Why a SWOT analysis is essential for your career strategy

How to conduct a personal SWOT analysis: Creating a strategic career plan

You’re probably familiar with businesses conducting a SWOT analysis to strategically plan for the future. But did you know a personal SWOT analysis can also help you create an actionable career strategy? This article will guide you through the process of conducting your own SWOT analysis with detailed instructions for completing each section and a downloadable template with questions to consider as you plan your next career move.

STRENGTHS

The benefits of using a SWOT analysis

Conducting a personal SWOT analysis can help you plan your next career move, prepare an honest performance review and stand out during your job search. It will give you a clear understanding of all the factors—internal and external, positive and negative—that can impact your career. Your personal SWOT analysis can help you strategically manage your career by using your strengths to pursue opportunities while mitigating weaknesses and threats. There are four parts to a SWOT analysis: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

How to conduct your personal SWOT analysis

Your personal SWOT analysis will help you visualize your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as they relate to your career. The first two sections, strengths and weaknesses, consider internal factors that are specific to you as an individual—such as personal skills, experiences, qualifications and character traits. The last two sections, opportunities and threats, examine external factors that may impact your career—such as industry trends, development of emerging technologies and changes to the world of work. Boost your career strategy by considering these questions when creating your SWOT analysis.

1. Strengths

• What skills or tools are you most comfortable with or do you use the most?

• What professional education, training and certifications do you have?

• Who do you know with professional influence within your current or desired industry?

• What characteristics or traits define you as a professional?

Regardless of the role or industry, one of the first things an interviewer usually asks is for you to tell them about yourself. Without directly saying it, they want to know what you perceive as your professional strengths. Here are a few questions to help you identify those strengths:

• What achievements are you most proud of?

• What would your boss or coworkers say your strengths are?

DIFFERENTIATORS THAT MAKE YOU STAND OUT

• Do you have any negative work habits that prevent you from doing your best work?

• What job duties or tasks do you prefer to avoid or typically need help with?

• What would your boss or coworkers say your weaknesses are?

• Are there any necessary skills you are lacking or need to further develop?

• Are you lacking any necessary education, training or experience?

No one likes to think about their weaknesses, but doing so can give you a strategic advantage in your career. The following questions can help you identify your professional weaknesses with an honest self-evaluation:

2. Weaknesses

• In what ways can your professional connections help you as you plan your next career move?

• Are there other industries or jobs where your education, skills or experience are in demand?

• How could new technology like AI impact your industry, change your job or help you advance?

• What opportunities for career growth exist in your current role or industry?

• Is your role or industry changing in ways that could help your career?

• What trends are currently affecting your industry?

When done correctly, this section may help you find surprising career opportunities you otherwise may not have considered or thought of. Here are a few questions to help you identify your next potential career move:

3. Opportunities

Group of young multiracial business people are working in modern office. Freelancers in coworking place. Creative and stylish youth.

• When considering your career goals or opportunities, who are your competitors and how do they stand out within your role or industry?

• Could new technologies require you to obtain new training or certifications or slow your career progression?

• Is your role or industry changing in any ways that could hurt your career?

• What obstacles are you currently facing in your career?

Any good plan requires an awareness of things that could go wrong. Identifying these things now will help you create a plan that mitigates risks and prepares you for possible future events. Here are a few questions to help you identify potential threats to your career:

4. Threats

• What things do you need to do to reach these goals?

• Where do you want to be, both personally and professionally, in the next 3-5 years?

• What job duties or tasks do you tend to seek out or enjoy doing the most?

• What things are you most passionate about, both personally and professionally?

Knowing your professional strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats is important, but without a clear understanding of your goals and interests, your personal SWOT analysis won't be effective in helping your career. Here are a few questions to help you identify your career goals and interests:

5. The hidden element: interests & goals

KEY CONSIDERATIONS

Education, training and certifications Skills, talents and characteristics Industry connections Professional accomplishments

Lack of education or training Skills that need to be developed Job duties you dislike or need help with Personal habits that hurt your work

KEY CONSIDERATIONS

Industry trends and changes Possible career growth options Potential impacts of new technology Other industries seeking your skills

KEY CONSIDERATIONS

Current obstacles in your career Potentially harmful industry changes New demands for additional training Ways your competitors stand out

KEY CONSIDERATIONS

Your personal and professional passions Job duties or tasks you enjoy most Personal and professional goals Requirements to reach your goals

KEY CONSIDERATIONS

Areas You Need to Develop or improve

Weaknesses

Possibilities for career growth and progression

Opportunities

Obstacles to achieving your career goals

Threats

STRENGTHS

Download our personal SWOT analysis template to get started

Ready to create your own?

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Areas You Need to Develop or improve

Weaknesses

Possibilities for career growth and progression

Opportunities

Obstacles to achieving your career goals

Threats

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Download Template

Tip: Review job descriptions of roles you’re interested in and make a list of skills or competencies you currently don’t have.

Tip: Keep up with trends and technology in your industry to be better prepared to strategize your next career move.

To stay competitive in today’s job market, Darius Farivar, Kforce principal talent executive, advises consistently updating your resume, keeping your creative portfolio active and maintaining a strong professional network.

Tip: Keep up with trends and technology in your industry to be better prepared to strategize your next career move.

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