During the first 3 weeks of the class we studied some tools of strategic analysis–tools that help businesses understand their external environments and internal capabilities. \u00a0In chapter 2, the five forces helped us understand possible threats to a business\u2014entry, rivalry, substitutes, and the power of suppliers and buyers. \u00a0Generic industry structure helped us identify possible opportunities- consolidation, first-mover advantages, product refinement, leadership, harvest, divestment, etc.<\/p>\n
Chapter 3 focused on internal capabilities. \u00a0The VRIO framework helped us learn to identify strengths and weaknesses of a business. \u00a0If a resources or capability is valuable (it can exploit an opportunity or minimize a weakness) then it is a strength. \u00a0If not, then it is a weakness.<\/p>\n
These chapters basically gave us the tools to conduct a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis.<\/p>\n
Since I work in Career Services, I\u2019m also interested in the SWOT analysis as a career development tool. \u00a0A career development SWOT can help you prepare for interviews plus identify areas to target to make yourself a stronger job candidate. \u00a0Employers are much more likely to hire people with a good understanding of strengths they bring to the table and areas they can improve.
\nWith this in mind, let\u2019s do a career development SWOT. \u00a0Post your career strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats. \u00a0 \u00a0Here are some guidelines to help.<\/p>\n
These are guidelines to help you start thinking about each category. \u00a0You don\u2019t necessarily have to answers each question. Just use them to prime your thinking.<\/p>\n
Strengths<\/p>\n
What advantages do you have that others don’t have (for example, skills, certifications, education, or connections)?
\nWhat do you do better than anyone else?
\nWhat personal resources can you access?
\nWhat do other people see as your strengths?
\nWhich of your achievements are you most proud of?
\nWhat values do you believe in that others fail to exhibit?
\nAre you part of a network that no one else is involved in? If so, what connections do you have with influential people?
\nConsider this from your own perspective, and from the point of view of the people around you. And don’t be modest or shy \u2013 be as objective as you can.<\/p>\n
And if you have any difficulty with this, write down a list of your personal characteristics. Some of these will hopefully be strengths!<\/p>\n
Weaknesses
\nWhat tasks do you usually avoid because you don’t feel confident doing them?
\nWhat will the people around you see as your weaknesses?
\nAre you completely confident in your education and skills training? If not, where are you weakest?
\nWhat are your negative work habits (for example, are you often late, are you disorganized, do you have a short temper, or are you poor at handling stress)?
\nDo you have personality traits that hold you back in your field? For instance, if you have to conduct meetings on a regular basis, a fear of public speaking would be a major weakness.
\nThink about these from a professional\/career perspective. \u00a0These are weaknesses you might mention in an interview, not ones you would tell a therapist! \u00a0 \ud83d\ude42
\nOpportunities<\/p>\n
What new technology can help you? Or can you get help from others or from people via the Internet?
\nIs your industry growing? If so, how can you take advantage of the current market?
\nDo you have a network of strategic contacts to help you, or offer good advice?
\nIf you are currently working, what trends (management or otherwise) do you see in your company, and how can you take advantage of them?
\nAre any of your competitors failing to do something important? If so, can you take advantage of their mistakes?
\nIs there a need in your company or industry that no one is filling?
\nDo your customers or vendors complain about something in your company? If so, could you create an opportunity by offering a solution?
\nYou might find useful opportunities in the following:<\/p>\n
Networking events, educational classes, or conferences.
\nA colleague going on an extended leave. Could you take on some of this person’s projects to gain experience?
\nA new role or project that forces you to learn new skills, like public speaking or international relations.
\nA company expansion or acquisition. Do you have specific skills (like a second language) that could help with the process?
\nTIP–Look at your strengths, and ask yourself whether these open up any opportunities \u2013 and look at your weaknesses, and ask yourself whether you could open up opportunities by eliminating those weaknesses.<\/p>\n
Threats
\n(if you don\u2019t work, think about these from a job seekers perspective)
\nWhat obstacles do you currently face at work?
\nIs your job (or the demand for the things you do) changing?
\nDoes changing technology threaten your position?
\nCould any of your weaknesses lead to threats?
\nPerforming this analysis will often provide key information \u2013 it can point out what needs to be done and put problems into perspective.
\nA Career Development SWOT Example
\nHere is an example to give you an idea of what a career development \u00a0SWOT might look like.<\/p>\n
Strengths<\/p>\n
I’m very creative. I often impress clients with a new perspective on their brands.
\nI communicate well with my clients and team.
\nI have the ability to ask key questions to find just the right marketing angle.
\nI’m completely committed to the success of a client’s brand.
\nWeaknesses<\/p>\n
I have a strong, compulsive need to do things quickly and remove them from my “to do” list, and sometimes the quality of my work suffers as a result.
\nThis same need to get things done also causes me stress when I have too many tasks.
\nI get nervous when presenting ideas to clients, and this fear of public speaking often takes the passion out of my presentations.
\nOpportunities
\nOne of our major competitors has developed a reputation for treating their smaller clients poorly.
\nI’m attending a major marketing conference next month. This will allow for strategic networking, and also offer some great training seminars.
\nOur art director will go on maternity leave soon. Covering her duties while she’s away would be a great career development opportunity for me.
\nThreats
\nSimon, one of my colleagues, is a much stronger speaker than I am, and he’s competing with me for the art director position.
\nDue to recent staff shortages, I’m often overworked, and this negatively impacts my creativity.
\nThe current economic climate has resulted in slow growth for the marketing industry. Many firms have laid off staff members, and our company is considering further cutbacks.
\nThe purpose of this discussion board is to help reinforce the components of a SWOT analysis. \u00a0For those of you in the job market (you\u2019ve started your job search, right?), a career development SWOT can be a valuable tool to help you interview better by more fully understanding what you have to offer. \u00a0It is also a good way to identify what needs to be done to make yourself a stronger job candidate..
\nHave fun!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
#4 Career Development SWOT During the first 3 weeks of the class we studied some tools of strategic analysis–tools that help businesses understand their external environments and internal capabilities. \u00a0In chapter 2, the five forces helped us understand possible threats Read More …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-436133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-essay-paper-writing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.benedictsol.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/436133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.benedictsol.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.benedictsol.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.benedictsol.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.benedictsol.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=436133"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.benedictsol.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/436133\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.benedictsol.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=436133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.benedictsol.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=436133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.benedictsol.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=436133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}