This is my SWOT assignment from Management class giving great insight for who I am.

1. Management 201
PERSONAL SWOT ANALYSIS
The tools and techniques used in creating a business plan are just as useful in designing a plan to help sell yourself to
potential employers. The outline below is designed to assist you in writing a personalized plan that will help you achieve
your career goals. Specifically, this assignment will help you:
1. Better understand your own personal strengths and weaknesses, as well as recognize the opportunities and
threats that exist in your career development.
2. Direct your efforts towards the career that fulfills your personal passion and interest.
3. Develop goals and objectives that will leverage on your strengths and nullify your weaknesses.
4. Prepare the foundation for Homework #2, developing a professional page on LinkedIn.
As you work through the following outline, it is very important that you be honest with yourself. If you do not
possess a strength in a given area, it is important to recognize that fact. Similarly, do not overlook your weaknesses. The
viability of your SWOT analysis and your strategy depend on how well you have identified all of the relevant issues in an
honest manner.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Name: Thomas Allen
Year in school: Sophomore
Major: Accounting
Minor/Collateral: International Business
SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS
1. OVERALL EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT
What is the recent hiring trend among your potential employers? In other words, is there growth or decline in hiring
among potential employers or in your chosen field?
I believe there has been a growth in hiring in my field despite the economic disparities in the world. Accounting has one
of the highest demands for jobs right now and it only seems to increase.
Who are your potential employers?
My potential employers range anywhere from a regional business looking for accounting interns all the way to one of the
Big Four Accounting Firms. Even if I am currently interning for a regional business, that experience will carry me all the
way to my possible career as a Certified Public Accountant through knowledge and recommendations.
What is the trend in terms of starting salaries of jobs in your intended career?
Starting salaries can range anywhere from $45,000 to $80,000 for accounting majors. This all depends on where one
specializes as well as things like education level, location, experience, etc. I hope to start my career in one of the Big
Four Accounting Firms. Therefore, my salary will hopefully be closer to the $80,000 mark.
Describe your preparation for the job market in terms of factors such as academic performance, internships, networking,
job leads, career development, interviewing skills, etc?
I have prepared in various ways thus far while at the University of Tennessee. I have only taken one accounting class,
and I received an A in this class as well as all my other business classes. I have also participated in many
extracurricular activities within the College of Business and a study group leader for Accounting students as well as
being a peer mentor for first year students. Moreover, I joined the professional business fraternity on campus, Alpha
Kappa Psi. This will help in building connections and networking both inside and outside the university. This summer, I
plan on studying abroad in Spain in order to receive valuable experience that will prepare me in working for an
international company, like one of the Big Four Accounting Firms. On top of continuing my involvements on campus and
within the College of Business, I plan receiving two internships that will adequately prepare me for a job upon graduation.
Finally, after graduation, I hope to be accepted into the MAcc program at the University of Tennessee, through which I
hope to gain knowledge preparing me to become a Certified Public Accountant. Through these factors that I have
already been involved in, as well as the ones I plan to do, I hope to prepare myself for my career as an accountant.

2. 2. SWOT ANALYSIS (your personal strengths and weaknesses and the opportunities and threats
that may impact your career).
What are your personal goals and objectives in terms of employment, career, lifestyle, geographic preference, etc.?
Please provide specific examples.
Upon obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting at the University of Tennessee, I hope to join the MAcc program here
in Knoxville. Through this experience, I hope to pass the Certified Public Accountant exam and obtain a job with one of
the Big Four Accounting Firms. I know this time working with a firm such as one of these will be rigorous to say the
least, but will give me the most valuable experience for my career. I would prefer to stay in the southeast part of the
country if at all possible, but I am open to anything as I am starting my career.
A. Personal Strengths
List three key strengths:
Strength #1:
Goal-Oriented: I set my mind on things that I want in life and do everything I can to reach these goals.
Strength #2:
Organized: I plan everything in my life and always prepare myself for the obstacles that lie ahead.
Strength #3:
My Perseverance: I never give up no matter what the task, and thrive in stressful environments.
How do these strengths allow you to exceed the expectations of your potential employers?
I believe all of them are perfect attributes in gain an internship/job with one of the Big Four Accounting Firms.
Employees working there will always be in stressful situations so they need to be well organized and need to be able to
persevere past the obstacles. Moreover, in order for anyone to be successful in his/her career, he/she will need to be
goal-oriented in order to retain enthusiasm in one’s work.
B. Personal Weaknesses
List three key weaknesses:
Weakness #1:
Working in groups: Sometimes I will be so enthusiastic about an idea that I have, I am not able to look at others for their
opinions.
Weakness #2:
Artistic/Creativeness: I am a left-brained person who is very analytical and likes dealing with numbers. I am not artistic
or creative in many ways, if any.
Weakness #3:
Work habits: Sometimes I will get so focused on school or work that I will leave out other things in my life
How could these weaknesses cause you to fall short of meeting the needs of your potential employers?
In any job in business, there will be many times where you will have to work on a project with other people and will have
to come up with a solution for that problem. I know that when I do not consider what others have to say can be
detrimental to the project as a whole because others will bring ideas in that will be much better than I have. I recognize
that this is my biggest problem and have been working on it very much through my time here at the University of
Tennessee. Also, my lack of artistic ability may hurt if I ever need to design any project or make it look visibly appealing.

3. C. Career Opportunities
List three key career opportunities:
Opportunity #1:
Internship with a regional firm/business my junior year.
Opportunity #2:
Internship with one of the Big Four Accounting Firms my senior year
Opportunity #3:
Job with either one of the Big Four Accounting Firms upon graduation from the MAcc program or a regional accounting
firm/business.
What actions can you take to capitalize on these opportunities in the short term?
In the fall semester of my junior year, I will start applying for internships with regional businesses and accounting firms. I
hope that my academic success, extracurricular activities, and studying abroad will set me up well for an internship.
Through this internship, I hope to gain an internship with one of the Big Four Accounting Firms. This will broaden my
knowledge on the difference between the public environment vs. private environment. After I have these two
experiences, I hope to stand out above the competition and will be able to make my decision on either a public or private
accounting career.
D. Career Threats
List three key career threats:
Threat #1
Not receiving internships and experiences needed to adequately prepare myself for my career.
Threat #2
Not succeeding in my major classes would be detrimental to reaching my goals. I need to make sure I enjoy my major
and to make sure I keep up with all the material when it is taught.
Threat #3
Not studying abroad this summer. With my study abroad experience, not only do I receive extremely valuable
experience on a different culture, but I also do not receive credit hours for Spanish classes this summer. If I do not get
those, then I will set up a much tougher road for myself my Junior and Senior year.
What actions must be taken to prevent these threats from limiting your capabilities in the short term and long term?
I must go on the trip this summer. That will set me up well academically so that I will have time and will be eligible for the
internships I want. Also, when I get internships, I need to make sure to always work hard and do my best so that I will
receive positive recommendations for later internships and career jobs.