How do you use SWOT analysis to prepare for job interviews and negotiations?

A Google search will return many usable SWOT analysis worksheets. If you don't find one you like, message me and I'll share the baseline template I created for my own business and personal use.

For presales activities, I combine the SWOT analysis with my competitive and competitor analyses for a more complete picture of our position vs. our competitors.

When preparing for an interview, a SWOT analysis of the employer before going for the interview would help you to demonstrate your understanding of their mission, activities and strengths within the industry. You may also identify room for further growth of the company and demonstrate that you have taken the time to learn about them before the interview. It may also allow you to make in informed decision on whether this employer is a place that you actually want to work at.

Dear Any How are you I used SWOT analysis for sea ranching and sea enhancement in southern coast of Caspian sea ( Iranian shore) in 2014 and SWOT analysis for : The reason of dramatically decrease of Sturgeon fisheries in Caspian sea in 2016 ( in Persian) . With best regards Mohammad

The SWOT Analysis is a great tool to help you understand the strengths you bring to a prospective employer but also how these strengths can help the company to take advantage of new opportunities. It is also honest to note your weaknesses but also highlight how you mitigate them.

Try to view yourself from an external perspective or better still ask a friend or colleague for their observations. Try to be as open as you can to honest feedback. Consider the Strengths and weaknesses against job requirements for the position you are applying for, how can you maximise the opportunities while reducing the threats.

A SWOT analysis on yourself can be a useful tool for development, whether or not you are interviewing. But in preparation for an interview with a specific company, a SWOT analysis can be very interesting. First, you can make the external components of your personal SWOT (the Threats and Opportunities) much more specific to the company you are talking with, which will sharpen your thinking. Second, you can display a level of thinking and preparation for the interview by sharing parts of your analysis, especially if any of your internal Strengths line up with an external Opportunity for the company. This is a great way to sell your value to the new organization. Finally, doing a SWOT on the company could really help you stand out.

A SWOT can be used not only for getting hired by a company but also to advance yourself within the company. Once you are hired by the employer, you gain an inside knowledge of the work that is being done, the expected role that you are supposed to play, an inside understanding of the company's position in the industry and where it wants to be. You can then use a SWOT to analyse how you can contribute more to the company, position yourself for promotion and determine what to take to the negotiation table with your manager. A SWOT can help you to identify gaps and offer solutions that are above your current role, which you can propose as your outputs if you are given the opportunity.

Possibly more importantly, it is useful to understand the strengths & weaknesess of the other person or company in the negotiation. This way you can better identify the ZOPA (Zone of Possible Agreement) and which opportunities or threat this would cause you or your company.

Keeping your personal SWOT Analysis up-to-date is important to ensure your development is maximising the opportunities open to you, from both a career and life perspective.