I’ve been pretending to be dumb at work since I got hired.
For context: I used to manage a cafe for years. There were people we would hire and they would be good at their job, but I wouldn’t rely on them for major things.
When I quit there I thought “why can’t I just be a little dumber and work with less integrity.” And so I did exactly that.
I’ve been slightly late almost every day, I keep “forgetting” things that are happening in the week. I ask how to do the same simple things over and over. Nobody asks me to do any extra stuff, and I believe that’s because they think I am dumb.
It’s been fantastic.
I love it. At the cafe I used to work, I always got “we’re so happy to have you on our team! You’re a great asset!” And never got a bonus or a substantial raise.
At my new job, I’m making more than ever, and I am doing 25% of the work I used to do.
Pretend to be dumb folks, it’s great.
Netizens’ comments
- I dont have to pretend
- Man, I got so many “what an asset ! Wow, you are incredible in the team !” Yet none of those brought me any raise ever. What did bring me more money was switching jobs. That and that only. If they see they can buy you for a few cheap compliments, they absolutely will.
I spent my 20s desperate for some pats on my head from my bosses and they absolutely knew they didn’t need to offer me anything else than a sense of belonging in exchange for my near burn outs and obvious work overloads. You absolutely got it.
I’m an independent now and it’s going well but if I had to re enter the labor market ever again I’d totally look for something I can make cushy.
I’ll be a “dummie” too and I won’t care at all. They don’t have any sense of personal attachment towards you at all anyways, all of it is a scam. They say bye with flowers but you are about forgotten 2 weeks after the new person comes in. - This is so wrong and yet so very right!
- Never give 110% on day one. Because that’s what they expect from that point forward, and if you have a day where you are at 100% you are “slipping up” and it’s almost impossible to achieve even more. So you will always be “average” or “a disappointment”.
But you go in at a strong “33%” you aren’t over taxing yourself. You have plenty of room to impress in a pinch, and all encounters will be generally positive as you are improving to 40%.
Also I forgot which show/movie it was. But one of the people made it a point to eat an edible before his interview/first day. So that him high is what the boss would see as normal. So that there is no suspicion if he acts high because “that’s just how he is.”