Cleveland Clinic Leader Shares Tips for Career Advancement

When Sarah Charai, Executive Director of Supply Chain Management at Cleveland Clinic, thinks back on the career journey that has led to her current role, she definitely has a few people to thank. She also can’t help but mention the plan she had in place to aid her development and advancement – and now she’s now eager to share her knowledge with others who are looking to take similar steps.

“It was a very conscious decision that I made probably about five years ago,” Charai says. “I just really wanted to focus on my own career advancement, so I joined some organizations and started doing some networking.”

For others looking to grow their own careers, Charai points to four key strategies:

• Develop a plan.
• Find ways to get involved.
• Form your own personal “board of directors.”
• Return the favor.

Developing a plan

Charai encourages her to colleagues to create an individual development plan, starting with “intentional focus”: determining what you want the next step in your career to be and directing all your energy and momentum toward that goal.

“Be thoughtful about the next job you might like to pursue and assess where you are today compared to that job description,” she says. “From there, identify any gaps in your professional experience. While you’re still in your current position, focus on those potential deficits to prepare for your next role.”

Filling those gaps may entail taking part in new projects and opportunities, but it also involves keeping up with your personal brand, notes Charai.

“I suggest updating your résumé once a year or more,” she says. “Your annual self-evaluation – a task that requires you to reflect on your most recent accomplishments – can be a perfect opportunity to make important revisions.”

Once you’ve formed an individual career development plan, she suggests reviewing your progress on a regular basis.

Digging in

Next, Charai encourages caregivers to explore more ways to get involved.

In addition to exploring special projects and assuming more responsibility, she also urges active networking by seeking out professional organizations, groups and committees. Charai, in particular, has been active in the Strategic Marketplace Initiative, a national nonprofit focused on healthcare delivery, and its Advancing Women Leaders program.

“It’s amazing how things start to fall into place as soon as you begin networking,” she says. “I attribute much of my professional success to the strong connections I’ve made through my volunteer efforts.”

Although networking requires practice, Charai says it’s a necessary skill for anyone interested in career development. Employee resource groups (ERGs), she notes, often provide ample opportunities for in-person and virtual involvement.

“I have found ERGs to be an ideal way to meet others with similar interests,” says Charai, a member of Cleveland Clinic’s Women Inspiring and Sustaining Excellence ERG. “ERGs can be nice, safe spaces in which you can make connections and bounce ideas off of likeminded folks.”