Part III: Personal SWOT Analysis
On Finding Opportunities - The Random Gig that Changed My Career Trajectory
👋🏾 Hey, it’s Wamide. Welcome to another issue of OnGrowth&, a bi-monthly newsletter on career growth, leadership, and personal development.
6 weeks ago, I kicked off a series on how to do a personal SWOT analysis.
A personal SWOT analysis is a powerful tool to help you set career goals, reflect on your strengths, and spot exciting opportunities that align with your interests.
We’ve already covered Strengths and Weaknesses, and today, I’m diving into Opportunities.
How one random opportunity changed everything for me.
I recently got featured in a post about how I landed a full scholarship for my MBA in Greece, and it took me right down memory lane.
In May/June 2018, I was two months away from wrapping up my MBA, and applying for jobs all over Europe and the UK. And honestly? Nothing was clicking. The only interview I landed was with Bloomberg, and that didn’t pan out.
I accepted defeat and planned to return home in July/August to resume my consulting role at PwC. It felt safe, even though what I really wanted was to work at a startup.
Then one evening after class, a classmate (shoutout to Katerina!) mentioned a part-time gig at a roundtable event hosted by The Economist. They needed someone to work the front desk for €150.
I said yes. Traveled 1 hour across town. Put on my best smile. And showed up fully.
I was the only black in the room, but I didn’t let that hold me back. I helped people get registered, introduced myself around, and tried to make the most of it.
Then, someone named Theo walked up to me. He said he’d heard I used to work at one of the Big 4s.
His friend, a founder in the energy sector was hiring for a stealth startup he was building. I shared my LinkedIn profile, and got connected to a businessman who eventually became my boss.
Fast forward a few weeks - that one random gig led to:
✔️ A startup role with double my previous salary
✔️ First-year accommodation partially covered
✔️ New career direction I hadn’t imagined
✔️ And a whole new chapter I didn’t even know I needed
It all started with a small "yes" to something I would never have known about.
Let’s explore the “O” in SWOT: Opportunities
You probably have these sort of stories too.
Sometimes opportunities are disguised as small ideas, a passing conversation, or a recurring itch you keep ignoring.
It takes courage to listen, notice them and even more to explore them.
So let’s do something together.
Block out 10 to 15 minutes, and dig into these questions:
What opportunities would you regret not exploring?
If fear or failure was not a factor, what bold move would you make?
Who in your current (or past) network could help open new doors?
Are there side projects or freelance gigs you’ve been curious about? Is relocation, remote work, or switching industries something worth exploring?
Could a mentor, coach, or even an online community offer guidance or fresh perspectives?
If you want to go deeper, I created a Personal SWOT Analysis Template to help you map all of this in one place, including 5 more questions and bonus prompts to help you spot patterns and take action. Get the template here.
No matter where you are - stuck, pivoting, or building - this tool can help you find clarity and direction. I used it myself in Q1, and it gave me so much clarity on my creator journey.
Bonus: I’ll randomly pick one buyer to gift a free career clarity session.
And if you complete the “Opportunities” prompt from today’s newsletter - I’d love to hear how it helped you. Just reply and share your reflections.
Speaking of Opportunities
Here are a few I’ve come across lately that might be useful to you too:
Ebanx is hiring for a Country Manager in Nigeria. See Job Link.
The Builders Summit by Founders Connect is here again. Get Your Ticket.
Join Techrity’s Technical Writing Initiative. Learn More and Apply.
The $100,000 Chegg Global Student Prize 2025 is now open to all students who are enrolled in an academic institution or a training and skills program. Apply Now or Nominate Someone.
That’s it for this week.
I’ll wrap up with Part IV in my next post.
As always, I’m rooting for you ✨