Rutherford Cross Manager, Harry Young, recently celebrated his third anniversary working for the business and his fifth anniversary working in recruitment. As a naturally reflective person, these two anniversaries have led Harry to consider his key thoughts and lessons learnt from recruiting finance professionals across Scotland over the years. After all, a lot has changed since he first stepped into an office in Edinburgh’s St Andrew Square in October 2019; a fresh-faced 22-year-old with high ambitions but unsure how to achieve them!
To provide some insights for our network, Harry highlights five key reflections below.
Key Thoughts and Reflections
1. In your life and career, you become what you are surrounded by
A major part of my role at Rutherford Cross over the last three years has been advising newly and recently qualified accountants on their transition into the commercial industry. One of the most frequent pieces of advice I give is to choose a great team, a strong brand, and a hiring manager you connect with. We spend so much of our lives working, so it’s vital to work with people who uplift and empower you.
Whether you work in recruitment, accountancy, or any other field, the people you work with define your experience more than anything else. This echoes the ‘Rule of 5’—the idea that you become the average of the five people you spend the most time with. While life is certainly more complex than that, it’s a useful framework that indicates the best way to excel is to work with excellent people. I feel fortunate that, in my five years, I’ve consistently worked with exceptional colleagues who have helped shape me and my behaviours.
2. Action is the antidote to anxiety
Life rewards those who take action: you either succeed in your efforts or you learn from them. Striving for perfection often leads to procrastination, whereas small and steady steps create momentum and drive you forward. I’ve found this to be true both professionally and personally.
Whatever you’re working on, the key to success is simply to begin: open a document and write that first sentence. Once people get over the initial hurdle of starting, they usually keep going. Imperfect action is always better than perfect inaction.
A quote I often reflect on is from Confucius: ‘The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.’ Taking a proactive rather than reactive approach to life and work is a superpower.
3. Recruitment, like life, is an ‘Infinite Game’
One of my favourite books is ‘The Infinite Game’ by Simon Sinek. He encourages adopting an infinite mindset in both business and life. Finite games (like football) have a start, an end and a winner. In contrast, infinite games are about continuous improvement and keeping the game going.
Life is an infinite game, and so is recruitment. I strongly believe in taking a long-term view, prioritising relationships, and building lasting connections. Some of my best contacts are people I’ve advised many times but never placed in a role. It’s impossible to get everything right all the time but approaching situations with good intentions and thinking long term has been invaluable for me.
4. It’s all about people
In recruitment, we often categorise people as clients, candidates, colleagues, or connectors. However, at the end of the day, we’re all just people. Everyone we interact with has a unique, complex life outside of their professional roles, and it’s important to remember that. Treat people the way you would want to be treated—as human beings first.
I feel incredibly privileged to be in a role where I can make a real, tangible impact on people’s lives. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing the success of the individuals I work with.
5. The only constant is change
Sometimes the market is good, sometimes it’s not. People change jobs, and businesses rise and fall. The one thing I’ve learned in five years is that everything—both in recruitment and in life—is constantly changing; and that’s okay.
When I started in recruitment five years ago, I wore a three-piece suit to the office every day and arrived before 8:30 a.m. Covid hadn’t hit yet, I was using a wired desk phone, and there was no flexibility in working arrangements. Fast forward to today, and everything is different. With the rise of AI and innovations we can’t yet imagine, the world will likely look entirely different again in another five years.
Being comfortable with change is a competitive advantage. Adopting a growth mindset, rather than a fixed one, and staying adaptable when things shift will positively impact your career, no matter your field. Even better, if you can be the person driving positive change, you have the opportunity to make a real impact.
At Rutherford Cross, we aim to help people and organisations realise their potential. If you would like any advice or information on how we can help you develop your career, please get in touch with Harry: [email protected].
For more information on careers at Rutherford Cross, please contact [email protected] or visit our careers page.
Five Reflections from Five Years in Recruitment
Rutherford Cross Manager, Harry Young, recently celebrated his third anniversary working for the business and his fifth anniversary working in recruitment. As a naturally reflective person, these two anniversaries have led Harry to consider his key thoughts and lessons learnt from recruiting finance professionals across Scotland over the years. After all, a lot has changed since he first stepped into an office in Edinburgh’s St Andrew Square in October 2019; a fresh-faced 22-year-old with high ambitions but unsure how to achieve them!
To provide some insights for our network, Harry highlights five key reflections below.
Key Thoughts and Reflections
1. In your life and career, you become what you are surrounded by
A major part of my role at Rutherford Cross over the last three years has been advising newly and recently qualified accountants on their transition into the commercial industry. One of the most frequent pieces of advice I give is to choose a great team, a strong brand, and a hiring manager you connect with. We spend so much of our lives working, so it’s vital to work with people who uplift and empower you.
Whether you work in recruitment, accountancy, or any other field, the people you work with define your experience more than anything else. This echoes the ‘Rule of 5’—the idea that you become the average of the five people you spend the most time with. While life is certainly more complex than that, it’s a useful framework that indicates the best way to excel is to work with excellent people. I feel fortunate that, in my five years, I’ve consistently worked with exceptional colleagues who have helped shape me and my behaviours.
2. Action is the antidote to anxiety
Life rewards those who take action: you either succeed in your efforts or you learn from them. Striving for perfection often leads to procrastination, whereas small and steady steps create momentum and drive you forward. I’ve found this to be true both professionally and personally.
Whatever you’re working on, the key to success is simply to begin: open a document and write that first sentence. Once people get over the initial hurdle of starting, they usually keep going. Imperfect action is always better than perfect inaction.
A quote I often reflect on is from Confucius: ‘The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.’ Taking a proactive rather than reactive approach to life and work is a superpower.
3. Recruitment, like life, is an ‘Infinite Game’
One of my favourite books is ‘The Infinite Game’ by Simon Sinek. He encourages adopting an infinite mindset in both business and life. Finite games (like football) have a start, an end and a winner. In contrast, infinite games are about continuous improvement and keeping the game going.
Life is an infinite game, and so is recruitment. I strongly believe in taking a long-term view, prioritising relationships, and building lasting connections. Some of my best contacts are people I’ve advised many times but never placed in a role. It’s impossible to get everything right all the time but approaching situations with good intentions and thinking long term has been invaluable for me.
4. It’s all about people
In recruitment, we often categorise people as clients, candidates, colleagues, or connectors. However, at the end of the day, we’re all just people. Everyone we interact with has a unique, complex life outside of their professional roles, and it’s important to remember that. Treat people the way you would want to be treated—as human beings first.
I feel incredibly privileged to be in a role where I can make a real, tangible impact on people’s lives. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing the success of the individuals I work with.
5. The only constant is change
Sometimes the market is good, sometimes it’s not. People change jobs, and businesses rise and fall. The one thing I’ve learned in five years is that everything—both in recruitment and in life—is constantly changing; and that’s okay.
When I started in recruitment five years ago, I wore a three-piece suit to the office every day and arrived before 8:30 a.m. Covid hadn’t hit yet, I was using a wired desk phone, and there was no flexibility in working arrangements. Fast forward to today, and everything is different. With the rise of AI and innovations we can’t yet imagine, the world will likely look entirely different again in another five years.
Being comfortable with change is a competitive advantage. Adopting a growth mindset, rather than a fixed one, and staying adaptable when things shift will positively impact your career, no matter your field. Even better, if you can be the person driving positive change, you have the opportunity to make a real impact.
At Rutherford Cross, we aim to help people and organisations realise their potential. If you would like any advice or information on how we can help you develop your career, please get in touch with Harry: [email protected].
For more information on careers at Rutherford Cross, please contact [email protected] or visit our careers page.
Can we help?
If you are looking for finance recruitment support, please get in touch with our team of experts.
More Articles...
Edinburgh Wine Tasting & Networking Event
Why Tax? An Interview with Craig Coyle, Partner at Consilium Chartered Accountants
Navigating New Terrain – The Rise of the Entrepreneurial CFO: Tom O’Hara, Kick ICT Group – Second Edition