Man lands a higher-paying job and quickly realizes he needs way more skills to keep it: ‘Turns out I somehow got myself into a role with much more senior expectations than I realized...What is "higher level" and where does one gain this ability?’

Author image for Olivia Arocena
Olivia Arocena • Writer and Editor
Sep 19, 2026 8:00 AM EDT

Sometimes all you need for a higher position is confidence

It's not that you lack the skills or that you don't know your field; you just have to get used to your new role and realize you won't have to wait for approval anymore. Instead, you will be the one giving direction.

When companies hire someone to be in charge of a project, they want to feel at ease knowing things are being taken care of, and if you show the tiniest bit of insecurity or lack of proactivity, you will not give them that confidence.

For me, this story is about the 'fake it till you make it' technique. It's not that the employee who got a higher position should pretend to have knowledge they don't have, because I don't really believe that can last. But I do think he needs to get the memo and start giving what the company wants from him, which is basically more confidence, so they can chill and do their jobs without having to worry about whether the marketing team will be all right.

The employee from this story and I agree on one thing, though: marketing is full of buzzwords, and a lot of people in the industry don't really know what they're doing or use outdated tactics; but those things can be used to our advantage if we play our cards right.

If I were him, I would do my best in my higher position and show so much confidence that they trust me. If it doesn't work, at least you gain experience, and if it does, you earn a more senior role! It's a win-win situation.

I've seen people change their managers' opinions of them, so I hope this junior-turned-senior employee succeeds. Do you think he has what it takes?



 

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  • 0000
    via Osama Madlom

    Imposter syndrome representation

    Not actual story subjects



     

  • I got hired for a role I wasn't qualified for, tried to fake it till I make it, but didn't make it...

    I've worked in marketing for about 9 years now. Started off as an assistant, eventually got promoted to "officer" because my colleague left and they needed to fill the space, or maybe even thought I
    via rabbitsdiedaily
  • deserved it. Practically, my role never really changed. I was a creative, so graphic design, video editing, storyboarding, scripts, all that artsy sh. Ofc I learnt a lot about digital marketing along the way,
    via rabbitsdiedaily
  • website and social media management, KPI reporting, what have you. However, I got a new manager who decided I wasn't "high level" enough for my role.
    via rabbitsdiedaily
  • I left this job and was later hired for a much higher role. "Executive" level, whatever that means, as every f on the team had that title. I did the interview and guess I must have had my charisma
    via rabbitsdiedaily
  • card on me, cos I got the job. Get into the business, my focus is strategy. Think I got this, it's just like directing what type of content should go where,
    via rabbitsdiedaily
  • how to use socials and apply SEO copywriting etc. Time goes on, I create documents and guides to share my plans on how we can move forward. Submit for review to implement.
    via rabbitsdiedaily
  • Cheezburger Image 10665003264
    via Carrie Allen www.carrieallen.com

    'Just act more confident'

    Still frame for contextual reference only



     

  • Get pulled into an early probation meeting. I'm not operating at the level they were expecting. I was expected to come in and start making changes independently without needing the level of
    via rabbitsdiedaily
  • direction or approval I thought I needed. Turns out I somehow got myself into a role with much more senior expectations than I realised...
    via rabbitsdiedaily
  • What is "higher level" and where does one gain this ability? I could have started making changes | thought would improve things, but didn't want to
    via rabbitsdiedaily
  • apply anything until it was presented and reviewed... am I just an assistant who didn't get the memo when I moved up?
    via rabbitsdiedaily
  • Think I'm going to give up marketing as a career. It's too full of buzz words and unsaid things I must be too stupid to understand.
    via rabbitsdiedaily
  • jueidu at work "Higher level" = pretend you're the most obnoxious man you've ever met, and implement all your ideas. while roleplaying as his personality. Confidence, superiority, bossy, etc.
    via jueidu
  • Sammy DavidJuniorJr This is the perfect opportunity to ai your way through the C-Level. Prompt: you are a marketing executive operating at a high level
    via SammyDavidJuniorJr
  • Cheezburger Image 10665002496
    via Ben Rosett

    What does 'being more executive' mean?

    Representative only



     

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workplace-stories toxic-workplace work workplace toxic-work-environment
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