First hand experience - its the best teacher.

How important? If I fail does someone die, or do we buy the beer tonight? Could I actually have confidence, not fake it? Then learn as I go?

I've had experience learning as I worked on projects at work.

I don't think I would need to fake it because I would be truthful with the person that gave me the job. They would know that I still needed more experience but had enough self-confidence to hit the ground running and learn. I wouldn't be afraid to ask questions... no one is an expert at everything. I am more afraid of working with people who don't ask questions because they think they will look stupid. They will usually do something stupid because they are so insecure and trying to fake it.

A job 'bestowed' upon you? U got the job whether u know what u are doing or not? Well, get ur computer handy and read read read andstudy everything that there isw to read about each task u have to perform. And if u think u know how to do something, still read more. u can never know enough and building maintenance (which this sounds like) is constantly chnging with new products and new ways of doing things. It is a lifelong process. Start today, NOW.

I have often taken, gotten, applied for...jobs that I was lacking actual experience in doing...if it looked interesting to me and offered enough money to be worth my time...I figure I can jolly well, pay attention, use common sense and LEARN what I need to know in order to do it RIGHT! So far, I haven't failed at any of them! I usually manage to excel, because, after all...I don't want to look stupid or botch anything up! Part of my success is probably because I also ACT. I get paid to act...and most paid actors learn pretty fast that they had better be up for being WHATEVER the director and producer want and need them to be...if they want to get hired. The longer I do it, the more amazed I am at the number of skills good actors have to acquire some degree of believable proficiency in doing! It's really pretty amazing when you think about it. Of course, some parts I've played, I specifically targeted rolls that I already HAD the skills or knowledge about what the character would or would not be likely to do. Character rolls are great for that, because if they are even a bit historical in terms of the time period...then you need to study or know your history, to know what that person could, or would be ALLOWED to do (TV and the Film industry both mess with this all the time, still, knowing your history can help you assume a character for auditions, with a bit more ease.) I've trained dogs and horses for over 30 years, I don't think twice about a job that requires me to work with a dog, or horse, or to ride a horse. The biggest joke is that I am actually a bit shy...yes I am...STOP LAUGHING! <WINK> So, for any job I have to physic myself up and just tell myself...it's just a matter of acting as if I am confident and know what I'm doing...roflmao

I'd cram on whatever skills were needed, and learn as fast as I could. Any other method would be much more difficult and prone to failure.

I would just try anyway, who knows it may come easy.

It depends entirely on my job and the safety of myself and others, if i make mistake. Bottomline is no.