The "fake it 'till you make it" is prevalent in consultancies, because effectively all of them do it, and their clients know it, and if they don't do it they get pushed out of deals. I too started my career at one of such consultancies, and failed faking it once or twice until I managed to "make it" (that is, getting close enough to my peers so the client tolerated me). It felt dishonest, but was invaluable for a fresh programmer without any formal experience, at all.

IMO sweatshops are a necessary part of the ecosystem, but only until you grow out of them.