In this first part of the SWOT Project Management Recruitment Ideas, we’re going to look at the project management job specification first of all and how you can prepare for making an application or interview using a SWOT analysis. This article will be followed up with a Project Management Recruitment Ideas – Using a SWOT for Interviews tomorrow.
I’m not going to go into the whys and wherefores of SWOT Analysis (Wiki do a grand job of that right here) but most of you will have come across SWOT as part of a business planning or career planning exercise. In my opinion it’s all about thinking a little deeper about a particular subject by performing some simple analysis that takes in different viewpoints so let’s get started with the job specification.
The job specification is often the only document you might have in order to make an application for a job and as such holds all the clues about what an organisation is looking for in a new recruit. Taking the job specification apart, breaking it down and understanding the parts will give you (a) a better understanding of whether this is the right opportunity for you (b) allow you to make a decent job of your application or preparation for an interview that will really pay dividends.
Project Management Job Specification SWOT Analysis
Take a clean piece of paper – with the job specification and any other details about the organisation in front of you, start to jot down your thoughts about the following;
SWOT for Project Management Job Specs
Strengths
Top 5 Qualities
Make a note of the top five qualities of the position that appeal to you; what is it about the roles and responsibilities that have made you want to apply for the post? If one of the qualities is just that you like the idea of working for that particular organisation, make a note of that too. Is it the kind of projects you will be working on or a particular business focus that you would like to pursue?
Consistency
Make a note about anything in the job specification that shows it is consistent with your thinking about this kind of post – does the salary level reflect the position well? Are the roles and responsibilities consistent with this type of post? Are the roles and responsibilities and objectives achieveable for this level of post? Where there are inconsistencies; drop those thoughts into the weaknesses side of the SWOT.
Personal
Does the job specification meet your expectations in terms of planned career development; salary level; level of responsibility; appropriate level of challenge or stretch; feature enough of your current skillsets; feel aspirational; the organisation sounds like one you would enjoy working within; how does reading through the specification make you feel?
Organisational
Make a note of all the positive things you know about the organisation; consider conducting some research to see if you can find out more about how the organisation is regarded in the marketplace, by its employees, its suppliers etc. Is there any information where you can get a better feel for the organisation’s resources, assets and people; the processes and systems; the project management culture?
Opportunities
Challenges
Most often people look for a new position because they are ready for a new challenge; make a note of all the challenges you think this position may give to you. It is worth making a note of all the Known challenges i.e., those that are evident from the job specification and also the Unknown challenges, i.e., challenges you think this position may bring.
Organisational
Make a note of what you believe to be the opportunities available to you by working for this particular organisation.
Career Aspirations
This is an opportunity to make a more detailed note of how this position fits with your career aspirations, for example if the role gives you a larger team responsibility or complexity of projects to manage.
Weaknesses
Ambiguity
Now its time to think about the job specification a little more objectively. Make a note of any areas of the job specification that are unclear or make little sense.
Unattractive
What areas of the job specification – the roles and responsibilities – are the least attractive to you? We know that any job is likely to have some roles and responsibilities that we don’t like performing but how much of this position is unattractive to you honestly?
Unexperienced
Which areas of the job specification are you unexperienced, unqualified or unskilled to do? Start by thinking of those areas where you have no experience at all, then those where you have a little.
Organisational
Make a note of any concerns you have about the organisation that are known to you at the moment. It is also worth making a more general note of what would not appealed to you organisation wise at this point too i.e., client site working, shift work etc
Threats
Issues
Now thinking even more objectively – even negatively in some cases – make a note of all the issues you can think of that means this position is not right for you. Is the skillset required? The location of where you would be working? The salary level on offer? Often when a job seeker is making plans to move into a new position, the more negative side of a potential new job are often overlooked. Often this might mean taking the job for all the wrong reasons and moving on soon after the start date – not a great career move!
Organisational
And finally, are there any showstoppers that would mean you would not enjoy working for this organisation? Also think about any reasons why the organisation may not consider you a likely candidate for the job.
The SWOT analysis for job specifications is designed to get you really thinking about a new position before you start the process of applying for it. Tomorrow we will look at the SWOT analysis for making the application and getting ready for the interview.
