Posted: May 1st, 2025

Health & Medical Question

Career SWOT Analysis
Paper/Presentation Assignment
Instructions and Guidance
2024
Purpose of Assignment
The purpose of the SWOT analysis assignment is to give students an
opportunity to explore career opportunities in the event that their
primary career interest is either no longer attainable (student is not
accepted into the desired program), is no longer of interest, or student
is undecided and not clear on the appropriate career path to follow.
The SWOT paper will draw on information that students have gathered
while completing the career services assessment activities, and
information that students know about themselves, their interests, and
their professional likes and dislikes.
Paper/Presentation Content – Selecting Job
Descriptions
To complete the assignment, follow the steps below:
1. Choose 3 job options that you would like to pursue in your career. If your 1st
choice job does not work out, identify a 2nd and 3rd choice of interest. JOBS
SHOULD BE RELATED TO HEALTHCARE or SOCIAL SERVICES.
2. Include a brief description of each position, including salary or salary range,
job qualification requirements including educational requirements, a brief
description of the work environment for each position, and brief overview of
job responsibilities.
3. Next, complete a personal, 2 x 2 SWOT analysis (See last slide). The table
should include your personal STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES, and any
OPPORTUNITIES or THREATS relating to those careers. Note: You will NOT
do a swot for each job; you should include information in one swot table
that relates to ALL 3 CAREERS selected. There should be at least 2-3
statements in each quadrant of the SWOT table.
Paper/Presentation Content – Selecting Job
Descriptions (continued)
4. In the REFLECTIONS SECTION, discuss how your SWOT analysis
findings/statements will be either a benefit or a disadvantage in the positions
you are exploring. Reflect on at least 2 key strengths, 2 key weaknesses, 2
opportunities, and 2 threats in your narrative.
5. In the CONCLUSION SECTION, discuss what you have learned from your SWOT
and the research on your selected positions, and identify areas that you
could/should enhance while still in school related to engaging with professional
organizations, internships, volunteer opportunities, and/or mentorship and
other opportunities to prepare you for this career. Also, discuss what you have
learned from this paper and how it could possibly impact future goals.
6. A reference page should be included at the end of the paper. Citations in text
are also required.
7. A sample paper is attached to give you an idea of the amount of content that
should be included in the assignment, however, SHOULD NOT TO BE
COPIED!!!
Presentation Content and Formatting
Instructions
• A sample slide deck has been included for your use. BE CREATIVE!!!
• Slide deck should be NO LONGER than 10 total slides (including the reference page).
Please be thorough, but succinct in your descriptions and discussions.
• Your slides/presentation should use APA Format to cite references in text and at the
end of the paper. Each slide should be numbered.
• Follow the order of the presentation provided. The sample paper is included to
provide an idea of the content required.
• Be attentive to spelling and grammatical errors. Points will be deducted for
numerous errors.
Personal SWOT Questions for Consideration
NOTE: The SWOT table
does not need to include
a direct response to
each question in each
quadrant, however, you
can use these questions
to help guide your
analysis.
SWOT Paper
Student Name
1
(Introduction) In life, there comes a time where career choices have to be made for the
sake of your own personal future. In my opinion, it would not be a good decision to narrow my
own career choice to just one. I have to have a plan in place, because in a situation where one
career choice does not play out as planned, I have to have other options that have been
researched and considered. In this essay, I will give my side of the playbook. I will explain 3 of
my own job choices that I would like to pursue in life. In addition, I will also explain my own
personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
(1st Job) My first desired career choice that I would like to pursue, is to be a
cardiothoracic physician’s assistant. Physician assistants (PAs) are medical providers who
diagnose illnesses, develop and carry out treatment plans, prescribe medications, perform
procedures and assist in surgeries (International Medical Aid, 2019). Cardiothoracic PAs usually
work with a cardiothoracic surgeon to treat patients who are in the process of undergoing surgery
on the heart, lungs or esophagus (International Medical Aid, 2019). In order to become a
physician’s assistant, I would have to complete a 4-year degree program and earn your
bachelor’s. I do not need a specific major for this job, as long as I complete the prerequisites
required to be accepted into PA school. The prerequisites require a strong scientific background.
I would also have to work in a healthcare setting to gain experience. After obtaining my
bachelor’s I must apply to a PA program in order to obtain my master’s degree. Finally, I would
have to pass the PANCE licensing exam. These are the qualifications needed before I can
become a PA. Physical Therapists made a median salary of $86,850 in 2017 (U.S. News, n.d.).
As of Sep 10, 2019, the average annual pay for a Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician Assistant in
the United States is $132,609 a year (ZipRecruiter, n.d.). Physician assistants work in hospitals,
SWOT Paper
2
outpatient care centers, and offices of physicians (BLS, n.d.). They also work in educational
services. They spend most of their time on their feet making hospital rounds and evaluating
patients (BLS, n.d.).
(2nd Job) My second desired career choice that I would like to pursue is physical therapy.
Physical therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all
ages, from newborns to the very oldest, who have medical problems or other health-related
conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives
(APTA, n.d.). In order to become a physical therapist, I would need to earn a bachelor’s degree
in a health-related field, complete a doctor of physical therapy degree program, and pass the
National Physical Therapy Examination (Writers, 2019). The median annual wage for physical
therapists was $87,930 in May 2018 (BLS, n.d.). “They typically work in private offices and
clinics, hospitals, patients’ homes, and nursing homes. They spend much of their time on their
feet, actively working with patients” (BLS, n.d.).
(3rd Job) My third desired career choice would be occupational therapy. In its simplest
terms, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people across the lifespan
participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday
activities (AOTA, n.d.). Occupational therapists must earn a bachelor’s degree in health-related
field of study, earn a masters from an accredited OT program, pass the NBCOT exam, and apply
for licensure in your state (MASMedicalStaffing, 2019). “They typically work in private offices
and clinics, hospitals, patients’ homes, and nursing homes. They spend much of their time on
their feet, actively working with patients” (BLS, n.d.). Occupational therapists have a median
salary of $83,000 (U.S.News, n.d.).
SWOT Paper
3
Strengths
Weaknesses
•
Positive Personality traits
•
Small networking
•
Determined and persistent
•
Too honest at times
•
Emotionally stable
•
Strict and tough conscience
•
Compassionate and kind towards
•
Not Assertive at all
others
•
Moody
•
Exceptional social skills
•
Critical of others and myself
•
Educational background
•
Everything needs to be done in the
•
Can deal with pressure and stress well
correct way or its wrong
Opportunities in your career field
Threats in your Career field
•
High salary
•
Economic Recession
•
Opportunities of advancement
•
Workplace hazards
•
Additional training
•
Burnout risks
•
Relocation available
•
Stress
•
Great employee benefits
•
Meet new people with similar or same
occupation
(Reflections on SWOT – please use as guide BUT FOLLOW instructions related to
SWOT reflections) In my opinion, I have nothing to worry about when it comes to comparing
my SWOT analysis with the careers I have chosen. In this case, the positives greatly outweigh
the negatives. The only problem that I see with myself is the inability to have connections with
others that will help in the long-run. The reason I say this is because for a long time, I have had
to learn how to do things on my own. I could never rely on others so I decided to rely on myself.
SWOT Paper
4
Personally, I feel as though I have a personality type that can take me into any career that I
choose. Since all of my preferred jobs are in health-care, I would have to deal with many people.
This will help me build social skills, and not be so critical of others. I work well with others and
will not mind being corrected. The careers that I have chosen has a lot of benefits that weigh a lot
more than the threats. Seeing it as though healthcare tends to carry stress and burnout risks, I feel
as though it will not be a problem for me because I have trained myself in ways that I can easily
deal with these issues. Overall, my SWOT analysis carries weaknesses and threats that can be
fixed or helped. I will not see any negatives as possible setbacks without finding ways to correct
them for the sake of my career.
(Conclusion/Lessons Learned) I have learned that my desired careers requires a lot to get
into. The confidence that I have in myself to get into my desired careers are not high at all. I say
this because I haven’t even acquired my bachelors yet, and on top of that the careers require
certain prerequisites from college that I have not completed yet. This is a setback that I see can
be a possible problem in the future. This paper has also taught me that I have the character traits
that could get me into any field, all I need now is the education. My future goal is to get into my
career before the age of thirty. I believe that this goal can be completed, but the work required to
reach it gets discouraging at times. If I can escape the discouragement and find the right path to
get to where I want to be in life, then the stress I have now can die down. Other than that, I feel
as though the health-care field is right for me. This paper has taught me that I will also need
experience to help get me into my career field. In order to do this, I need to get into an
internship, work in a healthcare environment so that I can gain experience as well, and grow
connections with people that will benefit me in the long-run. I will settle for no less than the best
SWOT Paper
5
when it comes to myself and the profession that I desire. I will do what it takes to complete these
goals.
References
About Occupational Therapy. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.aota.org/About-OccupationalTherapy.aspx
By. (2019, January 25). OT vs PT: How To Choose The Right Career Path For You. Retrieved
from https://www.masmedicalstaffing.com/2018/06/26/ot-vs-pt/
Cardiothoracic Surgery Physician Assistant Annual Salary ($132,609 Avg: Sep 2019). (n.d.).
Retrieved from https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Cardiothoracic-Surgery-PhysicianAssistant-Salary
Highest Paid Specialties for Physician Assistants. (2019, March 24). Retrieved from

Highest Paid Physician Assistants Salaries by Specialty

How Much Can a Physical Therapist Expect to Get Paid? (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/physical-therapist/salary
Occupational Therapist Ranks Among Best Jobs of 2019. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/occupational-therapist
Physical Therapists : Occupational Outlook Handbook: (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm
Physician Assistants : Occupational Outlook Handbook: (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm
Role of a Physical Therapist. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.apta.org/PTCareers/RoleofaPT/
SWOT Paper
Writers, S. (2019, April 21). Physical Therapy Schools & Careers: How to Become a Physical
Therapist. Retrieved from https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/physical-therapist/
6
Career SWOT Analysis
Name
Student Number
Introductory Slide
Results from Assessments
Career Option #1
Career Option #2
Career Option #3
SWOT Table (2 x 2)
Reflections
Conclusions
References – APA format