Personal SWOT Analysis by example
Tags: career, beginners, community, productivity
Published: 2024-01-30 15:57:45

In one of our previous posts, we presented the idea behind the Personal SWOT Analysis. If you are new here, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the basics and then come back here.

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Today, we are focusing on how to conduct this analysis in practice. Grab a piece of paper, your favorite pen, and a mug of coffee. Take a long, deep breath. Set your timer for 15 minutes and let's begin.

Start with a bunch of questions. Allocate a maximum of 15 minutes to each of the four categories. Remember, you can always add something extra to each category later.


## 🟢 Strengths:

- What skills or abilities set you apart from others?
- In what areas do you excel where others may struggle?
- What personal resources (like networks, education, or experience) do you have access to?
- What, in the eyes of others (colleagues, friends, supervisors), are seen as your strengths?
- What achievements are you most proud of?

e.g.

▶ **Technical Skills**: Proficient in advanced data analysis and coding (Python, R, Visual Basic), making me a strong candidate for technology-driven roles.
▶ **Communication**: Public speaking and presentation skills, often praised for clear and engaging delivery.
▶ **Adaptability**: Quickly adapt to new technologies and work environments, evident from my smooth transitions across three different industries in the past five years.
▶ **Leadership**: Proven leadership skills, having successfully led a team of 10 in a high-stakes project, resulting in a X% increase in productivity.

**Example:** _A software developer with proficiency in multiple programming languages as a key strength. Also acknowledges huge leadership experiences during collaborative projects._

## 🔴 Weaknesses:

- What tasks do you usually avoid because you lack confidence in doing them?
- What criticisms do you often receive from others regarding your work or behavior?
- In what areas do you have less experience compared to your peers?
- Are there any personality traits that hinder your professional progress?
- What do you consider to be your biggest mistakes or failures, and what caused them?

e.g.

▶ **Time Management**: Struggle with balancing multiple tasks, leading to last-minute rushes.
▶ **Networking**: Limited professional network, mainly due to introverted nature and discomfort in social settings.
▶ **Delegation**: Often take on too much work, stemming from a reluctance to delegate, fearing a compromise in quality.

**Example:** _A marketing manager, realizes that their hesitation to delegate tasks often leads to excessive workload and stress._

## 🔵 Opportunities:

- Are there upcoming changes in your field that could open new doors for you?
- Are there market trends that you can take advantage of due to your skills or interests?
- What are the unmet needs in your organization or industry that you can fulfill?
- Can you identify any gaps in your current team or company’s expertise that you could fill?
- Are there networking, training, or education opportunities that could help advance your career?

e.g.

▶ **Emerging Technologies**: The rapid growth in AI and machine learning presents an opportunity to further specialize and become an industry expert.
▶ **Networking Events**: Many industry events and workshops in the area can help overcome networking weaknesses and build valuable connections.
▶ **Educational Courses:** Availability of online courses for time management and leadership skills can help address current weaknesses.

**Example**: An IT professional, sees the burgeoning field of cybersecurity as an opportunity to expand their expertise and advance in his career.

## 🟡 Threats:

- What obstacles do you currently face at work?
- Are there any changes in your industry that might pose challenges to your current position?
- Do you have any financial pressures that could impact your career decisions?
- Are there any new professional standards or technologies that you find challenging?
- Is there external competition for your job or for the things you want to achieve in your career?

e.g.

▶ **Market Competition:** Increasing number of professionals with similar skill sets, making the job market more competitive.
▶ **Technological Changes:** The fast pace of technological advancements could render some of my current skills obsolete.
▶ **Economic Fluctuations:** Economic downturns can lead to reduced opportunities and job cuts in my industry.

**Example**: A graphic designer, perceives the influx of freelance designers and new design software as potential threats to the current job stability.


![SWOT personal analysis](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/b042ycnjh7tajtzbvbtr.png)



After you answer these questions, you may find some interesting results. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts!