People faking it until they make it

[OccaChocca]

I know the old adage is 'fake until you make it' but I wonder if it is only me that is really irritated by this approach.

I do freelance work alongside my part-time job. I trained, have done it a long time and have quite a bit of experience. More and more I am meeting other freelancers who talk the talk but can't actually walk the walk. There is a lot of name dropping of big names that they have worked for but when it comes to actually doing the job they don't really know what they are doing.

It became clear that the woman I was working for this week had far far less experience than me despite being very convincing that she is high end/knowledgeable/go to in this industry. She made an absolutely plethora of basic mistakes the type of which I would expect a beginner to make.

I was pretty annoyed that she was selling herself as an expert when she is clearly not.

Anyone else get this?!

I've been a freelance copy and content writer for more than ten years. What annoys me is the amount of other freelancers looking for virtual assistants who can 'copywrite, know social media, can design a website, manage a team of 9 and juggle"

That's not a frigging virtual assistant!

Surely ‘twas ever thus?

The world of work is full of bullshitters, yes.

But if you're such hot stuff, OP, you should be OK no matter what anyone else does, surely?

@Proven

The world of work is full of bullshitters, yes.

But if you're such hot stuff, OP, you should be OK no matter what anyone else does, surely?

True

Would like to think I am hot stuff but I don't feel the need to tell everyone (unlike every clueless Tom, Dick and Harry out there at the moment).

I just find it very irritating. There was a massive fuck up yesterday and part of the job wasn't delivered. It was purely down to this woman's poor planning and lack of experience. I felt absolutely awful for the client but she just brushed over the issue.

Before anyone says it, I won't be working for her again. I will be working for companies I trust and doing my own work independently.......

Get that everyday a person at work does then are minimum unless the boss is walking past then it’s over the top interaction , over the top look at me aren’t I great bullshit , boss leaves as it’s back to doing not a lot and complaining!

Is your concern that her performance reflects on you? If so then agree, best not accept work from her again!

@Dozer

Is your concern that her performance reflects on you? If so then agree, best not accept work from her again!

No, because I won't be working for her again.

What rankles is the sheer number of people who completely bullshit their way into jobs. Saying they have X years experience and have worked for A, B, C yet the actual work they produce doesn't back it up. It seems to be more and more prevalent.

@FortunesFave

I've been a freelance copy and content writer for more than ten years. What annoys me is the amount of other freelancers looking for virtual assistants who can 'copywrite, know social media, can design a website, manage a team of 9 and juggle"

That's not a frigging virtual assistant!

Some limited Copywriting, SEO, CGI modelling and website design is almost standard now for virtual assistants based in India / US.

”What rankles is the sheer number of people who completely bullshit their way into jobs. Saying they have X years experience and have worked for A, B, C yet the actual work they produce doesn't back it up. It seems to be more and more prevalent.”

I understand that it rankles. I remember feeling the same about a local HR consultant with virtually no experience and no qualifications when I was starting out.

In your case, if the quality of their work is poor, surely they don’t get repeat business?

In your case, if the quality of their work is poor, surely they don’t get repeat business?

The work produced is generally one off so there will be very little repeat business. There is the potential for referrals to do similar work for other clients.

I know that this particular client paid through the nose. To the untrained eye, the work would be a pass but for the budget they could have had much more for their money (and a complete job!) if they had engaged someone who actually knew what they are doing rather than someone 'having a go'.

I just find it incredible that there are so many people that think it's okay to bullshit their way through to gain work.

We all have to start somewhere and that's fine but please don't say you have worked for A, B, C and done jobs for the Queen of Sheba when you clearly haven't.............

We use a surprising amount of contingent labour in the civil service and the quality is let’s say quite variable. We get some absolutely awesome people, usually when we’ve hired in for particular industry or technical expertise, but we also get some absolute shockers often under the guise of being a “project manager”.

I used to freelance and quickly learned that there are a LOT of people who do so because they’re too crap to be actually employed for any length of time, but they’re great at talking the talk so secure short term jobs and leave just as people are realising how bad they are. They bounce around and seem to manage to make a living despite being crap.