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The Enneagram is a personality typing system based on ancient spiritual traditions which describes people in terms of their core motivations, desires and fears.

The word "enneagram" comes from the Greek "ennea," meaning nine, and "gramma," meaning something drawn or written. The Enneagram describes nine personality types and maps each of these types on a nine-pointed diagram which helps to illustrate how the types relate to one another.

Used widely in counseling, business and spiritual settings, the Enneagram helps people to better understand what drives them and how to harness their natural strengths. Learning your Enneagram type can illuminate how you view the world and help you discover the roots of who you are, from your foundational childhood experiences to the choices you make today. The Enneagram helps us to better understand ourselves, be more empathetic to others and find our distinct paths to personal happiness and growth.

The centers of intelligence, or triads, are a foundational part of the Enneagram. The nine types of the Enneagram are divided into one of three centers of intelligence: Heart Types, Head Types and Body Types.

Heart types (Types Two, Three and Four) depend on their emotional intelligence to understand their own reactions and connect with others.

Head types (Types Five, Six and Seven) depend on their intellectual intelligence to make sense of things and navigate the world around them.

Body types (Types Eight, Nine and One) depend on their instinctual intelligence to follow their "gut" and respond to threats and opportunities.

These centers, also called Enneagram triads, help us to understand our type's gifts and challenges, as well as why other types see and interact with the world in drastically different ways. They also help us understand why we get stuck in certain patterns of thinking and behaving and why we may struggle to understand or communicate with others.

"Wings" is the term given to the two Enneagram types found on either side of your core type. For example, a Nine's wings are Eight and One, a Seven's wings are Six and Eight, and a Four's wings are Three and Five. Enneagram wings represent related personality styles which we can lean into, in order to develop new facets of ourselves.

Some people adopt one wing as part of their type identification, (i.e., "I'm a 4w3"), identifying strongly with the description of one wing as well as their primary type. In this way, wings can be understood as a more detailed way of typing yourself, also known as a subtype.

Wings can also be understood as flexible opportunities for growth. Rather than choosing only one wing that you clearly identify with, you can think of both wings as optional styles that you have access to as you further your development. Because both of your wings have qualities that are adjacent to your own type, Enneagram wings offer new but accessible ways of approaching thought and behavior.

Each basic type in the Enneagram is also connected by two lines to two other basic types. Each line has an arrowhead on it, one pointing towards the primary type and one pointing away.

Arrows represent the aspects of our personality that we need to develop to become more whole and balance out the limitations of our core type. The first line, pointing toward the core type, connects to the type which the person has left behind or repressed in childhood; the characteristics of this type must be re-integrated for the person to develop. This is called the "against" arrow.

The second line, pointing away from the core type, connects to the type which the person may grow into once they are ready to reach a higher state of development. This is called the "forward arrow." In the example below, you can see that for a Type One, the "against" arrow moves from Seven to One and the "forward" arrow moves from One to Four.

The Enneagram provides deep insights about your emotions, motivations, and values, which can help you to better understand what drives you and how to make decisions that are right for you.

According to the Enneagram, each of the nine personality types is defined by a particular core belief about how the world works. This core belief drives your deepest motivations and fears - and fundamentally shapes a person's worldview and the perspective through which they see the world and the people around them.

Our core beliefs are not necessarily incorrect, but they can be limiting and operate as "blinders" for people. Understanding our Enneagram type and how it colors our perceptions can help us to broaden our perspective and approach situations more effectively.

Understanding a person's Enneagram type helps us to see why they behave the way they do. Behavior that may seem confusing or contradictory can often be explained when we understand a person's Enneagram type.

Take the Test

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This free Enneagram personality test will show you which of the 9 personality types suits you best. See how you score for all 9 Enneagram types, and understand where you fit in the Enneagram personality system.

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This comic strip, featuring Dilbert, humorously highlights issues related to workplace ambition, career planning, and organizational inefficiencies. Here are the key takeaways:

1. The Danger of Avoiding Responsibility

The character Wally describes a career plan focused on minimizing effort rather than making meaningful contributions.

Some employees may intentionally avoid measurable work to escape accountability.

2. Hoarding Knowledge for Job Security

Wally plans to hoard knowledge about a legacy system, making himself seem indispensable.

This is an example of knowledge silos, which can hurt organizations when key employees leave.

A strong workplace culture encourages knowledge sharing rather than gatekeeping.

3. Workplace Complacency and Minimal Effort

His strategy includes working only on long-term projects near retirement to avoid short-term deliverables.

He prioritizes naps over quality work, reflecting a disengaged employee mindset.

Companies should promote engagement and accountability to prevent workplace stagnation.

4. Exploiting the Pension System

Wally humorously describes draining company resources after retirement.

This highlights the importance of a fair and sustainable benefits system to prevent misuse.

5. Corporate Culture and Management Challenges

The final panel suggests that Wally’s attitude may have influenced his manager’s outlook, instead of being corrected.

Leaders must set positive examples and create an environment that motivates employees to be productive and engaged.

Discussion Questions for a Workplace Lesson:

1. What are the risks of employees hoarding knowledge instead of sharing it?

2. How can companies create a culture that discourages disengagement like Wally’s?

3. What are the ethical implications of Wally’s approach to work and retirement?

4. How does employee motivation impact company success?

This comic is a satirical take on workplace dynamics, but it raises real issues about engagement, efficiency, and leadership. Would you like to integrate this into an activity for your lesson? 😊

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"The point is, in the big picture, no one is going to look after your career for you, but you."
- from Erin Malone on Boxes and Arrows in 2004

Check out our Letters to a Young Artist for more inspiration.

Download the graphic plan on Slideshare: The Career Planning Outline

The Career Planning Template:
Your Name
Today's Date
This is important as you reflect back on this document. This will become a touchstone for your growth and a reminder of who you were as you look back at what was important to you in this point in time.

3-6 Months
Start small.
Think about short-term goals that are easily achieved but will also help move you towards the longer-term goals.
Include some tangible goals (i.e., ship a product that I acted as lead designer for).

6-12 Months
Start thinking bigger here-this is planning for a year out.
What new skills do you want to learn?
What new ideas do you want to share with others?
What changes do you want to make? Put them down here along with the steps needed to take to make them happen.

Beyond 12 Months
Capture specific plans that you know may take more than a year to get to or accomplish. For me, it was to work on my Dr. Leslie book. I discussed the idea with a writing partner 3 years ago, but it is only now coming to fruition with an actual proposal in hand and a potential publisher.
Be realistic but not afraid to reach. Visualize success in areas you may have little control over. Don't be afraid to write down a desired goal that may be a stretch.

Longer-term Goals
This is the area to think out for the next 3-5 years, including life beyond the company or situation you are currently in. For me, I listed "teaching again" as a goal. This reminds me that I want to do this and I need to make certain decisions and changes in order to make it happen.If I decide at a later time, that I don't really want to do this, I should remove it off the plan.

Opportunities to Explore at Your Company
List all the training and coaching opportunities relevant and currently available at your company.
Note relationships that need to be cultivated at your company in order to meet success.
Note: This obviously may not apply if you are an independent consultant. Think about other opportunities that might be available through professional associations and networking instead.

Skills to Develop
Project what skills you need to develop to reach the goals you listed in the first part of this exercise.
What other skills do you need, besides the ones you have now, to attain your goal?Since I am a manager and this is the area in which I have been growing, I listed things such as Confidence and Effectiveness-along with ideas on how to master these more intangible skills.Over the last couple of years, I have purposely put myself into situations to gain confidence-especially when giving presentations. Think about starting slow and building on your successes.In addition, I also listed skills of associated/allied roles that I would like to learn in order to make myself a more well-rounded and effective manager in my company.

What I Care About in a Work Environment
This may seem frivolous or not important to the task at hand, but it serves to remind you of the values you need to share with the company you work for. As you grow or the company changes this can help guide you when you need to make a change.

Personal Goals
Don't forget the personal goals that you need to weave into your life. It never hurts to write these down as a reminder of work/life balance and of the things that are really important to you as a person.
Download: The Career Planning Outline on Slideshare.net
John McElhenney
@ jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
permalink: http://uber.la/2009/01/career-planning/
A few more Career Path Hits:
back to Top GTD & Productivity Tips from the Last 5 Years
Let me help you jumpstart your social marketing:

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Writing a Plan for Your Future - A Career Path Template

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"The point is, in the big picture, no one is going to look after your career for you, but you." - from Erin Malone on Boxes and Arrows in 2004 Check out our Letters to a Young Artist for more inspiration.

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1. Cover Page
- Title: Company Research

- Full name

- Class

- Lecturer

- IKMKL & MARA logo

2. General Business Information
- Company's Name

- Company's Address, Phone, Fax

- Company's website & social media

3. Business Details

3.1 Company History

- Founder

- When was it established

- Why was the company created

- Who first joined the company

3.2 Main Activity / Business

- What is the company's field of work

- Eg: Sportswear production

3.3 Main Product / Service

- What is the company's most famous product

- Eg: Sports shoes

3.4 Vision, Mission & Values

- Just copy and paste these from the company's website

- During presentations, make sure to explain them using your own words

4. Business Capacity
- Organizational Chart

- No. of employees

5. Achievements
- Successful projects

- Did the company open new branches?

- Awards received

- Has the company's net worth increased?

- How much profit have they gained?

6. Personal reason for choosing this company
- Minimum 3 reasons

- 1 slide, 1 reason

- Provide pictures and explanations for each reason

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1. Name of position

2. Why did you choose this position?

List out any personal reasons why this is your dream job (interest, salary, benefits, etc.)

3. Qualifications

What education level is required to apply for this position

4. Requirements

What requirements do you need to fulfill (besides education) to get this job?

5. Job description / tasks

What are the list of tasks you will have to complete for this position routinely (daily, weekly, monthly, annually)?

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Slides for Personal Development Presentation

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Personal SWOT Analysis for Career Development | Career Planning, Career Research, Career Exploration

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1 billion members | Manage your professional identity. Build and engage with your professional network. Access knowledge, insights and opportunities.

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Complete Enneagram Test - Enneagram Universe

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This image illustrates a workplace conflict caused by poor communication, unrealistic expectations, and lack of proper time management. Here are some key lessons we can learn from it:

1. Importance of Clear Communication

The manager should have clearly communicated the deadline and expectations when assigning the task.

The employee should have expressed concerns about the feasibility of completing the work on time.

2. Setting Realistic Deadlines

Assigning a large workload at the last minute (6 PM) and expecting immediate results is unfair and unrealistic.

Proper planning and scheduling help prevent overwhelming employees.

3. Respect and Professionalism at Work

The manager is raising their voice and pointing fingers, which creates a toxic work environment.

Employees are more productive when treated with respect and encouragement rather than pressure and intimidation.

4. Workload Management and Delegation

If a task is too large for one person, delegation or prioritization should be considered.

Managers should check with employees about their current workload before assigning additional work.

5. Employee Well-being and Work-Life Balance

Assigning tasks late in the day without prior notice disrupts work-life balance.

Companies should promote fair workload distribution to maintain employee motivation and productivity.

Discussion Questions for a Workplace Communication Lesson:

1. How could the manager have handled this situation better?

2. What should the employee do if they feel overwhelmed with a last-minute task?

3. How can workplaces improve communication to avoid conflicts like this?

4. What are the effects of unrealistic deadlines on employees and workplace productivity?

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Video for Personal Development Presentation

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What Is SWOT Analysis?

SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis is a framework used to evaluate a company's competitive position and to develop strategic planning. SWOT analysis assesses internal and external factors, as well as current and future potential.

A SWOT analysis is designed to facilitate a realistic, fact-based, data-driven look at the strengths and weaknesses of an organization, initiatives, or within its industry. The organization needs to keep the analysis accurate by avoiding pre-conceived beliefs or gray areas and instead focusing on real-life contexts. Companies should use it as a guide and not necessarily as a prescription.

Understanding SWOT Analysis

SWOT analysis is a technique for assessing the performance, competition, risk, and potential of a business, as well as part of a business such as a product line or division, an industry, or other entity.

Using internal and external data, the technique can guide businesses toward strategies more likely to be successful, and away from those in which they have been, or are likely to be, less successful. Independent SWOT analysts, investors, or competitors can also guide them on whether a company, product line, or industry might be strong or weak and why.

Components of SWOT Analysis

Every SWOT analysis will include the following four categories. Though the elements and discoveries within these categories will vary from company to company, a SWOT analysis is not complete without each of these elements:

Strengths describe what an organization excels at and what separates it from the competition: a strong brand, loyal customer base, a strong balance sheet, unique technology, and so on. For example, a hedge fund may have developed a proprietary trading strategy that returns market-beating results. It must then decide how to use those results to attract new investors.

Weaknesses

Weaknesses stop an organization from performing at its optimum level. They are areas where the business needs to improve to remain competitive: a weak brand, higher-than-average turnover, high levels of debt, an inadequate supply chain, or lack of capital.

Opportunities

Opportunities refer to favorable external factors that could give an organization a competitive advantage. For example, if a country cuts tariffs, a car manufacturer can export its cars into a new market, increasing sales and market share.

Threatsrefer to factors that have the potential to harm an organization. For example, a drought is a threat to a wheat-producing company, as it may destroy or reduce the crop yield. Other common threats include things like rising costs for materials, increasing competition, tight labor supply. and so on.

Analysts present a SWOT analysis as a square segmented into four quadrants, each dedicated to an element of SWOT. This visual arrangement provides a quick overview of the company's position. Although all the points under a particular heading may not be of equal importance, they all should represent key insights into the balance of opportunities and threats, advantages and disadvantages, and so forth.

The SWOT table is often laid out with the internal factors on the top row and the external factors on the bottom row. In addition, the items on the left side of the table are more positive/favorable aspects, while the items on the right are more concerning/negative elements.

How to Do a SWOT Analysis

A SWOT analysis can be broken into several steps with actionable items before and after analyzing the four components. In general, a SWOT analysis will involve the following steps.

Step 1: Determine Your Objective

A SWOT analysis can be broad, though more value will likely be generated if the analysis is pointed directly at an objective. For example, the objective of a SWOT analysis may focused only on whether or not to perform a new product rollout. With an objective in mind, a company will have guidance on what they hope to achieve at the end of the process. In this example, the SWOT analysis should help determine whether or not the product should be introduced.

Step 2: Gather Resources

Every SWOT analysis will vary, and a company may need different data sets to support pulling together different SWOT analysis tables. A company should begin by understanding what information it has access to, what data limitations it faces, and how reliable its external data sources are.

In addition to data, a company should understand the right combination of personnel to have involved in the analysis. Some staff may be more connected with external forces, while various staff within the manufacturing or sales departments may have a better grasp of what is going on internally. Having a broad set of perspectives is also more likely to yield diverse, value-adding contributions.

Step 3: Compile Ideas

For each of the four components of the SWOT analysis, the group of people assigned to performing the analysis should begin listing ideas within each category. Examples of questions to ask or consider for each group are in the table below.

Internal Factors

What occurs within the company serves as a great source of information for the strengths and weaknesses categories of the SWOT analysis. Examples of internal factors include financial and human resources, tangible and intangible (brand name) assets, and operational efficiencies.

Potential questions to list internal factors are:

(Strength) What are we doing well?

(Strength) What is our strongest asset?

(Weakness) What are our detractors?

(Weakness) What are our lowest-performing product lines?

External Factors

What happens outside of the company is equally as important to the success of a company as internal factors. External influences, such as monetary policies, market changes, and access to suppliers, are categories to pull from to create a list of opportunities and weaknesses.

Potential questions to list external factors are:

(Opportunity) What trends are evident in the marketplace?

(Opportunity) What demographics are we not targeting?

(Threat) How many competitors exist, and what is their market share?

(Threat) Are there new regulations that potentially could harm our operations or products?

Strengths
1. What is our competitive advantage?
2. What resources do we have?
3. What products are performing well?

Weaknesses
1. Where can we improve?
2. What products are underperforming?
3. Where are we lacking resources?

Opportunities
1. What new technology can we use?
2. Can we expand our operations?
3. What new segments can we test?

Threats
1. What regulations are changing?
2. What are competitors doing?
3. How are consumer trends changing?

Companies may consider performing this step as a "white-boarding" or "sticky note" session. The idea is there is no right or wrong answer; all participants should be encouraged to share whatever thoughts they have. These ideas can later be discarded; in the meantime, the goal should be to come up with as many items as possible to invoke creativity and inspiration in others.

Step 4: Refine Findings

With the list of ideas within each category, it is now time to clean-up the ideas. By refining the thoughts that everyone had, a company can focus on only the best ideas or largest risks to the company. This stage may require substantial debate among analysis participants, including bringing in upper management to help rank priorities.

Step 5: Develop the Strategy

Armed with the ranked list of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, it is time to convert the SWOT analysis into a strategic plan. Members of the analysis team take the bulleted list of items within each category and create a synthesized plan that provides guidance on the original objective.

For example, the company debating whether to release a new product may have identified that it is the market leader for its existing product and there is the opportunity to expand to new markets. However, increased material costs, strained distribution lines, the need for additional staff, and unpredictable product demand may outweigh the strengths and opportunities. The analysis team develops the strategy to revisit the decision in six months in hopes of costs declining and market demand becoming more transparent.

Use a SWOT analysis to identify challenges affecting your business and opportunities that can enhance it. However, note that it is one of many techniques, not a prescription.

Benefits of SWOT Analysis

A SWOT analysis won't solve every major question a company has. However, there's a number of benefits to a SWOT analysis that make strategic decision-making easier.

A SWOT analysis makes complex problems more manageable. There may be an overwhelming amount of data to analyze and relevant points to consider when making a complex decision. In general, a SWOT analysis that has been prepared by paring down all ideas and ranking bullets by importance will aggregate a large, potentially overwhelming problem into a more digestible report.

A SWOT analysis requires external consider. Too often, a company may be tempted to only consider internal factors when making decisions. However, there are often items out of the company's control that may influence the outcome of a business decision. A SWOT analysis covers both the internal factors a company can manage and the external factors that may be more difficult to control.

A SWOT analysis can be applied to almost every business question. The analysis can relate to an organization, team, or individual. It can also analyze a full product line, changes to brand, geographical expansion, or an acquisition. The SWOT analysis is a versatile tool that has many applications.

A SWOT analysis leverages different data sources. A company will likely use internal information for strengths and weaknesses. The company will also need to gather external information relating to broad markets, competitors, or macroeconomic forces for opportunities and threats. Instead of relying on a single, potentially biased source, a good SWOT analysis compiles various angles.

A SWOT analysis may not be overly costly to prepare. Some SWOT reports do not need to be overly technical; therefore, many different staff members can contribute to its preparation without training or external consulting.

SWOT Analysis Example

In 2015, a Value Line SWOT analysis of The Coca-Cola Company noted strengths such as its globally famous brand name, vast distribution network, and opportunities in emerging markets. However, it also noted weaknesses and threats such as foreign currency fluctuations, growing public interest in "healthy" beverages, and competition from healthy beverage providers.

Its SWOT analysis prompted Value Line to pose some tough questions about Coca-Cola's strategy, but also to note that the company "will probably remain a top-tier beverage provider" that offered conservative investors "a reliable source of income and a bit of capital gains exposure."

Five years later, the Value Line SWOT analysis proved effective as Coca-Cola remains the 6th strongest brand in the world (as it was then). Coca-Cola's shares (traded under ticker symbol KO) have increased in value by over 60% during the five years after the analysis was completed.

To get a better picture of a SWOT analysis, consider the example of a fictitious organic smoothie company. To better understand how it competes within the smoothie market and what it can do better, it conducted a SWOT analysis. Through this analysis, it identified that its strengths were good sourcing of ingredients, personalized customer service, and a strong relationship with suppliers. Peering within its operations, it identified a few areas of weakness: little product diversification, high turnover rates, and outdated equipment.

Examining how the external environment affects its business, it identified opportunities in emerging technology, untapped demographics, and a culture shift towards healthy living. It also found threats, such as a winter freeze damaging crops, a global pandemic, and kinks in the supply chain. In conjunction with other planning techniques, the company used the SWOT analysis to leverage its strengths and external opportunities to eliminate threats and strengthen areas where it is weak.

What Is SWOT Analysis?

SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis is a method for identifying and analyzing internal strengths and weaknesses and external opportunities and threats that shape current and future operations and help develop strategic goals. SWOT analyses are not limited to companies. Individuals can also use SWOT analysis to engage in constructive introspection and form personal improvement goals.

What Is an Example of SWOT Analysis?

Home Depot conducted a SWOT analysis, creating a balanced list of its internal advantages and disadvantages and external factors threatening its market position and growth strategy. High-quality customer service, strong brand recognition, and positive relationships with suppliers were some of its notable strengths; whereas, a constricted supply chain, interdependence on the U.S. market, and a replicable business model were listed as its weaknesses.

Closely related to its weaknesses, Home Depot's threats were the presence of close rivals, available substitutes, and the condition of the U.S. market. It found from this study and other analysis that expanding its supply chain and global footprint would be key to its growth.

What Are the 4 Steps of SWOT Analysis?

The four steps of SWOT analysis comprise the acronym SWOT: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. These four aspects can be broken into two analytical steps. First, a company assesses its internal capabilities and determines its strengths and weaknesses. Then, a company looks outward and evaluates external factors that impact its business. These external factors may create opportunities or threaten existing operations.

How Do You Write a Good SWOT Analysis?

Creating a SWOT analysis involves identifying and analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of a company. It is recommended to first create a list of questions to answer for each element. The questions serve as a guide for completing the SWOT analysis and creating a balanced list. The SWOT framework can be constructed in list format, as free text, or, most commonly, as a 4-cell table, with quadrants dedicated to each element. Strengths and weaknesses are listed first, followed by opportunities and threats.

Why Is SWOT Analysis Used?

A SWOT analysis is used to strategically identify areas of improvement or competitive advantages for a company. In addition to analyzing thing that a company does well, SWOT analysis takes a look at more detrimental, negative elements of a business. Using this information, a company can make smarter decisions to preserve what it does well, capitalize on its strengths, mitigate risk regarding weaknesses, and plan for events that may adversely affect the company in the future.

The Bottom Line

A SWOT analysis is a great way to guide business-strategy meetings. It's powerful to have everyone in the room discuss the company's core strengths and weaknesses, define the opportunities and threats, and brainstorm ideas. Oftentimes, the SWOT analysis you envision before the session changes throughout to reflect factors you were unaware of and would never have captured if not for the group's input.

A company can use a SWOT for overall business strategy sessions or for a specific segment such as marketing, production, or sales. This way, you can see how the overall strategy developed from the SWOT analysis will filter down to the segments below before committing to it. You can also work in reverse with a segment-specific SWOT analysis that feeds into an overall SWOT analysis.

Although a useful planning tool, SWOT has limitations. It is one of several business planning techniques to consider and should not be used alone. Also, each point listed within the categories is not prioritized the same. SWOT does not account for the differences in weight. Therefore, a deeper analysis is needed, using another planning technique.

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SWOT Analysis: How To With Table and Example

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SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis is a framework used to evaluate a company's competitive position and to develop strategic planning.

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If you are looking to advance your career or simply want to take stock of your progress, a career report is an effective tool for assessing your current position and charting a course forward. In this article, we will guide you through the process of creating a comprehensive career report, from evaluating your goals to crafting an engaging narrative.

Understanding the Purpose of a Career Report

Before diving into the specifics of crafting a report, it is important to understand the purpose and benefits of this exercise. A career report allows you to assess your career progress, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and create a plan for achieving your goals. Additionally, this report can help you identify potential areas for growth and development within your career.

Assessing Your Career Goals

Begin by evaluating your short- and long-term career goals. What do you hope to accomplish in the next year or five years? Are you on track to achieve these goals, or are adjustments necessary? Consider any changes in your industry, personal life, or financial situation that may impact your plans. It is important to have a clear understanding of your goals and how they align with your personal and professional aspirations.

When assessing your career goals, it is also important to consider the potential challenges that may arise. What obstacles may you encounter and how can you overcome them? By identifying potential obstacles and developing a plan to overcome them, you can increase your chances of achieving your goals.

Identifying Your Skills and Strengths

Next, take stock of your skills and strengths. What unique talents and abilities do you possess that set you apart from others in your field? What feedback have you received from managers, colleagues, or clients? Consider any gaps in your skillset and potential areas for improvement. It is important to have a clear understanding of your strengths and weaknesses in order to develop a plan for growth and development.

In addition to evaluating your own skills and strengths, it can also be beneficial to seek feedback from others. Consider asking colleagues, mentors, or supervisors for their input on your strengths and areas for improvement. This feedback can provide valuable insight and help you identify potential blind spots.

Analyzing Your Career Progress

Once you have evaluated your goals, skills, and strengths, it is time to look at your career trajectory. Assess your current position and how it aligns with your goals. Are you on track to achieve the next steps in your career path, or are there obstacles in your way?

In addition to evaluating your current position, it can also be helpful to consider your past experiences and how they have shaped your career. What have been some of the defining moments in your career thus far, and how have they impacted your growth and development? By analyzing your career progress and experiences, you can gain a deeper understanding of your strengths and areas for improvement.

Overall, a career report can be a valuable tool for evaluating your career progress, identifying your strengths and weaknesses, and developing a plan for growth and development. By taking the time to reflect on your goals, skills, and experiences, you can gain a deeper understanding of your career trajectory and take steps to achieve your professional aspirations.

Gathering Relevant Information

To create a comprehensive career report, you will need to gather relevant information from a variety of sources. This includes researching your industry, evaluating your job market, and collecting personal career data.

Researching Your Industry

Stay up to date with changes in your industry by reading industry reports, attending conferences, and networking with colleagues. Be aware of new technologies, trends, and best practices that may impact your career trajectory.

Evaluating Your Job Market

Assess job listing websites, salary surveys, and other resources to gain insights into your job market. This will help you understand the skills and experience currently in demand and prepare for career changes or advancements.

Collecting Personal Career Data

Take stock of your past and present career experiences, including employment history, education and training, and professional development. Consider using self-assessments or other tools to evaluate your performance and identify areas for improvement.

Organizing Your Career Report

With all the information you have gathered, it is time to create an outline and structure for your report. This will ensure that you cover all the necessary topics and present them in an engaging way.

Creating an Outline

A comprehensive career report should include an executive summary, introduction, career history, skills and achievements, challenges and opportunities, and future goals and plans. Use this framework to create a detailed outline for your report.

Prioritizing Key Points

As you develop your report, be sure to prioritize key points and information that will resonate with your audience. Consider including data, charts, and other visuals to illustrate your progress and plans.

Structuring Your Report

Your report should have a clear and concise structure that is easy to follow. Use headings, subheadings, and formatting to break up sections, and use a consistent tone and style throughout the document.

Writing Your Career Report

Now that you have completed the planning and preparation stages, it is time to put pen to paper and write your report.

Crafting a Strong Introduction

Your introduction should capture the reader's attention and provide a concise summary of your career history and goals. Consider using an anecdote, quote, or other engaging opening to draw your audience in.

Detailing Your Career History

Provide a detailed account of your career history, including employment dates, job titles, and key responsibilities and achievements. Use data and examples to illustrate your accomplishments and provide context for your career trajectory.

Highlighting Your Achievements and Skills

Here is where you can showcase your strengths and unique talents. Use concrete examples and data to highlight your achievements and the skills that set you apart from others in your field.

Addressing Challenges and Opportunities

Be honest about any challenges or setbacks you have faced in your career, and detail how you have overcome them. Consider any opportunities for growth or advancement and how you plan to capitalize on them in the future.

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How to Write a Comprehensive Career Report | The Neuron

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Learn how to write a comprehensive career report that will impress your employer and help you advance in your career. Includes ChatGPT prompt.

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The Only Cover Letter Guide You’ll Need in 2024 [+Successful Examples]

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All the negativity surrounding the cover letter probably comes down to the fact that good cover letters require a bit of alchemy. In the end, when some recruiters say, “Don’t write a cover letter,“ what they mean to say is, “Don’t write a bad one.“

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The video titled "Career Paths" is a 2D hand-drawn animation created by Sven Mattis Folkestad over 16 years ago. It portrays a young man's journey as he attempts various jobs without success until he discovers his ideal role.

Key Takeaways:

1. Exploration is Essential: The protagonist's experiences highlight the importance of trying different roles to understand personal strengths and preferences.

2. Resilience in the Face of Failure: Repeated setbacks emphasize the need for perseverance when initial career choices don't align with one's skills or passions.

3. Self-Discovery Leads to Fulfillment: Ultimately, finding a role that resonates personally leads to job satisfaction and success.

Lessons Learned:

Embrace Diverse Experiences: Engaging in various jobs can provide clarity on what suits you best.

Learn from Challenges: Each unsuccessful attempt offers insights that guide future decisions.

Prioritize Personal Fit: Aligning your career with your interests and abilities is crucial for long-term fulfillment.

This video serves as a reminder that the path to a satisfying career often involves exploration, resilience, and self-awareness.

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Career Path Definition and 12 Steps to Pave Yours (+Examples)

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What is a career path? It’s a long-term plan that includes specific jobs that lead to desirable occupation. Discover types of career paths with examples.

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What Is a SWOT Analysis?

A SWOT analysis is a framework that evaluates a business' strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The acronym "SWOT" stands for these four factors. Performing a SWOT analysis can help you make better business decisions.

The analysis typically involves creating a matrix with the four categories:

In this post, you'll learn how to do a SWOT analysis. We'll include examples and also give you a free SWOT analysis template.

Let's get to it.

Why Is a SWOT Analysis Important?

A SWOT analysis is a valuable framework that can help you evaluate your business from different angles. And discover new ways to grow and improve.

By doing a SWOT analysis, you can:

Which means:

A SWOT analysis can help you make smarter decisions, plan better, and reach your goals faster.
Tip: Use Market Explorer to benchmark yourself against your competitors by comparing traffic acquisition, market share, and audience data.
What Are the Components of a SWOT Analysis?

A SWOT analysis evaluates a business or project based on four key factors that can be divided into two categories: internal and external.

Here's how you might think about filling out a SWOT chart based on these two categories:

Let's take a look at each component.

Internal Factors

Internal factors are the aspects of your business within your control. They include resources, capabilities, skills, assets, and competitive advantages.

And they can be divided further into two categories: strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths

Strengths are the positive attributes that give you an advantage over competitors. They're the things that you do well, you're proud of, and help you stand out.

Some examples of strengths are:

A loyal customer base

A strong brand reputation

A unique product or service

A skilled and motivated team

A high-quality website

Weaknesses

Weaknesses are your business's negative attributes that limit your performance or hinder your growth. They're the things you need to improve, fix, or avoid.

Some examples of weaknesses are:

A lack of financial resources

A high turnover rate

A weak online presence

A low customer satisfaction rate

A low-quality product or service

External Factors

External factors are the aspects of your business that are outside of your control. These can include trends, events, economic changes, and the competitive landscape.

And they can also be divided into two categories: opportunities and threats.

Opportunities

Opportunities are favorable situations or conditions you can leverage to achieve your business goals. In other words, things you can use to your advantage or benefit from.

Some SWOT analysis opportunities examples are:

Threats

Threats are unfavorable situations or conditions that can harm your business. They're risks or challenges you need to recognize.

Some examples of threats are:

A declining demand for your product or service

A new competitor or alternative

A new technology that makes one of your services obsolete

A negative publicity campaign

A change in regulation or policy

Now that you know about the different components, let's take a look at exactly how to do a SWOT analysis.

Free SWOT Analysis Template

Here's a SWOT analysis template you can use to follow along.

Why put your results into a SWOT analysis template like this one?

Because it's easy to read and keeps things organized.

How to Do a SWOT Analysis (6 Simple Steps)

A SWOT analysis is an assessment of your business's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

But it's more than that. It's also a tool to strategically advance your business.

And that means going beyond a simple list of facts.

Here's how to do a SWOT analysis the right way:

1. Establish Your Goal

Having a goal will help you choose what's most relevant for your analysis. Otherwise, you might end up with a ton of basic information and no idea of how to apply it to your business.

So, set a goal.

It could be any major decision or change for your business:

What if you can't think of a goal?

Here's a handy formula:

(Fill in the blanks.)

My business needs __________. We might meet that need by doing these things:

You can pick more than one goal from that list. Or just the most important one. It's up to you.

Let's look at an example:
My business needs more capital to continue operating. We might be able to meet that need by doing these things:
Let's say you choose the first item-raising prices.

The goal of your SWOT analysis could be something like this:
To find out whether raising prices will result in enough working capital for the business to continue operating.
Again, this is just one example.

Whatever your goal is, keep it top of mind while you complete your SWOT analysis.

2. Assess Strengths

For the next four steps, we'll walk through how to do each part of the SWOT analysis itself.

The "S" in SWOT stands for strengths. In this step, you'll list your business's strengths.

Get started by asking some questions:

What should you include?

At this stage, every idea is a good one. So don't leave anything out.

We'll cover how to narrow down your list in the last step.

Remember:

Strengths are internal factors. That means you have control over them. And you can build on them.

Here are some examples of strengths you might list in a SWOT analysis:

If you need help thinking of strengths, use a competitive intelligence toolkit like Semrush .Trends.

It'll help you see how you stack up against your competitors in terms of traffic, audience demographics, market share, and much more.

For example, you could use Traffic Analytics and see that organic traffic is way up compared to similar sites.

Or that your bounce rate is way lower than others. Either way, it can reveal lots of things.

Just enter up to five competitor domains and choose your market country or region.

Then, compare the results to your own traffic data.

3. Uncover Weaknesses

Your business has weaknesses. And that's OK-your goal is to make improvements.

Start by writing down your weaknesses. Be honest with yourself. And be thorough.

Here are some questions that can help:

Listing your weaknesses can be a bummer. But there's good news:

Like strengths, weaknesses are internal factors. That means you have control over them and can use them to improve.

Here are some examples of weaknesses you might include in a SWOT analysis:

Just as Semrush's .Trends can help you find strengths, it can also help find weaknesses.

Use these tools wisely as you conduct your competitive SEO analysis.

4. Consider Opportunities

Opportunities are the "O" in SWOT.

Here are some questions you can think through to uncover opportunities:

It's easy to confuse "opportunities" with "strengths."

To avoid that, keep this in mind:

Strengths are internal factors. They exist inside your business.

Opportunities are external factors. They happen outside of your business.

You build on strengths. You use opportunities to your advantage.

It's a subtle but important distinction.

Here are some examples of opportunities you might list in a SWOT analysis:

Tip: A great way to find opportunities is to use the Keyword Gap tool. It'll help find keywords your competitors are ranking for, but you aren't. Each of those keywords is an opportunity for you to bring in more traffic.

5. Identify Threats

Threats are the "T" in SWOT. And they're the opposite of opportunities.

They're external factors that could put your business at risk.

Here are some questions that will help you identify threats:

Threats evolve over time based on factors outside of your control. But you can plan for them.

If you're paying close attention to your industry, you probably know the major threats you face. Write them down in your template.

Here are some examples of threats you might list in a SWOT analysis:

You can use Market Explorer in the .Trends toolkit to spot emerging competitors and trends.

Enter your domain to find competitors in your market.

Then scroll down to the growth quadrant to see which domains are rising in your industry. You can view competitors by behavior, traffic, and growth metrics.

6. Narrow Your Lists

At this point, you should have a decent number of items in each of your four SWOT categories. Now, you have to narrow them down.

There's no set maximum number of items for each category. But keep this in mind:

You don't want to overwhelm yourself.

Stick to the most important items. Stay focused so you can make impactful changes.

Struggling to narrow your lists? Try the impact effort matrix.

It's a tool to help you decide which actions could have the greatest impact with the least effort.

And it looks like this:

Here's how to do it:

When Should You Do a SWOT Analysis?

There's rarely a wrong time to do a SWOT analysis.

Bottom line:

If you're looking for clarity on a business move you're considering, that's a great time to do one.

Here are some other perfect times to do a SWOT analysis:

3 Real-World SWOT Examples

Now that we've covered how to perform a SWOT analysis, let's put those steps to the test with some examples.

1. Marketing Agency SWOT Analysis Example

Imagine you're running a marketing agency that does SEO, social media, and content marketing.

You're thinking about investing a lot of time and resources into your website's blog. You know that great, search engine-optimized blog content could earn you more inbound leads over time.

But you're not sure whether it's the right move.

So, you do a SWOT analysis to help you decide. The goal is to answer this question:
Should we invest more time and resources into our website content to increase our inbound leads?
Start with your strengths. Here are the fictional marketing agency's strengths:

Add your weaknesses:

Next up is opportunities:

Few of your local competitors have invested heavily in their own blog content

People enter keywords related to your services into Google many times per month

Recent market research suggests that your ideal clients are more likely to trust agencies with active blogs

Finally, list the threats your agency faces:

That's it. Of course, now you actually have to do something with this information.

More specifically:

You need to see how your website content is actually performing.

You can use Google Search Console to measure that.

Go to "Search results" and check the box for "Average position."

Scroll down to see your organic keyword rankings or positions:

These tell you where the website currently stands in Google search results for particular keywords.

In our fictional agency SWOT analysis example, your baseline organic keyword rankings would give you an idea of your starting point.

And in Semrush's Domain Overview tool, you can find organic competitors. This tells you about the competition you'd face if you invested more in your website content.

Scroll down until you see your top organic keywords:

There's also a competitive positioning map. Which puts your website's search engine performance in visual context with your competitors:

2. Local Service Business SWOT Analysis Example

Now, let's look at an example SWOT analysis for a local service business.

Our example will be about a criminal defense law firm. But many of the principles we'll explore could apply to other local services businesses:

HVAC contractors

Plumbers

Electricians

Home remodelers

Accountants

Florists

Caterers

Let's dive in:

Your fictional criminal defense law firm operates primarily in the Manhattan area of New York City. You focus on white collar criminal defense but offer other types of criminal defense.

You're considering an expansion. You want to open a new office on Long Island, New York, and offer your services there.

But you're not sure whether the expansion will be profitable. To find out, you do a SWOT analysis:

It's always the same process. Begin with strengths:

Time for your firm's weaknesses:

On to opportunities:

Finish it off with the threats your firm faces:

With the SWOT analysis complete, it's time to take action. To further explore your local market, you could use Market Explorer.

This tool offers a Benchmarking report that shows side-by-side comparisons of main players in your local market.

Go into the tool and click " Find Competitors."

Then, under "Location," select your country or region. Enter your domain. And click " Research a market. "

Like this:

You get a detailed market summary:

Here, you'll find out:

You'll also get a look at a Growth Quadrant for your market.

The Growth Quadrant shows where your business's website falls among your competitors.

Are you a leader, established player, niche player, or game changer? And where are your competitors on that scale?

The Growth Quadrant places your website and your competitors within one of those quadrants.

That helps you identify your own positioning and where you could go.

Going back to our law firm thinking about expanding:

The Growth Quadrant could help them understand who the established players are on Long Island. And whether there's room to break into the market.

3. Ecommerce SWOT Analysis Example

For this next example, let's imagine you run an ecommerce business. One of your competitors has just offered to buy your brand.

You're not sure whether you should sell your business or keep it. So, you do a SWOT analysis to get a clearer picture.

You list your strengths:

Next, you list your weaknesses:

Opportunities are up next:

Last but not least, threats:

Remember: Your next step after actually writing the analysis is to do something.

In this case, you need to make a decision.

If you've done your SWOT analysis right, you should have the information you need to make that decision.

Analyze Your Business & Achieve Your Goals

Setting and achieving goals is key to business success. And a SWOT analysis is key to evaluating goals and the ways you can achieve them.

If you haven't already, grab your free SWOT analysis template.

Take your time. Be thoughtful. And your SWOT analysis will lead to results.

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SWOT Analysis: What It Is & How to Do It [Examples + Template]

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Learn how to boost your business with a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis.

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The video titled "How to Choose the Right Career Path in 7 Simple Steps" offers practical guidance for individuals seeking to identify a fulfilling career. The seven steps outlined are:

1. Identify Your Strengths: Assess your skills and talents to determine suitable career options.

2. Consider Your Interests: Align your passions with potential career paths for increased satisfaction.

3. Explore the Job Market: Research industries and roles in demand to ensure job availability.

4. Seek Professional Advice: Consult mentors or career counselors for personalized guidance.

5. Gain Relevant Experience: Pursue internships or volunteer opportunities to build practical skills.

6. Set Career Goals: Define clear, achievable objectives to guide your professional journey.

7. Commit to Continuous Learning: Engage in ongoing education to adapt to industry changes.

By following these steps, individuals can make informed decisions and navigate their career paths effectively.

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How to Choose the Right Career Path in 7 Simple Steps

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Career planning is essential to achieving satisfaction and success in your chosen career. Whether you are aiming to be a contracts administrator in a small construction firm or the finance director of a multi-national corporation, knowing how to set career goals and defining what is required to get there will help you to achieve your ambitions.

Career planning is a basic, yet key principle used in business by successful people. So why not apply the same principles to managing your career by formulating a career development plan to control your direction?

Our suggestions below will assist you with setting your career goals and writing a career plan with clear, actionable objectives:

What is a career goal?

A career goal is a clear statement that defines the ultimate job you aspire to throughout the course of your career. Provided it is realistic, a clear career goal allows you to then set yourself an action plan, or personal development plan, to work towards to achieve your professional ambitions.

7 steps to set and achieve career goals

To help you achieve your ultimate career ambition, there are several steps you need to take along the way. From determining and defining your end objective, to plotting a personal development plan of action to ensure you get there, smart management of your career takes more than just motivation - it takes careful planning.

1. Explore the possibilities

You may be someone who has known for a very long time exactly what occupation you aspire to. Or perhaps you have several careers in mind with no clear understanding of which one is best for you. Either way, the initial step in formulating a career plan involves exploring in more detail the occupation/s that interest you and ensuring you are comfortable with the reality of your options.

To do this, research and explore your occupational preference/s to determine the qualifications, typical career paths and specific skills required.

Ask yourself:

What training and qualifications are required to enter the occupation/s?

What skills and interests are required to succeed in the occupation/s?

How do my skills and interests match up? Where are the gaps?

What do I find particularly inspiring about the occupation/s?

What training, support and resources could I expect to receive? Will these help or quicken my success?

What is the typical work environment like?

What are the standard responsibilities?

What advancement opportunities are available?

Where is the work located?

What is the typical salary?

What level of work-life balance is achievable?

At the end of this step you will have greater insight into your identified occupation/s.

2. Compare options

The next step involves comparing your options to narrow down your choices. Ask yourself:

Ask yourself:

What occupation suits me best and will satisfy my professional and personal ambitions?

What occupation best matches my skills, interests and values?

What occupation is likely to be in greatest demand by employers in the future?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of each option?

In which occupation can I achieve my desired salary and work-life balance?

Which occupation can I picture myself doing day-in, day-out?

When considering these questions, objectively think about what is required to succeed in each job. What weaknesses would you need to overcome to succeed? What strengths would see you thrive?

Also consider if each job feels like the right 'fit' for you.

At the end of this step you will have narrowed down your options and identified the one occupation that you ultimately aspire to.

From this, you can define what you want to achieve in this chosen profession. Write this goal down so that you can then devise an action plan to achieve it. For example, "In 15 years' time, I want to be the financial controller of a large commercial organisation".

Writing down your goal gives you a clearer direction and focuses you on the big picture of what you ultimately want to achieve in your professional life. Our Career Goal Planner contains a template to help you plot this out.

The process of setting career goals isn't over though once you have defined your end-game. For it to become a reality, you must then plot a plan of action, or a personal development plan, to ensure help you achieve the goal you've set for yourself.

3. Establish short-term goals

That's why the third step involves creating a set of short-term actions that will start you down the path towards your career objective. Focus on what you need to achieve in the next three to five years or so, specifically in the areas of:

Learning: To enter or progress in your preferred occupation, do you need to earn certain qualifications? If so, what courses should you consider?

Experience: What experience do you need to acquire to become a suitable candidate for your next promotion or to gain your first entry-level role in this field?

Skills development: What specific skills should you develop to make yourself a suitable candidate for your next promotion?

Ideal next job: What role represents the next sensible step towards achieving your career goal?

Professional membership: Would professional membership aid your career advancement?

Before answering these questions, it's worth reviewing job descriptions for the next role you aspire to. This will highlight any skills or competencies that you need to focus on developing in your current role before you commence your next jobs search.

4. Establish long-term objectives

Once these short-term objectives are in place, you need to the next step in career planning involves turning your attention to longer-term planning objectives. Plot out a realistic career progression pathway that defines the jobs and their increasing level of skills, responsibilities and seniority that will allow you to reach your goal. This is essentially your roadmap for how you are going to advance your career to get to your ultimate end goal.

Before you can chart your course towards your future, most people need to research typical career pathways in their field. To do this, you can talk to a recruiter to understand the typical career paths for the role you aspire to. You can also reach out to any LinkedIn connections who are on the pathway you aspire to. Your mentor can also provide useful insights, as can a review of relevant job descriptions.

Based upon your research, you can plot your longer term career pathway and the specific jobs you'll need to advance through. For each job define:

Technical skills to acquire: This covers the specific learned abilities you'll need to pick up and use in each role.

Soft skills to cultivate: Identify the non-technical skills related to how you work that you'll need to develop in this role, such as teamwork, networking, conflict resolution or adaptability.

Competencies to learn: List the knowledge and behaviours you need to acquire in this job, such as commercial awareness, negotiation or conflict management. If you aren't sure of the differences between technical skills, soft skills and competencies, this breakdown will help.

Specific experience to gain: What precise experience should you gain and what successes and achievements will allow you to quantify this experience to future employers?

Personal or professional development: How can you personally and professionally grow in this role? For example, could you participate in a professional membership body, undertake accreditation or upskill in new technology?

Ideal length of tenure: How long do you need to spend in this role to develop the necessary expertise and experience to become promotion-ready?

At the end of this step you will have set out the career progression pathway you need to take to get you from where you are today to where you ultimately want to be. Again, our Career Goal Planner contains a template to help you set this out.

5. Write SMARTER career goals

When formulating your action plan, remember to set clearly defined, short objectives you can work towards. To do this, the SMARTER system can be useful:

Specific - Be as clear as you can and avoid ambiguous statements.

Measurable - Quantify what you must achieve.

Achievable - Motivate yourself but also keep your goals reachable.

Realistic - Be reasonable and focus keep your goals attainable so progress is attainable.

Timely - Create timeframes for completing steps.

Empowering - Ensure your goals feel right for you and help you make the changes you want.

Reviewable - Keep your goals flexible so you can adjust to changing market conditions.

6. Be flexible and measure your progress

Finally, be flexible. Your priorities and objectives can be altered or amended over time, either because of your own changing personal circumstances or due to external factors outside your control, such as technological innovations or fluctuations in the skills employers require.

Therefore, check in from time to time to make sure your goals are is still achievable and your short and long-term objectives remain realistic. If they aren't, tweak your plan accordingly to keep you on track.

As part of this review, make sure you measure your progress. Congratulate yourself for achievements you are particularly proud of.

You should also use this time to identify any areas where you are falling behind and then allocate time in your schedule to dedicate to improvements. Consider if you require any support to make these improvements, such as from a mentor or by enrolling in a training course. Stretch opportunities in your existing role are another way of developing skills. Read more upskilling tips.

Whether you complete a monthly, quarterly or bi-annual review, make sure you schedule it in your calendar as a recurring meeting. Do not cancel this appointment when it comes around. Instead, use it as a genuine opportunity for self-reflection.

7. Write down your goals

Career planning or goal setting will only achieve its purpose if you follow the path you have planned. This means it is important to write down your career goals.

The process of putting pen to paper allows you to keep a clear focus, identify achievements and make any necessary alterations as and when required. Imagine you are planning an overseas trip - think about how much time and energy you would devote to it. Your career will probably span the next thirty years of your life and it deserves just as much focused planning, if not more.

What if you are still unsure?

If you are unable to identify a specific occupation of interest, you may like to start with a broad initial career goal. As you gain more experience in your current field, plans will begin to solidify in your mind and you'll either decide this is the right path for you, or you'll want to explore alternative options. Until then, it's perfectly acceptable to consider more than one idea and keep your options open.

In this case, you can begin to prepare yourself for all possible options goals, and over time you should find yourself becoming more focused on one particular area. Once this happens, you can define for yourself a more focused career goal and actionable personal development plan objectives.

So long as you approach your career planning with the right attitude, the experience you gain will help solidify your plans. Keep up your enthusiasm, which will make your personal and professional experiences more enjoyable and satisfying. Remember, nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm!

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How To Set Career Goals | Career Advice | Hays

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Want to further your career? Learn how to set up a plan for your professional goals and objectives. Download a free Career Goal Planner.

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Best MBA Admissions Consultants in India | GyanOne | MBA Abroad

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SWOT analysis is a tool that helps you identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. It's a great way to think about where you are now and where you want to be.

Strengths are the positive forces that can help you achieve goals. Weaknesses hold you back from achieving goals. Opportunities can improve your situation. Threats are factors that could negatively affect your business or career prospects.

Your SWOT analysis should be based on facts rather than opinions or emotions if you want it to be helpful as a decision-making tool. Here's how:

1. Look at yourself objectively - This means being honest about what works well for you and what doesn't work so well for you in terms of personal qualities, relationships, and professional experience. If a colleague says something positive about your work but doesn't match how you feel about it personally, don't accept it as truth because it makes everyone feel good! Instead, try asking yourself why they would say this about your work? What makes their opinion different than yours?

2. Be specific. Be clear about what you're good at and what you need to work on. Don't use vague terms such as "good" or "bad."

3. Go beyond your resume. Your resume is a snapshot of where you've been but not necessarily where you're going. Include other relevant information that might help do a SWOT analysis, such as past performance evaluations or feedback from supervisors, coworkers or customers.

4. Keep it simple. Avoid getting bogged down by too many details; keep things simple by focusing on only four categories: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT).

S (Strengths) - These are your positive attributes, what you are good at

Strength is a positive attribute that makes you more capable of achieving goals. It is an internal quality that cannot be taken away from you. When we think about our strengths, we can see that they are not things we can easily change or improve. Strength is inherent in us, and it often comes naturally to us.

For example, if you are good at public speaking or communicating with people, this is considered a strength. If you enjoy working with numbers and data, you may have strong analytical skills that could be applied to different jobs. If you have strong writing skills, this could be another of your strengths that could be utilised in many areas of life and not just in business or the workplace. Here is how you should analyse your strengths:

1. Write down all the things you are good at or have an aptitude for. If you have trouble identifying them, ask friends or family members who know you well to list the strengths they see in you.

2. Ask yourself why these strengths matter to you and others - what do they help you achieve? They might relate directly to your career goals, or they might be less obvious but still significant - for example, if you're good at helping people solve problems, this could be a strength that allows your career in many different ways (for example, by making it easier for clients to trust and work with you).

3. Think about whether other qualities accompany these strengths (e.g., being flexible or organised) and whether these could also be useful in career planning scenarios.

4. Identify any weaknesses or limitations related to these strengths (e.g., lack of attention to detail) and think about how this may affect your ability to use them effectively in certain situations (e.g., missing vital information during meetings with clients).

W (Weaknesses) - These are the aspects of your life that aren't working, what you need to work on and get better at

Next, list your weaknesses and possible solutions or ways to overcome them. These things make it difficult for you to perform at peak levels or things that prevent you from doing your best work consistently. No one is perfect 🙂

Weaknesses can be a big part of your career SWOT analysis. A weakness is something you are not good at or need to improve on.

Here are some examples of weaknesses:

I am poor at public speaking.

I have a hard time managing my time effectively.

I get stressed out quickly and have trouble relaxing.

My biggest weakness is procrastination, and I need to learn how to manage it better.

What are your weaknesses?

It's essential, to be honest with yourself, but don't beat yourself up. Everyone has their share of flaws and shortcomings, so try not to get too down on yourself.

What areas do you want to improve in your life?

Think about what areas of your life you would like to improve upon. Are there things you know you could do better but haven't had the time or motivation to work on? Perhaps it's a specific skill set or area of knowledge that you lack. Or maybe it's just something bothering you, but you haven't figured out how to fix it yet?

What are some things that bother you about your current job?

List them all down, and analyse why they bother you. Is it something to do with the task or role or something missing in your capabilities?

O (Opportunities) - These are the opportunities that are available to you, what you can do and where you can go

Opportunities are the areas that are open to you. These are the available opportunities to you, what you can do and where you can go. Here is how you should analyse your opportunities on the SWOT for your career planning.

You need to understand what opportunities are available in the market for your skillset and experience. You should also know about the various companies or organisations hiring people with your skill set. This will help you find out how to approach them for a job.

To analyse this section properly, you need to know what skillsets and experience are required in different jobs and industries. You can start by checking job descriptions online or talking with recruiters who work in those industries. This will help you identify which skillsets and experiences will most benefit you when looking for new jobs.

Your opportunities can be increased by:

Positive changes in your career environment

Positive changes in yourself (education, training, experience)

Positive changes in your environment (friends, family, company)

You should list all the available opportunities, what you can do, and where you can go. For each option, think about the following:

The thing that is possible for you to do

The skills, knowledge and experience required for doing the task

The assets that will help you perform well in this situation

The barriers that may prevent you from doing it (e.g., lack of resources)

T (Threats) - These are issues that could affect your goals and plans negatively

Threats are issues that could affect your goals and plans negatively.

Threats can be internal or external. Internal threats are within your control, while external threats are outside your control.

Internal Threats - These threats are within your control and can be fixed by you. For example, if you fear public speaking or have a of snakes, these can be tackled by you with proper guidance and practice.

External Threats - These threats are outside your control, but they can still negatively affect you. For example, if an economic recession in your country affects the demand for your services, this would be an external threat that you cannot do anything about.

If there are any threats listed under this section, try solving them first before proceeding with SWOT analysis for career planning

Threats examples:

The market is saturated with competitors, and there is no scope for growth in this field

There are very few jobs available in this field due to the recession

The job market is unstable, and people may lose their jobs due to the downsizing or closure of companies

Career planning using SWOT - an example

While this example is simplified (you should ideally have a list of each SWOT parameter), it will explain how things can be approached.

I have a bachelor's degree in computer science. I am very confident in my ability to write code and design software. I'm also good at project management to move up the career ladder.

Weaknesses:

I have not had much experience working with people. I have always been more comfortable working alone than in groups or teams. I am not comfortable working with people from other nationalities and shy away from discussing business topics that are not technology related.

Opportunities:

Many new tools and technologies are emerging every day that could be used to improve how we do things at work. Analytics, cloud computing, AI, and machine learning, each an area that I have skills in, could open new doors. These new tools and technologies could allow me to improve my skills and become more valuable to the company.

The biggest threat for me is that I may not be able to keep up with all of the changes happening around me at work. If I cannot keep up, it might affect my job performance and make it harder for me to get promoted or move into another position within the company. Technology is changing rapidly, and I cannot depend on my current skill-set to last me for even the next decade; and must constantly upgrade.

Conclusion - SWOT can be a helpful starting point for career analysis and planning

SWOT Analysis is a great tool to help you understand yourself, your career and your future. It's also a great way to assess your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

SWOT Analysis will help you identify your top talents and skills and the areas that could be improved upon to achieve your goals.

Look at this tool from another perspective: What do you want out of life? What do you want to do with your life? How do you want others to perceive you? These questions will help you determine your priorities to be incorporated into your SWOT analysis.

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SWOT analysis is a tool that helps you identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. It's a great way to think about where you are now and where you want to be. Strengths are the positive forces that can help you achieve goals. Weaknesses hold you back from achieving goals.

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1) Sender's address
- Where do you frequently receive your letters?

2) Date
- When was the letter writer?

3) Receiver's address
- Company name
- Company's address

4) Salutations
- Dear Sir/ Madam

5) Subject line
- Capitalize
- Bolded

6) Opening Paragraph

7) Content Paragraph

8) Closing Paragraph

9) Complimentary closure
- Yours faithfully (strangers)
- Yours sincerely (non-strangers)

10) Signature block
- Signature
- Full name

11) Encl. Resume

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The video titled "Best Places to Find Job Openings – Finding Job Opportunities, Job Genius" offers valuable insights into various avenues for job seekers to discover employment opportunities. Key takeaways include:

1. Online Job Boards: Utilizing platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn, and Monster to search for job listings across industries.

2. Company Career Pages: Visiting the official websites of companies of interest to apply directly through their career sections.

3. Networking: Engaging with professional contacts, attending industry events, and leveraging social media to uncover hidden job opportunities.

4. Recruitment Agencies: Partnering with agencies that match candidates with suitable job openings based on their skills and experience.

5. Local Resources: Exploring community job fairs, workshops, and local employment centers for additional opportunities.

By diversifying your job search strategies, you can increase your chances of finding the right position that aligns with your career goals.

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Best Places to Find Job Openings – Finding Job Opportunities, Job Genius

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The article "Job Search Terms Everyone Should Know: A Complete Glossary" provides definitions of common words and phrases used in the job search process.

Key Takeaways:

Applicant Tracking System (ATS): Software used by employers to automate recruitment tracking and screen applicants. Resumes are scored based on keywords and should have clearly identifiable sections to be ranked correctly.

Asynchronous Communication: Communication between team members without the expectation of an immediate response, often used in distributed workforces to accommodate varying time zones and flexible schedules.

Blue Sky Thinking: Creative brainstorming that allows individuals to dream without limits, encouraging ideas without immediate consideration of practicality.

Career Development: The active management of one's career growth through education, experience, and other activities.

Chronological Resume: A traditional resume format that lists work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent position.

Understanding these terms can enhance your job search strategy, improve communication with potential employers, and increase your chances of securing the desired position.

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Job Search Terms Everyone Should Know: A Complete Glossary

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Have you been stumped by a new word in an application or interview? Here’s a full list of helpful terms and concepts that can help you land your next job.

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1) Contact info
- Phone number
- Email
- Adddress

2) Personal details

3) Professional objective
- What is your career goal?

4) Academic background
- SPM and above

5) Extra-curricular activities

6) Skills
- Language
- Computer
- Technical

7) Working Experience
- Year, duration
- Company
- Position

8) References
- Employer
- Lecturer

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1.7 Appropriate answer for INTERVIEW questions

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sample slides for company research