Firstly, I’m sick and tired of both hearing and giving the advice: “Fake it ’til you make it”. While the sentiment underlying that phrase is spot on, I personally think that it’s a poor choice of words. The right thing to say would be: “Work it, and you’ve made it”. Because you have, you’re putting in the work and you’re making things happen. It’s just that simple.

I have an unbreakable spirit on most days and yet the imposter syndrome manages to overcast my confidence every once in a while. We’ve all been in that situation where we don’t feel like we’re good enough professionally or when we doubt our own expertise in the field. Step 1 to overcome the imposter syndrome is to just recognize that: we all have been there.

When I first entered the design industry, what really kept me from advancing was the prerequisite on every job posting that read: “3–5 years of experience needed for an entry level UI/UX Designer”. That to me just feels like a fancy way of saying, “We want to pay you less but we expect you to know everything”. The design industry needs to be kinder towards novice and budding new designers of tomorrow.

This checklist has helped me keep paving forward:

• Do I have the technical skills?
• Am I putting in the work, day in and day out?
• Do I put in the effort to “figure it out” even when I don’t know the answer?
• Have I reflected on the constructive feedback and worked on it to improve myself?
• Am I taking a break to recharge and avoid burnouts?

If the answer is yes, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. Remember, intent weighs just as much as the numerical figure of experience you bring to the table.

My very first paid project was with an online learning service platform. I had technical skills to bring the tasks to fruition but what really helped me stand out was my quick thinking on my feet from my past PR experience. In less than a month, I started landing new clients simply because I felt confident. I started saying yes to projects even when I had never done something like that before. I learned on the job when I needed to and that’s been the strongest quality I’ve possessed as a designer so far.

So next time, someone tells you that they need at least 3–5 years of experience for an entry level UI/UX Designer, remember this: You have transferable skills and all those jobs you had in the past do COUNT.