Using SWOT Analysis to Market and Sell Yourself at a Job Interview

SWOT analysis for marketing is widely used today by marketing and sales professionals. However, SWOT analysis should not be limited to just marketing. You can use SWOT analysis as a method for analysing yourself, especially when you are in the job market for a new job.

SWOT analysis consists of four elements known as Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. A marketing professional when determining the marketing strategy for a company will analyse its strengths and weaknesses. These are referred to as the microenvironment elements of SWOT analysis. A microenvironment is an environment within which the company has control of the elements. A company can determine its strengths and weaknesses and is within full control of it.

Opportunities and Threats are usually not within the control of the company. Hence these are referred to as the macroenvironment factors. A macroenvironment factor could be the result of government legislation, economic condition of the country and currency fluctuations. Companies can exploit opportunities and prepare for threats in advance, when a detailed SWOT analysis is carried out.

It sounds obvious that you should consider your strengths when applying for a job and preparing for a job interview. However, have you considered your weaknesses? This is also an important attribute to consider. Considering your weaknesses will ensure that you may have the opportunity to fix them before a job interview. As a worse case, you will be prepared for a discussion on your weaknesses with your interviewer.

The job specification may provide you with opportunities. These maybe items such as the requirement for a software package you have used before. A threat could be the requirement for a certain qualification that you do not have.

The important task is to look through your job specification and identify opportunities for you. These opportunities should be matched with your strengths to make a powerful appeal for you as an excellent candidate for the job opportunity.

You should also identify any threats the job specification may include. You should combine your weaknesses with these threats and be prepared for them. If time permits, the ideal solution would be to convert these weaknesses into strengths such that the threat becomes an opportunity. If this is not possible you should consider how to address this threat and weakness, even it means defending yourself at an interview.

Threats can also be tackled with your strengths. A job may require a graduate and may be willing to accept a new graduate. You may be a very experienced professional, although not a graduate. You may be able to use your experience to neutralize the threat, or possibly even convert the threat in to an opportunity.

There are many ways in which SWOT analysis can help you succeed in your job interview. You should prepare by drawing a large square on a piece of paper and breaking the square into four equal sections. On the top left you should write your strengths. On the top right the opportunities. On the bottom left should be the weaknesses and the bottom right the threats. Now combine the top half connecting your strengths to match with the opportunities. These are your weapons of attack for the job interview, and points you should emphasise.

Then combine the weaknesses with the threats. You should see whether you could defend a threat with a strength, if so neutralizing them or whether you can convert a weakness in to a strength. If this is not possible you should make a strategy on how you handle this in your job interview.

A SWOT analysis before your interview is one of the best ways to prepare for a job interview. Carrying out a SWOT analysis of yourself does not guarantee success, but it will ensure that you understand yourself very well. It will also help make a clear concise strategy for your job interview.

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