Job candidate leverages trumped-up title to land executive role at a start-up, begins to panic when the realize they're in over their head: 'If I don't get fired by Friday, I'll be absolutely shocked'

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Aug 24, 2024 10:00 AM EDT

They always say that you should fake it till you make it, and it's no secret that a little bravado will get you a long way. Sure, there might be an inverse relationship between confidence and competence—since you need to know enough about something to know how much you don't know, which makes you less confident as a result. But a lack of competence certainly doesn't stop people from getting jobs when there's confidence on display. But what do you do when you fail so epically upward that you find yourself in a corner office raking in an executive's pay, but you have literally no idea what you're doing? See, the only problem is that you're consciously acknowledging that you have no idea what you're doing—that's the only thing that sets you apart from any other C-suite executive in this situation. Everyone is just as confused as you are all the time, and this guy, who is panicking about his new role and can't believe he landed, is just one of us.

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  • 01
    "TIFU by 'fabricating' my job experience and getting a senior-level job I shouldn't have."
    via Hannah Nicollet
  • 02
    Came to the realization as to how I am today. To rewind back and give a little bit of context: I've got a pretty decent career history, education, and work experience for being in my early 30s. But, I put a lot of effort into...over accentuating... that experience when applying for jobs a few months ago and found my way into a VP of sales position for a mid-sized company after a long interview process I never thought I'd actually get. I'm also quite certain they think I'm older than I actually a
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 03
    To Start, I have a dual degree from a well-known SEC school, and an MBA from another very highly-ranked SEC school as well as some professional experience throughout that time in school working mostly full-time. A few years back, I took what was basically an internship, and was a "VP of Sales" for a small CRM company that looked bigger than it actually was. The owner of that company owned a franchise I worked for part-time, and I was making like $50k a year basically as an admin assistant with a
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 04
    Two years ago, I leveraged that to get a Regional Manager job at a larger company, used my buddy who worked with me as a reference, and go hired making $110k/year base plus bonus. Did okay there, but it was clear I didn't have the chops, was still learning, and I got laid off in March. My boss I was in good with said they'd verify "whatever I needed as a reference" When I started applying for jobs I listed my experience as their "Regional VP of Sales" and created this hybrid job description abou
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 05
    Ended up getting an interview for this startup company, bullshitted my way through 5 interviews, and got an offer for $205k base + bonus to run their sales division and deal with their external stakeholders. yeah, thought I could handle that. But I can't. The job was extremely plug and play. They wanted me to completely revamp their entire sales structure week-1 and I didn't even know what their product did haha. Tried to bullshit my way through client calls, but these people have been tearing m
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 06
    If I don't get fired by Friday, I'll be absolutely shocked after the call I had today. I got away with it for a few months through being respectful, attentive, and giving 110% towards figuring it out but it's clear I don't have. the skills needed to be where I am yet so I'm . They say fake it until you make it, but "faking it" doesn't work unless you know how to make it yet lol. I feel like Mike Ross in suits, but instead of being competent but lying about my credentials, I actually have the deg
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 07
    TLDR: Over-leveraged a cute job title I got as an intern to get a senior level position in a company I have no business being in, and I'm getting torn to shreds by being incompetent and will probably be fired this week or next.
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 08
    jazzb54 11 hr. ago I've seen executives like you everywhere. You aren't the only one. • Mrpowellful 10 hr. ago It's very common. Those high level positions have a lot of nepotism, and it shows through that incompetence.
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 09
    Nattekat 12 hr. ago I have to say, it's quite an accomplishment to land at such a position by nothing but bluff. That's a major the employer of anything. by SlickRickThaSnake OP. 12 hr. ago I was actually shocked they kept interviewing me, I felt like I bombed every interview and they saw through my cliche responses I rehearsed until the final when it got to salary negotiation and I was like "ohhh "I'm in this now. haha
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 10
    Svennis 79 12 hr. ago Your mistake was doing anything at all week 1. Any decent new exec to a company has a 3-6 month "observation" period where they see how things are currently running before they start making changes. Avoids them looking like dipshits when they make changes without knowing how things currently work, like suggesting a bold new strategy to do x y z, when its already happening.
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 11
    SlickRickThaSnake OP 12 hr. ago During the late interview process, the asked a lot of situational questions like "how would you change XYZ?" and I had prepared responses for that. Now that I'm in the role It's very clear they needed someone to actually implement those changes immediately and even though I could articulate those ideas, I have absolutely no experience actually knowing how to do that so I'm learning on the fly, and our client isn't too privy to those changes so anytime I make a pro
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 12
    • gringledoom 12 hr. ago Well, for god's sake don't make it worse by confessing, and maybe you'll at least get a severance out of it? A coworker in a similar situation with management (though with a very different cause) was pulled in for a "performance improvement plan" conversation. He had seen it coming and basically offered to depart immediately, in exchange for some number of weeks of severance and being officially "eligible for rehire" in the HR system. They took the deal to avoid the PIP
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 13
    eltoro215 12 hr. ago This sounds like every higher-up I've met in life
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 14
    idkwhatimbrewin . 11 hr. ago Instead of being fired they'll probably be offered a board position next
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 15
    ZigzaGoop 12 hr. ago Hopefully you can use this position as leverage to apply to chief executive positions in the future. I'm not sure this is a though. Nothing you can do but keep trying your best.
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 16
    SlickRickThaSnake OP 12 hr. ago I mean, I know there's a trope about how most people in leadership positions have no idea as to what they're doing, but I actually know I'm so far out of my skeeze here. I don't know what to do when a Serbian man is yelling at me about how my proposed plan I spent all weekend preparing is haha.
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 17
    omnichad 11 hr. ago Imagine how bad the other candidates were.
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 18
    Jizzturnip 11 hr. ago Can you chat gpt it?
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 19
    shiftyeyedhonestguy 11 hr. ago Could you just hire a sales consultant as a part-time personal assistant. Pay them to coach you on the job (semi private though), give up a bit of your salary for the first year to try and make it? Could be worth the investment if you want to try and keep the job.
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 20
    • Daegs 12 hr. ago Dude, if you're making 205k, how much did you spend on personal consultations with industry sales leaders, courses/books on the types of sales strategies they want you to implement, and so on. It reads like you just spent a couple months going "well I don't have the skills, so I'll try my best" instead of busting your learning the skills. You had a golden opportunity, you can afford to spend 40hrs on the job and another 20-30hrs reading, studying, and taking personal coaching
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 21
    Ouchyhurthurt 12 hr. ago Honestly, you sound perfect for the position. Just as qualified as any boss i have worked for xD
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 22
    Generic WhiteGuy9790 11 hr. ago You stumbled your way up the corporate ladder and somehow got footing each time? Honestly that's just impressive. Though I'd say that qualifies as much more than "today" in the up department. I'd say give it the ol' maximum effort, study up on the position and try to keep it. , I'd kill to be making that kind of living, don't just throw it away because you don't know what to do.
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 23
    invalid_user_taken · 11 hr. ago Do you have a team? VP of Sales for a reasonably sized company should not be doing anything but guiding their team to success. Get your best people engaged and making happen.
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 24
    • fost1251 8 hr. ago So the client is never going to be 100% pleased, and most execs (from my experience) feel like they're not doing their job if they don't come down on somebody. The best way I have seen people handle this type of situation is to just stay on point, don't over explain yourself and keep things positive. You got the job, that's the hard part.
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 25
    • ExtremePast 12 hr. ago You have all these degrees plus actual work experience and you can't figure out how a product works so you can sell it? No offense but sales people are some of the dumbest people at every company, so saying you can't figure this out seems alarming for any job you might get. Seems the real FU here was spending all that time in school getting all those degrees. Hopefully you're not still paying for them.
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 26
    un1ptf 10 hr. ago Use this time period and title to your benefit as you search for your next job. Look for something less lofty, but not by much. Why did you leave so soon? "I found out that working at a startup isn't for me. I much prefer an established and already successful organization like yours." Be willing to take a little bit of a reduction, like down to $180K. Get easier expectations than you're currently facing, but still something really good for you.
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 27
    bronze1mechanics 12 hr. ago hopefully you learned some things from this experience that you can apply to your next position... IMO good advice for taking a new job is have at least 25% of the requirements be something you're absolutely confident in...that way you always have something to fall back on performance wise if you're having issues keeping up with everything else.
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 28
    200k a year is like what, 12k a month after taxes? If you have been saving some of that money you should be fine until you can land another job. Sounds like you have great interview skills...you can even tell this story to your potential future bosses! I think you'll be fine :)
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 29
    FeistyCanuck · 11 hr. ago Clearly you are ready for a CEO job making $1M/year!!
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 30
    jf2k4 12 hr. ago If anything from the hiring process is a reflection of this company, you're probably actually getting promoted to COO.
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake
  • 31
    Brief-Outcome-2371 9 hr. ago You said you're a VP right? Act like a VP. Do as much as you can, take breaks, and delegate the rest.
    via u/SlickRickThaSnake

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