What is a SWOT analysis?

If you’re familiar with SWOT you can skip this section, but if you’re unfamiliar with it SWOT stands for

• Strengths

• Weaknesses

• Opportunities

• Threats

You can use it to assess yourself, compare yourself to your peers/competitors and also use it to find career growth opportunities. 

A personal SWOT analysis is a tried and tested method of evaluating one’s strengths and weaknesses. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. 

The purpose of a SWOT analysis is not just to list down these things, but to also expand upon them to improve your personal and career growth. 

Personal SWOT Analysis vs Business SWOT Analysis

Compared to a business SWOT analysis, which mainly focuses on products and services, a personal SWOT analysis focuses on the individual.

It can be conducted before a job interview or during a job self-evaluation. SWOT analysis can tell you where you stand and what you want to achieve in life. 

Benefits of a Personal SWOT Analysis

Every person reflects upon their strengths and weaknesses from time to time. But, a random self-reflection isn’t exactly complex enough to catapult you into super success (whatever that means for you).

With a SWOT analysis, your self-evaluation will be structured. It can help you identify and resolve problems in a manner that’s easy to digest.

For instance, if you only focus on your strengths and ignore your weaknesses, you will never be able to improve. When you write down your weaknesses and the threats you are facing using a SWOT structure, you are more likely to find solutions. 

How to Perform Your Personal SWOT Analysis

Before you begin your strength analysis, draw a box on blank paper and divide it into four squares. This will be a rough draft of your SWOT analysis. 

Step 1. List your relevant strengths

In order to figure out your strengths, focus on things that make you different from other people in your industry. For instance, if you are a marketer, and you have a marketing degree – you can add it to your strengths. You can also add any awards, distinctions, and certifications you have in the same niche.  

When figuring out your strengths, you don’t have to do everything on your own. Turn to a colleague you trust, and ask their opinion about your abilities. You can also ask friends and family members for a second opinion once you are done listing your strengths. 

Consider this from your own perspective, and from the point of view of the people around you. And don't be modest or shy – be as objective as you can. Knowing and using your strengths can make you happier and more fulfilled at work.

And if you still have any difficulty identifying your strengths, write down a list of your personal characteristics. Some of these will hopefully be strengths!

Strengths

• What advantages do you have that others don't have (for example, skills, certifications, education, or connections)?

• What do you do better than anyone else?

• What personal resources can you access?

• What do other people (and your boss, in particular) see as your strengths?

• Which of your achievements are you most proud of?

• What values do you believe in that others fail to exhibit?

• Are you part of a network that no one else is involved in? If so, what connections do you have with influential people?

Examples of what personal strengths can look like:

• I work well under pressure. 

• My qualitative and quantitative analysis skills are great. 

• I am quick to learn technical concepts. 

• I like to stay organized in my personal and professional life. 

2. Review your weaknesses

Before you begin listing down your weakness, it is important to remind yourself that the purpose of this exercise is to improve your personal growth. The goal isn’t to feel bad about yourself by the end!

One of the many benefits of a personal SWOT analysis is that it can just be for your own eyes only. So, be as open as you want without the fear of judgment. Be honest with yourself and write down the weaknesses that you think are interfering with your growth. 

Again, consider this from a personal/internal perspective and an external perspective. Do other people see weaknesses that you don't see? Do co-workers consistently outperform you in key areas? Be realistic – it's best to face any unpleasant truths as soon as possible. 

Weaknesses

• What tasks do you usually avoid because you don't feel confident doing them?

• What will the people around you see as your weaknesses?

• Are you completely confident in your education and skills training? If not, where are you weakest?

• What are your negative work habits (for example, are you often late, are you disorganized, do you have a short temper, or are you poor at handling stress)?

• Do you have personality traits that hold you back in your field? For instance, if you have to conduct meetings on a regular basis, a fear of public speaking would be a major weakness.

Examples of weaknesses that can keep you from moving forward:

• I am bad at budgeting which results in overspending. 

• I shy away from learning technical skills and only focus on artistic skills. 

• Brainstorming is easier for me than executing ideas. 

• Impatience often occurs with me, which leads to me losing interest in projects halfway through. 

3. Define your opportunities

Depending on the purpose behind your SWOT analysis, this part can look different. For instance, if you are doing a SWOT analysis for career growth, you can look at the opportunities around your workplace. For example, this could be any hobbies you can learn. You should also consider the opportunities that you can create by working on your weaknesses. 

Sometimes, opportunities can also arise from your strengths. For instance, if you are good at graphic design, you can use your industry connections to find relevant jobs. 

Also, importantly, look at your strengths, and ask yourself whether these open up any opportunities – and look at your weaknesses, and ask yourself whether you could open up opportunities by eliminating those weaknesses. 

Opportunities

• What new technology can help you? Or can you get help from others or from people via the internet?

• Is your industry growing? If so, how can you take advantage of the current market?

• Do you have a network of strategic contacts to help you, or offer good advice?

• What trends (management or otherwise) do you see in your company, and how can you take advantage of them?

• Are any of your competitors failing to do something important? If so, can you take advantage of their mistakes?

• Is there a need in your company or industry that no one is filling?

• Do your customers or vendors complain about something in your company? If so, could you create an opportunity by offering a solution?

Examples of opportunities to increase growth

• I can get a promotion if I bring in more sales for three months straight. 

• If I sign up for a free online course, I can learn how to build a website. 

• I can benefit from my powerful industry connections. 

• I can improve professionally by working on my technical skills. 

4. Understand any potential threats

Now, figuring out personal threats can be a bit tricky. If you think of yourself as a company or organization, it will become easier for you to figure out what’s hindering your progress.

The threats you are facing can also vary depending on the situation you are in. Certain challenges can affect you in both your personal and professional life. 

When thinking of threats, it is important to not only look at factors keeping you from moving forward, but also at the people and environment that amplify their effects.

For instance, if you fail to exercise money management when you are with your college friends, they may be considered a threat to your financial growth. 

Threats can also be related to your weaknesses – i.e., if your competitors in the industry can exploit your weaknesses, they will turn into threats. It is important to not only work on your weaknesses but also to find a suitable way to handle situations making things worse for you. 

Performing this analysis will often provide key information – it can point out what needs to be done and put problems into perspective. 

Threats

• What obstacles do you currently face at work?

• Are any of your colleagues competing with you for projects or roles?

• Is your job (or the demand for the things you do) changing?

• Does changing technology threaten your position?

• Could any of your weaknesses lead to threats?

Examples of threats that can hinder your progress

• My project delivery turnaround is lesser than my colleagues and my boss will prefer them over me. 

• New talent is introduced in the field & the competition is fierce.

• I am failing to keep up with the changing technologies in my field, and therefore I am technically not sound.