Although it's often used by business professionals, this shouldn't stop graduates from adopting this strategy when coming up with a career plan. Think of it as a self-assessment tool - you will examine your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats which will help you develop your career. What makes SWOT so effective is that it helps you eliminate obstacles that stand in your way from getting the job you want, and enables you to explore opportunities that can move your career forward. It will separate you from other candidates and give you a stronger sense of your skillset and what kind of job is suited to you.
Strengths:
First step is to make a list of all your strengths.
What skills do you have that would impress an employer? What are your best achievements? Are you part of a network that has given you connections with some influential people? Do you have work experience that could make you stand out?
When listing your strengths, the key is to be as objective as you can. Don't be modest, consider these questions from an outsider's point of view as well as your own. If you are struggling, ask family members or your current/previous colleagues to help you out as they will know your skillset the best from observing how you work.
You can also try writing down a list of your personal characteristics and some of these should hopefully be strengths.
Weaknesses:
This stage requires a lot of honesty!
Do you tend to avoid certain tasks because you don't feel confident doing them? If so, what are they? Do you have specific personality traits that hold you back? E.g. fear of speaking in public. Do you have any negative work habits? E.g. lateness or prone to high stress levels.
Similar to strengths, look at your weaknesses from an objective point of view to ensure they are as realistic as possible. If you find this hard, look back on previous projects or tasks you have carried out and think of how you could have performed better.
Asking family members and co-workers could also help, as they may have noticed weaknesses that you never realised you had.
Opportunities:
Now you have examined what you are capable of, you are now ready to explore the opportunities around you and put your skills to practice!
Do any of your family members work in an industry that interests you? If so, do they know of any job opportunities for you at their work, or do they know anybody that could help you out? Are you active on social media? Do you follow jobs boards on Twitter? Have you connected with industry insiders on LinkedIn? Click here for article on help on how to do this. Have you signed up to recruitment agencies or graduate job boards?
What is very important is who you know. Always keep in touch with your previous colleagues and managers, as they may know of new job openings for you, or know people that could help you out. The people you have worked with know how you work the best, so keep in touch as they could find the most suitable jobs for you. Signing up to LinkedIn is the best way to keep in touch, as you can keep a close eye on what they are up to and even who they know. If you see that any of their connections are in a field of work that interests you, don't be shy to connect with them! LinkedIn is all about networking, so be active.
Threats:
You have now discovered there are plenty of opportunities to finding a job, but is there anything standing in your way to getting that dream job? Make a list of these possible threats so you are clear on how to eliminate these from your job hunt.
Are your weaknesses holding you back from getting a job? Do you have a limited network of people that could find you a job? Is your work experience on your CV restricted? Do you think your academic record will damage your chances of employability?
If your answers to these questions are yes, do not worry as there are plenty of things you can do to turn this around.
Prioritise your biggest threats and come up with plans of action on how to beat them. If you are struggling, one of the best things you can do is speak to a careers advisor. They can give you plenty of advice on how to boost your career by helping you recognise what your downfalls are and how to overcome them.
