Friday: SWOT yourself

OK followers (ew, creepy), Friday is homework day.

Per the most recent post on this blog, create a SWOT analysis of yourself in relationship to a career in the near or distant future.

Strengths & Weaknesses: Pretty straightforward. Do this from the perspective of past employers or from your personality. Usually, good and bad personality traits are reflected in our paid work.

Opportunities: What are some doors that could open to you in the future? Possible future career paths? Money making ideas? Anything into which you could incorporate your mommy experience? Any ideas that can let you spend the least time away from your children while making the most $$ for your family?

Threats: What are some things that are going to stand in the way of a great career (besides the whole kid-work conflict thing)?

Rule is that you have to have an equal number of points for each category so if only can think of one weaknesses ("I'm a perfectionist" HA) then you can only answer one strength, opportunity, etc. Not only does this keep the excercise humble (because we need that after scraping up poop all day, right?) but it can help us realize the good things that might be instore for us, too. And the answers could be a great resource for future interviews.

You don't need to post in the comments section but here is a brief example of my SWOT:

Strength: I am passionately enthusiastic about workplace quality.
Weakness: I am horrible at follow through if initiatives last more than a week.
Opportunity: Create a professional organization for women who were stay at home moms and are now working, that will mentor mothers back into the work place. Many times moms who return face 'attitudes' from the men who work there (who's wives did the same thankyouverymuch) or from moms who worked (guilt) or from people without kids. Members would support and help one another.
Threat: My MBA is going to make people assume I need more $$ when in fact I do not have very much professional experience.

Careful about enlisting others to SWOT you. A) thats not legal or nice and B) this could become a heated conversation, along the lines of "Honey, does my butt look big in this?"