After being laid off without warning, Delaney didn’t tell a soul. Embarrassed and afraid, she kept up the illusion of still being employed — waking up early, dressing for work, and even posting fake updates on LinkedIn. It wasn’t about tricking others; it was about convincing herself she still had value.

Then, a month later, a recruiter noticed her posts. Instead of confessing she was unemployed, Delaney used the fake projects she had created to showcase her skills. After four intense interviews, she got the offer: Senior Strategist at a company she’d admired for years.

When she finally revealed the truth to her loved ones — and later to her new boss — she wasn’t met with judgment. Her boyfriend told her, “You did what you had to do to survive.” Her boss even called it the “craziest origin story” she’d ever heard.

Delaney now shares her story to remind others: sometimes, “faking it” isn’t about lying — it’s about survival, hope, and holding onto your dream until the world sees it too.