
Industry Knowledge (Pharmaceutical, Industry Knowledge (Pharmaceutical,
Aerospace, Computer, etc.) Aerospace, Computer, etc.)
Career (Resume Writing, Networking Career (Resume Writing, Networking
Contacts, etc.) Contacts, etc.)
Education (College, Certifications, Awards, Education (College, Certifications, Awards,
etc.) etc.)
Personal Accomplishments (Published Personal Accomplishments (Published
Articles, Books, Presentations, Honors, etc.) Articles, Books, Presentations, Honors, etc.)
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Personal SWOT Checklist
Opportunities Threats
Industry Change Industry (Trends, New, etc.)
Enhance Soft Skills (Facilitation, Team Cost (Training, education, certifications, etc.)
Building, Management, Presentation, Writing, Time (Needed, Have, etc.)
Editing, Training, etc.) Jobs (Limitations or dead end in market or
Improve Industry Knowledge industry, etc.)
(Pharmaceutical, Aerospace, Computer, etc.) Personal (Shyness, Loss of Contacts, Age,
Improve Career Skills (Resume Writing, Gender, Fear, Ability, Preferences, etc.)
Networking Contacts, etc.) Geography (Personal preference, Relocation
Increase Education (College, Certifications, Fears, Cost, Family, etc.)
Awards, etc.) Companies (Reputation, Employee
Increase Personal Accomplishments Treatment, Position, etc.)
(Published Articles, Books, Presentations,
Honors, etc.)
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What Next for You?
Prioritize
Address the Weaknesses
Carpe Diem Seize the Opportunities
Avoid/Mitigate the Threats
Strengthen the Strengths
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Address The Weaknesses
80/20 or Low Hanging Fruit
Go back to school
Business/technical training
Books
Informational Interviews
Attend industry events
Find a mentor
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Seize The Opportunities
Transferable skills
Think outside the box
Write White Papers
Perform research
Informational Interviews
Read business articles
Network, network, network
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Avoid/Mitigate Threats
Time Management
Eliminate self-made Roadblocks
Plan
Personal Portfolio
Research
Network, network, network
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Strengthen The Strengths
Improve Weakest Strengths
Enhance Strongest Strengths
Use for Other Things
Teach Others
Share Expertise
Write (Papers, Presentations, etc.)
Find Someone to Mentor
Network, network, network
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What Next for Your Employer?
Identify
Areas that best suit his/her strengths
Dont put them in areas where they are ill suited
Help the employee
Seize the Opportunities
Avoid/Mitigate the Threats
Strengthen the Strengths
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Closing Thoughts
Doesnt Happen Overnight
Short Range Goals
Celebrate Along the Way
Evaluate Your Goals
What do I want to do?
Where do I want to go?
Explore Your Options
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Closing Thoughts (Cont.)
Network, network, network
Build Your Network - Big to Small
Build Your Network - Small to Big
Learn & Apply
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Questions?
I felt gratified to be able to answer
quickly, and I did. I said I dont
know.
Mark Twain
15-Oct-13
