When faking it till you make it works

You’ve probably heard this expression being used many times, “fake it till you make it”. There’s something about it that didn’t used to sit right with me when I heard it, mostly because of the context within which it was used.

But recently, I was reading a book about how to build confidence in our current roles whether in business or career and I found in some cases, it is actually a good thing to fake it until you make it.

Statistics show there’s a significant difference in how men and women apply for jobs, and it is rooted in confidence.

The stats

Men will apply for a job if they determine that they have 60 per cent of the must-have requirements, and then show in their cover letter that they are both willing to learn and the missing prerequisites should not be a reason not to qualify as a contender for the role.

Women, on the contrary, do not apply for a position unless they check 90 per cent of the boxes.

A friend of mine who has done high level recruitment for firms says passion and the willingness to commit to a role counts for a lot and can put a candidate who has not checked all the boxes way ahead of one who has

So the next time you come across a position that you love but do not think you’re a perfect fit, forget perfect and go ahead and show that you are the perfect candidate.

Say yes to opportunities An opportunity comes up to take up a project or role that seems like what you have been waiting for all along, but it is five years early, or five rungs too soon on your career ladder.

Do you take it up and wobble or do you wait until you consider yourself ready? The risk-averse cautious ones among us will probably want to wait until they are perfectly ready. Don’t.

Take up the role now, whether or not you consider yourself  ready. Everything is ‘figure-out-able’ as long as you have the interest and work ethic to commit to making it a success.