Everyone, even the very best of us, sometimes struggles with moments of self-doubt. If it happens to you know that you are in great company. But how can you get to other side of anxiety unscathed? By faking it til you make it of course!

It's interesting in this social media world where no one is who they say they are. You can bet that almost everyone you interact with online is an exaggerated best version of who they are in real life. People will exaggerate about how good looking they are, how much they are worth, their body shape, their social net worth, and even how good in bed they are… anything really. When it comes to your career, faking it till you make it isn't pretending that you possess a skill set you do not. That's fraud. Faking it is imitating confidence and a sense of authority until you feel confident in these things. Sometimes, there's a thin line between the two.

Do you ever wonder how in a struggling economy like ours there is a horde of women who have made whole careers out of having big boobs, an ample derriere, and wearing tight clothes? Our world today is visual, you are judged by how you look long before you open your mouth, this is especially true if you are a woman. These women understand this. It's the same with your career. Well, wearing latex to the office might not work, but looking clean and well put together will. Not putting an effort into how you look may be construed to mean that you are not ready for higher, more visible roles. Dressing for the job you want and not the one you have may be cliché but it's solid advice. This, of course, goes hand in hand with your demeanour. Give firm handshakes, look people in the eye, and if you're happy to be there smile.

All good things take time, you know that. Faking it at the workplace is not any different. Say you have a big interview coming up, it's a great opportunity, you have the skill set but you are a bundle of nerves. Confidence isn't something you can get from a two-minute pep talk in the washroom right before the interview. You will need to prepare way in advance, affirm yourself, make sure you look great, know you can do this and then put your best foot forward even with the jitters.

Despite the nerves, you bag the big cozy job. What now? Now you follow through. Don't miss learning opportunities on the job because you are afraid of looking stupid. Ask questions, go out of your way to learn everything you need to learn about the job. It will make you confident in your role and this will show. Try it, you'll see.

If you look around your workplace, you will see that it's not always the person with the most degrees or experience that gets the job or the promotion. Almost always, it's the person that's well put together, the one who's not afraid to toot their own horn and who values themselves. So, if you need to fake it to make it, by all means, go for it.

Read: How To Negotiate For More Money At Work