5 steps for ensuring success when stepping into a new role

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5 steps for ensuring success when stepping into a new role

Starting a new job, whether it’s moving companies or getting a promotion, can come with its own set of anxieties and challenges.

How will I settle in?

Is this right for me?

Will I be successful?

These are all valid questions that we all ask ourselves, even the most confident people out there suffer from a bit of imposter syndrome!

The market has picked up considerably this year, meaning that there could be a good portion of you reading this who are getting promoted in Q2 or potentially starting a new job. 

If that’s you, congratulations - we’ve got an edition to hopefully boost your spirits and settle your nerves.

We’re going to break down the 5 steps to ensure success when stepping into a new role.

PROMOTION

#1 Set goals that challenge instead of goals that overwhelm

When stepping into a new role after a promotion, it can be easy to overwhelm yourself with targets and goals that are potentially going to burn you out. 

It’s important to remember that you still need to familiarise yourself with the role and get to grips with what you’re doing, as ultimately, there will be responsibilities and tasks that are brand-new to you. 

Whether it’s a leadership role you’re stepping into where you’ll have to consider managing people, or it’s a more senior billing role where you have to demonstrate your strategic knowledge. The whole point of a promotion is that you’re going to be challenged. 

So, make sure that you’re setting goals that are in alignment with the role you’re stepping into, without burning yourself out for the sake of trying to prove yourself! 

#2 Ask questions 

This might sound fairly obvious, but don’t fall into the trap of feeling like you can’t ask questions because you’ve gained seniority. 

You aren’t going to be perfect on the job, and it will look a lot worse if you make a mistake that could have been easily avoided by asking a question. 

Utilise 1:1’s or schedule a designated time to ask questions and build relationships with those at a peer level who will also be able to help you out with the day-to-day. 

Asking questions shows curiosity and care, so please remember how important this is (regardless of seniority).

#3 Deliver early wins and demonstrate your value

In recruitment, you don’t have the opportunity to sit back and relax. Often, there is an expectation that results need to come quickly, especially if you’re already very senior. 

The benefit of having tenure in recruitment is that you can deliver early wins and demonstrate your value quickly. 

This doesn’t necessarily need to be in the form of an immediate placement, either. It can be knocking down the door to a new client, or it could be upskilling a consultant - in essence, play to your strengths and show people exactly how much value you can add to the organisation.

#4 Maintain a growth mindset and stay proactive

The industry constantly evolves with new technologies, shifting candidate expectations, and changing job market trends. Taking a new position doesn’t mean that you are now exempt from this! 

Being proactive, whether in talent pipelining, networking, or adopting innovative hiring methods—ensures that you stay ahead of the competition. A growth mindset also fosters resilience and keeps you adaptable and open to improvement.

#5 Build on your personal brand both in and out of the business

We don’t stop talking about personal branding here, and that’s because it’s so important for success. Your brand IN the business is crucial because you want to be respected and liked, as this ultimately will benefit you in the long run. 

When getting a promotion, let’s address the elephant in the room - it can cause some individuals to turn slightly arrogant and think that they’re above others in an agency, especially as it’s already a competitive environment. 

This is something you don’t want to do; otherwise, it has a high potential to backfire. Instead, take the time to get to know your colleagues - especially if this promotion has resulted in you working with completely different people. 

Externally, focus heavily on LinkedIn and continue building your brand online. Be proud of your promotion and use it as a means to start a conversation and build traction with your network. The right people love to see others doing well, and those are the types of people you want to be mingling with!

NEW JOB

#1 Focus on making an impact with senior leadership

Regardless of whether you’ve come in as a junior, middle management, or at peer level with senior leadership, you must make a lasting impact. I often think that it’s harder for managers to join new agencies also as managers because you’re gaining the respect not just from seniors, but also from juniors who are reporting to you. 

Making an impact doesn’t necessarily need to be dramatic, either. I think being humble, asking questions, and showing your capabilities as early as possible is the best way to get buy-in and ensure that you make a positive, lasting impact. 

Some great examples of this can be good old-fashioned welcome drinks (or a lunch), running a training session (if you’re a manager) as well as simply introducing yourself to everybody and taking the time to get to know others on an individual basis. Don’t rush it, don’t force it, and most importantly - be yourself. 

#2 Target low-hanging fruit if you are in a billable role

If you have stepped into a new role that is billing, it’s time to get a placement rolling in quickly. Not only will this help you with points #3 and #5 (as you’ll get guaranteed respect if you can produce results quickly) but it will also help to tackle the niggling feeling of imposter syndrome that you might be dealing with! 

If a placement simply isn’t on the cards for you, focus on leads and warming up old relationships that aren’t in a non-compete when you move into a new role.

#3 Relationship build internally as much as possible

Building meaningful relationships internally starts with clear, open communication. 

Actively listen to peers, show genuine interest in their work, and offer support where possible. Collaborate across teams, participate in meetings, and engage in company events to foster connections. 

Be reliable and follow through on commitments to build trust. Seek mentorship and provide value by sharing insights and helping others succeed. Adapt to different communication styles and show appreciation for contributions. 

Regularly check in with key stakeholders to maintain strong relationships. By being approachable, authentic, and proactive, you create a positive network that enhances teamwork and business success. 

#4 Maintain a growth mindset and stay proactive

The industry constantly evolves with new technologies, shifting candidate expectations, and changing job market trends. Taking a new position doesn’t mean that you are now exempt from this! 

Being proactive, whether in talent pipelining, networking, or adopting innovative hiring methods—ensures that you stay ahead of the competition. A growth mindset also fosters resilience and keeps you adaptable and open to improvement.

#5 Build on your personal brand both in and out of the business

We don’t stop talking about personal branding here, and that’s because it’s so important for success. Your brand IN the business is crucial because you want to be respected and liked, as this ultimately will benefit you in the long run. 

When starting a new job, let’s address the elephant in the room - it can be hard to build a personal brand from scratch again. You might find it hard to foster internal relationships that may feel cold in comparison to your last agency. 

Just like we said in point #1, starting with senior leadership is a great way to speed up the process of buy-in and helps to define your internal personal brand. 

However, to make a difference, you need to make sure that you aren’t neglecting other departments in the business. Do you have a good relationship with operations? HR? TA? These are all departments that you will need as a recruiter, so it’s important to not neglect them and invest all your energy in just senior people.

Externally, focus heavily on LinkedIn and continue building your brand online. Be proud of your promotion and use it as a means to start a conversation and build traction with your network. 

The right people love to see others doing well, and those are the types of people you want to be mingling with!

P.S. Whenever you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:

#1: Do you listen to my podcast? I release a weekly episode with either a top-performing recruiter or recruitment entrepreneur to find out how they achieved their success so you can learn directly from their journey Check out my latest episode and subscribe to the show.

#2: Are you tired of your teams' inconsistent performances hindering your growth? Hector (All-In-One Training Platform with 120+ Practical Courses) equips your team with actionable, step-by-step training from top-performing recruiters so you can eliminate inconsistency and drive reliable results—without the need for costly external trainers >>>> Book A Free Skills Assessment Session With Me Here to see how we can help you unlock the full potential of your team.