Stop Faking It, Start Owning It
"Fake it 'til you make it" is terrible advice for Filipino remote workers.
Sure, these so-called "VA coaches" preach this like gospel, but they're setting you up for failure. Here’s why:
The Ugly Truth About "Fake It 'Til You Make It"
Let’s be clear: there's nothing inherently wrong with applying for jobs that stretch your abilities. Growth requires stepping outside your comfort zone, after all.
But there's a significant difference between confidence and deception.
Too many remote workers take this advice at face value and crash and burn. They fabricate credentials, make promises they can't keep, and deliver subpar work.
The result?
Constant fear of being "found out" - You’ll keep looking over your shoulder, afraid of being found out. Instead of building confidence, you’ll develop imposter syndrome and create a state of anxiety that’s hard to shake off.
Self-imposed isolation - You can't risk asking for help when you misrepresent your abilities. Questions that would be normal for someone at your actual skill level suddenly feel like red flags that might expose your deception.
Crushing overwork - When you're forced to secretly learn on the fly to close the skill gaps on your resume, you end up working excessive hours to compensate—all while pretending the work comes easily to you. If you don’t find that stressful, I don’t know what to tell you.
In your desperation to appear competent, you create conditions that make actual competence nearly impossible to achieve. When you fake it, you're sabotaging yourself and dragging down perceptions of Filipino talent worldwide.
Is that what you want?
The Smarter Approach
The good news is that there are more sustainable ways to get jobs without faking it. Here's what you can do:
Be Brutally Honest About What You Know
Instead of false claims and promises, clearly communicate what you know and what you're still learning. Be upfront, but show genuine curiosity and eagerness to learn. Most employers actually value self-awareness and honesty over bluster and exaggeration.
Instead of claiming to be an "expert" in something you barely understand, try this: "I've got solid fundamentals here and I'm actively building my skills."
See? It’s not that hard.
Document Your Growth Publicly
Next, get used to documenting your growth and building in public,
What are you learning right now? What problems fascinate you? What skills are you developing?
Don't hide your growth – showcase it. Openly pursuing these interests transforms your "skill gaps" into an engaging growth narrative. It also signals to employers that you're self-motivated and committed to improvement. These qualities are sometimes more valuable than any particular technical skill.
Set Expectations You Can Actually Meet
As I mentioned earlier, many potential employers are more than willing to train team members who show enthusiasm and agility. When you set realistic expectations about your current capabilities, you create space for genuine growth rather than anxious pretense.
Try this: "I haven't done exactly this before, but based on similar projects, I can learn it within [timeframe]." Realistic commitments beat impressive lies every single time.
Find Mentors Who Know the Real You
A mentor who knows where you truly stand can accelerate your growth exponentially. But they can't help the fictional version of you that exists only on your inflated resume.
Authentic mentoring relationships transform careers. Fake ones waste everyone's time.
When you're honest about your skill level, you can form meaningful connections with mentors who understand where you actually are in your journey.
Take Pride in Actual Achievements
There's no substitute for the confidence that comes from legitimate growth. It beats the hollow pretense of "faking it" any day.
The Payoff for Keeping It Real
When you drop the act and embrace transparency:
✅ You’ll experience less stress – Instead of spending your time and energy on maintaining lies, you can put it into actual skill-building.
✅ You build real relationships – Truth builds trust. Trust builds careers.
✅ You get opportunities that fit – Work that matches your actual capabilities is challenging enough without being overwhelming.
✅ You learn faster – When you can admit what you don't know, you close knowledge gaps more quickly.
Your New Professional Mantra
Forget "Fake it 'til you make it."
From now on, it's all about owning it.
Yes, authenticity feels exposed. Yes, competition is fierce. But pretending creates careers built on anxiety, while honesty creates careers built on growth.
As a Filipino remote worker aiming to succeed globally, your path forward isn't through clever deception but through self-assessment, transparent communication, and visible commitment to improvement.
Stop faking it. Now. Your future self is begging you.
