2. A Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT)
analysis is a common tool in the professional world to
evaluate the past, present and future position of a
company.
3. It provides organizational leaders a new perspective on
what the organization does well, where its challenges lie
and which avenues to pursue. A personal SWOT analysis
can do the same for an individual in pursuit of their
career goals.
4. How to Conduct Personal SWOT
Analysis
When conducting a personal SWOT analysis, think
about what you want out of it.
Do you want a new job or a new achievement in your
current position?
Are you looking for personal growth, or want to try
something new?
5. To conduct the analysis, ask yourself questions about
each of the four areas being examined. Honesty is
crucial, or the analysis will not generate meaningful
results. With that in mind, try to see yourself from the
standpoint of a colleague or a bystander, and view
criticism with objectivity.
6. Your Strengths
What are you good at naturally?
What skills have you worked to develop?
What are your talents, or natural-born gifts?
7. Your Weakness
What are your negative work habits and traits?
Does any part of your education or training need
improving?
What would other people see as your weaknesses
8. Your Opportunities
What is the state of the economy?
Is your industry growing?
Is there new technology in your industry?
9. Your Threats
Is your industry contracting or changing directions?
Is there strong competition for the types of jobs for
which you are best suited?
What is the biggest external danger to your goals?
15. Internal Factors
Strengths Weaknesses
•Leadership and management skills
•Core competences
•Resources
•Reputation
•Product or service quality
•Market position
•Capacity
•Lack leadership and management
skills
•Key skills gaps
•Weak finances
•Low quality and reputation
•Products or services not differentiated
16. External Factors
Opportunities Threats
•Economic growth
•New products or services
•Weak competitors
•Demographic change
•Change in political and economic
environment
•Market growth
•Global influences
•New technology developments
•Economic downturn
•New market entrants
•Increased competition
•Slow growth
•Change in political and economic
environment
•Technological threat
•Global warming/ weather
•Demographic change