Career SWOT Analysis Techniques

Most people only use SWOT in business. The real unlock is using it on yourself: I stumbled into this years ago when I felt stuck. And I now coach the leaders at my companies to do the same. The power is in the forced awareness: Self-awareness for strengths and weaknesses, External awareness for opportunities and threats, There's a reason it's so popular in business: It's one of the simplest, most effective exercises for clarity. Try it: 1) Strengths Description:  ↳The things you do better than most people around you Why It Matters:  ↳If you don't lean into these, your biggest assets stay invisible Examples: ↳You're the go-to person for simplifying complex ideas ↳Colleagues trust you to calm a tense room ↳You consistently hit deadlines even under pressure ↳You bring creative ideas that spark team discussions How to Handle: ↳Don't hide them - showcase them in meetings, projects, 1:1s, and reviews ↳Look for trainings or practice that will help you get even stronger at them ↳Document wins so you can point to evidence during reviews 2) Weaknesses Description:  ↳Patterns that hold you back more often than you admit Why It Matters:  ↳Left unaddressed, they quietly cap your growth and credibility Examples: ↳You procrastinate on detailed reports ↳You freeze up when conversations get confrontational ↳You struggle to say no and get overcommitted ↳You avoid learning new tools until forced How to Handle: ↳Name them out loud so you're self-aware enough to manage them ↳Recognize it's more efficient to lean into strengths than improve weaknesses ↳Instead of trying to fix them, build systems or partnerships that fill the gap 3) Opportunities Description:  ↳Chances outside your daily to-do list that could change your trajectory Why It Matters:  ↳Spotting these early can accelerate your career faster than waiting for "luck" Examples: ↳A cross-functional project that needs a volunteer ↳A senior colleague offering to mentor you ↳Your company investing in a new market where you could get involved ↳An internal role opening that matches your long-term goals How to Handle: ↳Say yes before you feel "ready" ↳Block time so these don't get buried by daily tasks ↳Tell your manager directly what you'd like to explore next 4) Threats Description:  ↳Forces outside your control that could stall your growth Why It Matters:  ↳If you don't anticipate them, you'll always be reacting instead of adapting Examples: ↳Your role getting automated by new tools ↳A reorganization that sidelines your team's visibility ↳Budget cuts shrinking opportunities for advancement ↳Industry shifts reducing demand for your skill set How to Handle: ↳Keep one eye on the bigger picture ↳Expand and nurture your network, minimizing threats by maximizing opportunities ↳Diversify your skills so one change doesn't wipe out your value Which category do you think will help you most? --- ♻️ Share this to help someone that may be stuck. And follow me George Stern for more. 

Have You Ever Done a Personal SWOT Analysis? It's not just reserved for business. It might sound like something reserved for business strategies, but applying the SWOT framework to yourself can be a game-changer for personal growth and career development. Here’s how it breaks down: Strengths – What are you doing well? What qualities set you apart from others? Think of your skills, talents, and character traits that people consistently appreciate. Weaknesses – Be honest. What areas need improvement? What habits or gaps might be holding you back? Opportunities – What trends, shifts, or unmet needs can you tap into? Where do you see growth ahead? Threats – What external challenges or risks might get in your way? Are there blind spots you should be aware of? Doing a personal SWOT can help you: ✅ Clarify your goals ✅ Identify where to focus your energy ✅ Develop strategies to overcome challenges ✅ Stay adaptable in a changing world Take 30 minutes this week to sketch out your own SWOT. It could be the clarity you didn’t know you needed.

Career SWOT analysis? It isn’t just a business tool. It’s a career repositioning tool. Here's how to use it. For most, there's hyper focus on strengths and weaknesses, eg, "have xyz experience" or lack thereof, or "I don't have xyz". . . But here's the miss: 1. 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 – the roles, companies, and market shifts that actually align with your next move. 2. 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 – not just the competitive market, but the narratives and missteps that quietly hold you back. If you’re transitioning, especially into pharma/biotech, you need a strategic lens, not just a personal inventory. “Submitting a CV” or “prepping for an interview" -- all tactics. The real strategy is understanding your 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘹𝘵. 👉 What part of the industry is growing? 👉 What companies are expanding teams, launching products, shifting focus? 👉 What unmet needs align with your background—even if it’s nontraditional? And when it comes to 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘴, don’t just name the obstacle. Unpack the root cause: ✅ Threat: "The market is saturated." → Why? What roles are oversaturated? What functions are misunderstood? What narratives are you repeating without realizing it? ✅ Threat: "Others have more experience." → What if experience isn’t the real differentiator? What if it's clarity, communication, and credibility? If you're serious about positioning yourself - START HERE👇 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐖𝐎𝐓 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤: ►𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐬 – What transferable skills, knowledge, and traits make you credible for this role? ►𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 – What gaps need repositioning, reframing, or upskilling? ►𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 – What industry shifts, company needs, or role evolutions align with your background? ►𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 – What assumptions or misperceptions could derail you—and how will you proactively counter them? 📌 Want a fillable PDF version? 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞. Happy Friday! #pharma #biotech #SWOT #careeranalysis #marketlandscape #careerdevelopment

SWOT — but make it personal. We usually hear about SWOT in business: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats. But honestly? It works just as well for yourself. 1️⃣ Strengths → The things you’re naturally good at. Maybe you calm people down in tense moments, or maybe you always deliver under pressure. These are your superpowers. Use them more. 2️⃣ Weaknesses → The habits that hold you back. Like procrastinating, overcommitting, or avoiding new tools until the last minute. It’s not about “fixing” everything, but knowing them so you can manage them. 3️⃣ Opportunities → Those random chances that can change everything. A mentor offering advice, a cross-team project, or a new market your company’s exploring. Don’t wait until you feel “ready” — jump in. 4️⃣ Threats → Stuff you can’t control. Tech replacing jobs, shrinking budgets, industry changes. The best defense? Keep learning, grow your network, and diversify your skills so you stay valuable. At the end of the day, doing a personal SWOT isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being aware. Once you know where you stand, you can start moving with intention. 👉 So… what’s one strength you’re leaning on this year? Have a great weekend! 🌺