Sample SWOT and GAP Analyses and Worksheet A key tool in the strategic planning process can also be applied to career planning. This tool is a marketing analysis using the SWOT Technique. A SWOT analysis focuses on the internal and external environments, examining strengths and weaknesses in the internal environment and opportunities and threats in the external environment. Imagine your SWOT analysis to be structured like the table below: Use what you learned in the SWOT analysis to focus on the part you have control over: your weaknesses. Also use it to be aware of external threats in your career field and to clarify your strengths and opportunities. Use the Gap Analysis and Action Plan to start bridging the gaps. INTERNAL you can control SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths you have skills, knowledge, abilities Weaknesses you have lack of certain skills, etc. work experience lack of certain experience positive characteristics negative characteristics lack of goals and / or education . network of connections EXTERNAL you can't control Opportunities in your career field likelihood of job growth chances to increase skills Threats in your career field likelihood of downsizing amount of competition for jobs chances for advancement dead-end type of work Employer Needs liob requirements) GAP ANALYSIS and ACTION PLAN I Have Gaps Action Who Can Timeframe (skills, (difference) Needed (steps Help? (people 1 (start/finish) knowledge) to bridge gap) know) know only software enroll in short Silvia will babysit June 5 - July 8 word knowledge course at while I'm at class processing community college e.g. know spreadsheet software The result is: The type of job I'm looking for is: SWOT Analysis Worksheet Strengths: What do you do well? What unique resources can you draw on? What do others see as your strengths? Weaknesses: What could you improve? Where do you have fewer resources than others? What are others likely to see as weaknesses? Opportunities: What good opportunities are open to you? What trends could you take advantage of? How can you turn your strengths into opportunities? Threats: What trends could harm you? What is your competition doing? What threats do your weaknesses expose you to? Gap Analysis Employer I Have Needs (job (skills requirements) knowledge) Gaps (difference) Action Who Can Timeframe Needed (steps Help? (people (start/finish) to bridge gap) I know) The result is: The type of job I'm looking for is