Newsletter Archive

JANUARY 2009

Using SWOT Analysis for Employment Success
  
'Many people welcome January as a time for setting new goals and getting a fresh start. If your 2009 goals include finding a new job, discovering the right career or dealing with challenges at your current company, a SWOT analysis can get you on the right track for employment success.
 
SWOT is an acronym that stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Originally developed as a strategic planning tool for business, as an individual you can perform your own personal SWOT analysis to plan your career strategy.
 
To use this tool, answer the four questions below. If possible, get feedback on your answers from one or two people who know you well and whom you trust (such as a parent, sibling, co-worker, coach, mentor or teacher).
 
Most of the people I coach who have Asperger's Syndrome and Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD) are confused about their job qualifications and skills. Some under- or over-estimate their abilities while others don't know how to match their knowledge and experience to the requirements listed in job openings. Then, of course, there are the dreaded "unwritten rules" of the workplace that neurotypicals can figure out but most Asperger and NLD individuals can't.
 
Assessing your own strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and then comparing them with what others perceive about you can provide a more realistic picture of your situation.
 
You begin your SWOT analysis by answering each of the questions below.
 
1. What are your strengths? List the following:
 
a) Things that you do well (talents such as writing, drawing, teaching, researching, etc.).
 
b) Specific skills that you have developed (e.g. accounting, computer programming, medical coding, welding, etc.).
 
c) Personal characteristics (honesty, persistence, intelligence, etc.). 
 
d) Education, which can include formal degrees as well as certificates, continuing education workshops, and apprenticeships.
 
e) Contacts who can help you reach your career goals. This list can include current and former co-workers, professional contacts, college professors, personal friends, college alumni, etc.
 
f) Other resources that give you an edge, for example, having the time and money to return to school, or access to specialized equipment.
 
 
2. What are your weaknesses? List the following: 
 
a) Things that you have difficulty doing (e.g. math, organizing time, remembering appointments, multi-tasking, asking for help, prioritizing tasks, etc.).
 
b) Job-related skills that you need to acquire or improve, such as learning computer applications or getting specific job experience.
 
c) External factors such as multiple job losses, no references, large gap in employment, work experience that doesn't match education (e.g. Master's degree but only jobs have been retail sales positions), limited access to public transportation, etc.
 
d) Personal limitations like poor coordination, severe sensory issues, anxiety, problems managing anger, and other personal challenges that will affect your job or career choice. 
 
3. What are your opportunities? Create a list for all areas that apply to you, such as: 
 
a) Positive potentials (for instance, a chance to retrain for a different line of work; transfer your skills to a different industry; decision to get help with interviewing skills; etc.).

b) Are there industry trends or regulatory changes that you can capitalize on? The "green movement" is creating jobs in many diverse fields. And most areas of health care continue to experience shortages of skilled workers.
 
4. What threats do you face? This refers to obstacles such as:
 
a) Personal limitations (from question #2) that you need to address in order to be employable; unrealistic expectations about what jobs you are qualified for; etc.
 
b) External factors such as new technology making some jobs obsolete; seeking employment in a highly competitive field with few job openings; etc.
 
 
Your responses to the SWOT analysis (along with any feedback from others) can show you where your vocational talents and skills lie, the areas that you need to work on, opportunities that you may be missing and obstacles to work around. 
 
After reviewing your SWOT information, the next step is to develop a realistic action plan for reaching your career goals. Next month, the Asperger's & NLD Career Letter will explain how to do that using the SMART goal system.
 

© 2009 by Barbara Bissonnette, Forward Motion Coaching