I Got Ahead At Work Using These 11 ‘Problematic’ Moves And None Of Them Had Anything To Do With My Actual Job
Lais Schulz | Canva The corporate world can be a competitive environment, where everyone is trying to make an impact and find success. While it might seem difficult to make a lasting impression with so many people vying for space, influencer and marketing professional Courtney Johnson revealed 'problematic' tips and tricks she used to build herself up and find just that.
“Cancel me, call me fake, whatever, I don’t care,” Johnson said. “These are the most unhinged things I’ve done to get ahead in my career.” Her bluntness might sound jarring, but experts argue that job performance is only one half of the formula when it comes to getting ahead. Career and life coach Heather Moulder explains that what sets promotable people apart "often comes down to a handful of subtle habits that signal leadership potential long before a title change ever happens."
I got ahead at work using these 11 ‘problematic’ moves, and none of them had anything to do with my actual job:
1. Filled my calendar with fake meetings
Johnson filled her calendar with fake work meetings, explaining, “I want people to think I’m busy, but I also don’t want people to schedule time with me.” In faking her schedule, Johnson sent out the message that she was busy and that her time was valuable.
She essentially curated her workplace persona to be someone who was always in demand. One 2017 study found that Americans perceive overworked people as having a higher social status because it signals that their skills are in high demand.
2. Wore fake glasses
“I wear fake glasses because they make me look smarter,” she shared. Johnson played on the stereotype that people who wear glasses are more intelligent, using subliminal messaging in her favor.
Unfortunately, this stereotype is consistent: While glasses can lower how attractive a person is perceived, research shows that it increases how intelligent and trustworthy they seem.
3. Branded myself as a thought leader
“Very early on in my career, I branded myself as ‘a thought leader’ and built a personal brand around being a thought leader, even though I had no business doing so,” Johnson explained.
She took the adage “Fake it ‘til you make it” and did exactly that. She took the knowledge that she had and packaged it in a way to stand out from the crowd as an individual, someone whose opinion is worth knowing.
4. Made up one interesting fact about myself
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Johnson gave her hot take on a key interview technique: Make up something interesting about yourself to tell people in interviews. She explained that she made up an “absurd” fact about herself so people would remember her. “I would be like, ‘I grew up on a farm, or I used to be a clown.’ None of that’s true,” she said.
Making up something might land you the memorable factor, but there are more honest ways to stand out. Dr. Barbara Lavi, a clinical psychologist, suggests telling "a personal story to show how you have used your personality traits and values that you share with the company in past experiences."
5. Used Google to find answers to easy questions
“If you can Google it, absolutely do not ask it,” she advised. “You’re gonna look dumb. Google it and pretend that you know it.” This tactic is another example of faking it till she makes it, quite literally.
Research by the Harvard Business School explained that thoughtful questioning builds rapport and perceived competence at work. Google can be an incredible resource to lead you in the right direction, but asking questions is a career skill that can't be filled by a search engine.
6. Remembered kids' and pets’ names
Johnson also advised remembering the names of people’s kids and pets and asking for them by name. “It’s going to make everybody like you,” she said.
"Too many people go on and on about themselves as if the other person is just there to be their audience," marriage and family therapist Mary Kay Cocharo acknowledged. The people who remember small details do the opposite, making them feel seen.
7. Used friends as referrals
“If you didn’t like your boss at your previous job, or if they didn’t like you, just tell people that one of your friends was your boss, and have them call to do the whole referral thing,” she said.
Career coach Lisa Petsinis agrees, suggesting that you "leverage your network to uncover hidden opportunities. Initiate informational interviews and referrals to expand your connections and learn about potential openings with your target employers."
8. Job hopped
Curated Lifestyle / Unsplash+
“You need to job hop,” she said. “Job hop when you have nothing left to learn at the company or when there’s no way you’re gonna make more money.”
While this advice seems counterintuitive to traditional guidance most of us have been given on finding and keeping work, there’s inherent value to what she said. If a job no longer serves you or your purpose, moving on to your next position isn’t such a bad thing.
9. Worked at small companies to get titles faster
Johnson explained that employees can get titles faster when working at smaller companies, sharing, “I was a director of an entire department because I started at companies with like, 10 people.”
An article by HR Dive found that 92% of workers believe companies use inflated job titles to create the illusion of career growth. This practice, known as title inflation, is common in startup culture, where companies compensate their employees with bigger titles, even if it doesn't come with additional compensation.
10. Acted like a peer to people above me
In another example of faking it until she made it, Johnson projected her confidence and sense of self-worth outward, taking up space in places where she might have been denied access or agency.
“You need to act like a peer to those above you,” she said. “Yes, you should give people respect, but like, not really. Act like you’re on their level and you’ll get to their level a lot easier.”
11. Overcame imposter syndrome
“The only way to actually overcome imposter syndrome is by finding people dumber than you that are more successful,” she said. “If you look at people and you’re like, ‘Well, they’re kinda dumb, I could do that, yeah. Facts.”
The truth is, her advice isn't all that 'problematic.' While Johnson frames her actions as being “problematic,” a lot of what she advises workers to do comes down to believing in themselves and their own capabilities. By taking up space and twisting the system to work in her favor, she disrupted the established balance of power so she could get ahead.
Alexandra Blogier is a writer on YourTango's news and entertainment team. She covers social issues, pop culture analysis, and all things to do with the entertainment industry.
