In Hollywood, people use the phrase, "Fake it 'til you make it," a lot. My friend got me a one day production gig today and that's my plan.
Now, I'm fairly sure that to do this job all that's required is common sense and the ability to memorize a Starbucks order, but I truly have no experience in production. Unless you count my three days as a Production Assistant when I was 25, during which I vaguely remember doing a lot of filing and fetching lunch. Although I did have the supercool priviledge of chauferring Chris Farley around for one of those three days.
So, I'm going to arrive on set, on time, in sneakers and let whatever happens happen. I'll smile when I'm confused. Smile when I'm annoyed. Smile when I'm 15 hours in and wondering why I agreed to fake it 'til I make it.
Have you ever faked it, like you knew how to do a job even though you didn't? How did it work out for you?
xoxo,
Suzanne
About Me
- Suzanne Casamento
- Author of Fingerprints, Choosing Tally, and All the Moments in Between. Tweet me @suzannecasamento
Ha! Yes! I accepted a job offer for an EXECUTIVE secretary (today's admin asst) when I really only had secretarial experience and no, I didn't fudge on my resume, just faked it thru the interview about what I was capable of doing!
ReplyDeleteOn my first day, I was so nervous I totally botched typing up a Customs form that had so many multiple, I couldn't make corrections. I had instructions that the completed form had to be postmarked that same day. My boss had left early, so I cried a LOT and the next morning, I was at the Customs office to get another form (actually, I got TWO!).
After I got to work, I went in to tell my boss what I had done (or NOT done!) and he just looked at me with no emotion for a moment and just as I was about to burst into tears, he told me that he would give me another chance ONLY because I had gone to the trouble of getting another form. Then he pulled open a file drawer and showed me STACKS of these forms and told me to next time, ask him.
I worked for him for 2 years and gained enormous experience as a REAL executive secretary.
I like that attitude and hope you have fun being a general flunky all day long!
ReplyDeleteI tried to fake it once and I failed. I went for a huge job interview expecting something non technical. It was for a supervisors job and they usually ask quesions like; Tell us about a time when you made a positive impact where you worked. When I got to the place, they put me in a room and 4 engineers came in and started asking me technical questions. I was stunned. Since I came from a militay background and this was my first civilian interview, I didn't understand the terminology. Instead of saying I didn't understand, I tried to fake it. When I got home, I looked up the questions and found out that I blew them all. I didn't get the job but I did have a great two days at their expense. :)
ReplyDeleteI think I'm still faking it......;)
ReplyDeleteI didn't work out too well. I got canned and now I am working at VONS. But, it pays the bills...
ReplyDeleteIn the late 90s, during the dot-com frenzy, I worked as a online media buyer. I thought I was qualified and so did my bosses but I spent 3 years totally in over my head. I cried daily. The funny thing is, my bosses loved me (if I may be so arrogant!) and still to this day speak very highly of me. Boy, I had them fooled!!
ReplyDeleteI'm the type of person who needs a push to go forward, even with some related skills. So faking would be very stressful for me ;p. Never mind about me, Suzanne. You can do it :)!
ReplyDeleteOh my God, LD - I had no idea you were faking it! Could you tell that I was?! They loved you there and, if I may also be so arrogant, they loved me too. I got promoted 3 times with that company! I loved working there but had no idea what I was doing :)
ReplyDeleteSuz ~ You rock, no matter what you do! Have fun!
I think with most of my jobs I did that. I had to since most of them I learned as I went on.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a fun day on set. I've felt that way with pretty much every job and truly, learning on the job is the best experience.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. All the time. I write novels, and I really don't know what I'm doing. :)
ReplyDeleteIn other jobs, too, I've faked things. Somehow I always learn better that way. The stress of having to learn correctly or look like a fool!