When used in a personal context, SWOT analysis helps you develop your career by making the best use of your talents, abilities, and opportunities.

What makes SWOT analysis especially useful is that it can quickly open up new opportunities and help you recognize and understand your weaknesses, so you can better prepare for challenges.

To create a SWOT analysis, answer the following questions:

Strengths

• What advantages (skills, education, experience) do you have over others?
• What do you do better than most other people?
• What do other people, especially your coach, see as your strengths?

Look at this from your own perspective, but also from the point of view of people around you. Do not be modest — be as objective as possible.

If you have difficulties, try making a list of your personal qualities. Some of them will certainly be your strengths.

Weaknesses

• What can you improve?
• What should you avoid?
• What do people around you see as your weaknesses?

Consider this from your own perspective and from the perspective of others. Do they see weaknesses that you do not notice?

Be realistic and face uncomfortable truths as early as possible.

Opportunities

• Where are good opportunities waiting for you?
• What trends could benefit you?

Useful opportunities may arise from:

• Changes in technology, companies, or the market
• Changes in government regulations
• Changes in social circumstances
• Local events and initiatives

A good way to identify opportunities is to analyze your strengths and think about how they can create new opportunities.

Also, analyze your weaknesses and consider whether new opportunities may arise by eliminating them.

Threats

• What obstacles are you facing?
• What are the people around you doing?
• Are the demands of your work or obligations changing?
• Does technological change threaten your position?
• Do any of your weaknesses seriously endanger you?

Creating this analysis can often illuminate the path to solving problems and help you clearly identify your next steps.

Key points

The SWOT matrix is the foundation for analyzing your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

It will help you focus on your strengths, minimize weaknesses, and make the most of the opportunities available to you.