SWOT analysis

Knowing and understanding your own strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) can help you to come up with a plan for your career. This can be particularly useful if you’re trying to get promoted. You can use the following example of a SWOT analysis to help you do your own.

Download our SWOT template.

Strengths

Look for roles that will put your strengths to good use. Your strengths are what you’re good at and what will be of benefit in the role.

• number skills
• writing skills
• time management

Weaknesses

Weaknesses are areas where you’re less skilled or confident. If a role you want requires skills you do not have, you can work on and improve these.

• talking to people
• people management
• lack of confidence

Opportunities

Opportunities help you to develop your career. For example, ask for training to develop your skills or find a suitable mentor in the organisation.

• working for a large company with many new roles becoming available
• availability of training
• more mentors available

Threats

Identify any threats to you or your career. Threats are things that may limit your career, such as:

• high level of competition for new roles
• difficulty negotiating flexible working conditions for senior jobs
• higher level of stress

Put your ideas in a table to make them easier to read.