Two very useful career-planning techniques are the SWOT analysis and the PEST analysis. First, the acronym, SWOT, stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. These are the four basic parts to this analysis in internal and external environments. It examines strengths and weaknesses in the internal environment, and opportunities and threats in the external environment. This management tool allows one to set a course in career planning. SWOT is a decision-making aid that provides a framework for formulating and developing strategies. .
The first step that one would take to successfully utilize the SWOT analysis is to evaluate their strengths. Strengths are internal positive aspects that are under control and upon which you may capitalize in planning. Strengths are determined by work experience, education, strong technical knowledge, transferable skills, personal characteristics, good networking abilities, and positive interaction with professional organizations. Self-perception, as well as the perception of a prospective employer, should be utilized in discovering strong points. One of the greatest strengths involves enjoying the job in which one works. If one possesses career fulfillment, then they are more likely to succeed than someone who lacks it.
The next step in this procedure is to assess any weaknesses. Weaknesses are internal negative aspects that are under control and that may be improved. .
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Weaknesses may be depicted by lack of work experience, low GPA or wrong major, lack of goals, self-knowledge, or job knowledge, weak technical knowledge, weak job-hunting skills, or negative personal characteristics. To evaluate these weak areas one should think of what prospective employers would consider improvable areas. Affective analysis of these feeble characteristics could give a head start in career planning.
The final step is the evaluation of opportunities and threats.