For your final paper, you’re going to build on many of the foundational principles we’ve discussed over the course of the semester in 3 distinct phases.
Read this webpage and watch the embedded video:
SWOT ANALYSIS LINK: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_05_1.htm (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Phase 1:
Your culminating activity will involve determining your major goal(s) for the next 1, 5, and 10 years as they pertain to your career path. Obviously, your career path will impact and also be impacted by elements of your personal life, so it is permissible to bring personal circumstances into the discussion. However, make sure to keep the overall focus on how your career life path is a central component to your future aspirations. You may choose 1 major goal to discuss for each year of your plan or several goals for each year–that decision is yours to make. Write your goal(s) with the S.M.A.R.T. goal method.
Phase 2:
Once you determine your goal(s), you will then conduct a SWOT analysis (as we discussed in class) to determine the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats you may experience as you work to achieve your goal(s). Strengths and Weaknesses are internal characteristics (think of family/friend support, skills and abilities, educational level, etc.) to consider, while Opportunities and Threats are external factors (think of changing technology, the economy, political influences, global security, etc.). Please view the video in the link below and read the corresponding article, then use the attached document as a template for creating your own SWOT analysis worksheet (if it’s easier, you can create your own SWOT table in the Word document for your paper by making a table with 4 boxes–2 rows, 2 columns). You will conduct 1 SWOT analysis for each year of the plan (1 ,5, and 10 years) for a total of 3 SWOT analysis worksheets. When filling out the worksheets, you do not need to write paragraphs and sentences. Simply describing your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats as bullet points in each box will be sufficient. See the SWOT Worksheet here:
SWOT Analysis Chart – Career Management.docx
Phase 3A: (1 single-spaced page for each year; 3 written pages total)
In narrative form, describe each part of your SWOT analysis for the given year in more detail. You will do this for each year (1, 5, and 10) of the plan. For example, consider the following types of questions:
Phase 3B: (a couple of sentences at the end of the narrative for each year)
Lastly, for each year describe one step you can take that may be daunting or scary, but you would be willing to attempt to help you achieve your larger goal(s). Think of it as a calculated risk. (Remember our discussion about not letting fear getting the better of you in your career decision making). This part only has to be a couple of sentences (what is the step you can take and how can it help you achieve your goal).
Overall, the format of your paper should look like this:
Year #1
1. S.M.A.R.T. Goal(s):
listed at top of the page (Phase 1)
2. Narrative:
(Phases 3A & 3B, 1 single-spaced page long)
3. SWOT Analysis Worksheet (Phase 2) (separate page)
Year #5
1. S.M.A.R.T. Goal(s):
listed at top of page (Phase 1)
2. Narrative:
(Phases 3A & 3B, 1 single-spaced page)
3. SWOT Analysis Worksheet (Phase 2) (separate page)
Year #10
1. S.M.A.R.T. Goal(s):
listed at top of page (Phase 1)
2. Narrative:
(Phases 3A & 3B, 1 single-spaced page)
3. SWOT Analysis Worksheet (Phase 2) (separate page)
Please include everything in one single Word or PDF document and upload it to Canvas. Your paper will consist of 3 written pages of narrative (1 single-spaced written page for each year) and 3 SWOT analyses (1 worksheet for each year).
Please use the following format:
If you have any questions, please make sure to ask ahead of time. Good luck!
