The first step in job hunting, and the one that is most likely to stumble, is ``self-analysis’’. Many students worry that they don’t have any strengths that they can highlight or that they don’t know what kind of job they want to do. However, if you proceed with self-analysis logically using the correct framework, you will definitely find your own strengths. In this article, we will introduce a method of self-analysis that is efficient and allows you to dig deeper into yourself.

What is the purpose of self-analysis?

The purpose of self-analysis can be broadly divided into two:

1. Determine the axis for choosing a company: Clarify what kind of environment you would like to work in and what kind of work you would like to do to increase your motivation.
2. Search for persuasive materials for your appeal: Find your “strengths (can)” to talk about in the interview and “past anecdotes” to support them.

If you blindly look back on the past without seeing this purpose, it will just become a diary.

Recommended self-analysis framework

1. Explore the source of your values with the “Motivation Graph”

This is the most classic method of graphing the rise and fall of motivation from childhood to the present.

• How ​​to write: Draw a curve with age (time) on the horizontal axis and motivation (emotional ups and downs) on the vertical axis. Then, write specific episodes in the peaks'' (times when you worked your hardest or when you were happiest) and troughs’’ (times when you had setbacks or were difficult) on the graph.
• Analysis points: By digging deeper into Why did I get motivated at that time? (Because I was praised by others? Because I achieved my goal?)'' and How did I climb back up from setbacks?’’, you will be able to see the ``driving force behind your actions’’ that lies at the root of your own values.

2. Get to the essence with “why why analysis (deep dive)”

This is a method to identify essential strengths and values by repeating “Why?” five times for each episode.

• Example:
  • Event: I created a manual while working part-time at a cafe.
  • why? : Because the new staff made a lot of mistakes.
  • Why did you make so many mistakes? : Because the work was complex, it was not possible to convey it through verbal guidance alone.
  • Why did you decide to create a manual? :I wanted to increase the efficiency of the entire team and maintain the quality of service to our customers.
• Key points of analysis: The mere fact of doing the work'' can be elevated to the strength of the ability to take a bird’s-eye view of the issues of the entire organization and independently implement solutions (=problem-solving ability).''

3. Adopt an objective perspective through “analysis of others (Johari window)”

This is a method of asking friends, family, seniors, etc. about strengths and weaknesses that you are not aware of.

• Tips for listening: Instead of simply asking, What are my strengths?'', you can get more useful answers by asking specific questions such as When am I most energetic?’’ and ``If you were to entrust me with a job, what role would you like me to play?''

Summary

Self-analysis is not something that is done once and is over; it is something that you refine over and over again as you experience internships and interviews. There’s no need to panic if you can’t verbalize it well at first. Use a framework to organize your past data and find words that will allow you to confidently say, ``This is the kind of person I am.''