If you were to provide one piece of advice to your younger (professional) self what would that be?

We asked Richard McNeilly, Managing Partner, Dains, what advice he would have given to his younger self on building a successful career.

Richard delves into why young accountants and finance professionals should find a mentor that doesn’t always tell you what you want to hear and the value of carefully considering career progression.

Cultural fit

Build an understanding of any future employer’s culture. The way that people work together and the way they interact with their clients is fundamental to whether they are a good ‘fit’. I’m certain that better pay and conditions count for little or nothing if an individual doesn’t enjoy coming to work, delivering for clients and feeling valued.

Always understand what is expected of you

It seems straightforward but I can recall many occasions where I have seen people working very hard on all of the wrong things. Knowing what it is important to the organisation and individual objectives is vital to career management.

Rather than managing a career through anecdote and saying that ‘I give everything’ or ‘I go the extra mile’ a strong employee should be able to explain in detail how they have met their objectives and how this benefits the business.

‘Jam tomorrow’ might be the right thing

One of the best moves I ever made was to take a sideways move, on the advice of a few people that had progressed towards the top of the organisation. At the time, I was eager to progress and struggled to understand why I should take a sideways move.

The move opened my eyes to a completely different environment and an opportunity to work with some very senior people. The experience provided me with real insight into working with top performers and was pivotal to my own development.

Find a mentor who speaks the truth

Some of the best advice I have received is from my mentor. If you can find an individual who takes an interest in your career and can give you unbiased advice, and sometimes tell you what you don’t want to hear it can be really powerful.

Small stuff is important

Whether it is turning up late, behaving inappropriately on social media, criticising others, or flouting ‘the rules’, it’s important to know that little things do matter and it is far better to get into good habits and stick with them. People know when they are being less than professional – my advice is to treat everything like it matters and you will not go far wrong.