| The SWOT analysis-- A key tool in the strategic | | | | opportunities by advancing your education, field is in |
| planning process can also be applied to career | | | | need of your set of skills, opportunities for |
| planning. Tips, tools and techniques to assess your | | | | advancement or professional development. |
| internal and external strengths and weaknesses will | | | | Threats - external negative conditions that you do not |
| give your career planning a boost. | | | | control but the effect of which you may be able to |
| A SWOT analysis is an examination of four domains: | | | | lessen. Examples include negative trends such as |
| Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats. Below | | | | downsizing or outsourcing, competitors with superior |
| are examples of what to assess in each domain. | | | | skills, experience or knowledge, limited advancement or |
| Strengths - internal positive aspects under your control | | | | professional development opportunities. |
| that you can capitalize on. Examples include work | | | | Be realistic when examining your successes and |
| experience, education, technical knowledge, personal | | | | challenges--by inflating your success and minimizing |
| characteristics, good contacts and networks. | | | | your challenges, you'll have faulty information to work |
| Weaknesses - internal negative aspects under your | | | | with. If you've been realistic in your self-examination, |
| control that you may need to improve. Examples | | | | you will have a clear and valuable road map that |
| include little work experience, wrong degree, weak | | | | shows you how to capitalize on your strengths and |
| technical knowledge, negative personal characteristics. | | | | minimize or eliminate your weaknesses. You should |
| Opportunities - external positive aspects that you do | | | | then use this map to take advantage of opportunities |
| not control but which you plan to take advantage. | | | | and avoid or lessen threats. |
| Examples include positive trends in your field, | | | | |