Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Business Requirements • Project Portfolio • Process Mapping

SWOT Analysis

Term from Consulting industry explained for recruiters

SWOT Analysis is a planning tool that helps businesses understand their position in the market. It stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Think of it like taking a snapshot of what a company is good at, where it needs improvement, what new chances it could take, and what risks it faces. Consultants use this method to help companies make better decisions about their future. Similar tools include Porter's Five Forces or PESTLE Analysis, but SWOT is known for being straightforward and easy to understand, which makes it popular in business planning.

Examples in Resumes

Conducted SWOT Analysis for Fortune 500 retail client leading to 20% market share increase

Led team workshops to perform SWOT Analyses for 12 department units

Created strategic recommendations based on SWOT findings for healthcare organizations

Typical job title: "Business Analysts"

Also try searching for:

Strategic Consultant Management Consultant Business Consultant Strategy Analyst Business Strategy Consultant Corporate Strategy Analyst

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Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you handle a SWOT analysis for a company entering a completely new market?

Expected Answer: A senior consultant should explain how they would research market conditions, analyze competitor data, evaluate internal capabilities, and involve key stakeholders to create comprehensive recommendations.

Q: Tell me about a time when your SWOT analysis findings were challenged by a client.

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate experience in defending analysis with data, handling client objections professionally, and ability to adjust recommendations based on valid feedback.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you ensure objectivity in a SWOT analysis?

Expected Answer: Should discuss methods of gathering diverse perspectives, using data to support findings, and techniques for avoiding bias in analysis.

Q: How would you integrate SWOT analysis findings into an actionable strategy?

Expected Answer: Should explain process of prioritizing findings, creating actionable recommendations, and developing implementation plans.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the four components of SWOT analysis and how do they differ?

Expected Answer: Should clearly explain Strengths and Weaknesses as internal factors, and Opportunities and Threats as external factors, with basic examples of each.

Q: What information sources would you use for a SWOT analysis?

Expected Answer: Should mention company data, market research, competitor analysis, customer feedback, and industry reports as basic sources of information.