Personal Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (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.
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.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
Numeracy skills Writing skills Time management | Talking to people People management Lack of confidence |
| Opportunities | Threats |
Working for a large company with lots of vacancies Availability of training budget More mentors Job share | High level of competition for new roles Flexible working may be harder for more senior jobs Higher levels of stress |
Last reviewed by Scope on: 16/06/2020
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