Overcoming imposter syndrome as a design team newbie
Izzy Clark, Associate Product Copywriter
In early 2019, I was appointed associate product copywriter at Just Eat. Previously I’d worked as the Bristol office receptionist, writing copy where I could, hoping this would happen. When it did, I was thrilled and eager to get going, but I was also incredibly daunted about finding my feet in a design team when I didn’t know much about design processes. A lot of imposter syndrome and self-doubt later, I now don’t think twice about making UI suggestions and working collaboratively, which has benefited the product (and made my job a whole lot easier.) Here’s how I got there:
Starting out
I got my degree in Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London. I worked in local news while studying, and realised quickly that I wanted to write, but I didn’t want to be a journalist. So, I finished uni without a plan, without even so much as googling the words ‘grad scheme’, and started trying to figure out what was next.
I was waitressing, working PR internships and in customer service when I decided to make a massive change. I moved to Bristol — where I knew a total of 3 people — and successfully applied to be the office receptionist at Just Eat, tempted by the thought of free takeaways. (It’s true, we get a lot of free takeaways in exchange for testing new features. A blessing and a curse.)
After about a year on reception, I decided to reach out to the copywriting team for the app and website and ask if I could write copy for some projects here and there. I started getting to grips with the house tone of voice — when to dial up the personality and when to turn on a more informative voice. A few months of work later, I was delighted when I was offered my current role in the User Experience and Design team.
In a design team, not a designer
The next thing I knew, I found myself in meetings with colleagues and stakeholders. I was overthinking what everyone thought of me, assuming they either knew me as the receptionist or thought I was coming in from a similar role elsewhere, so had a wealth of experience. Nobody made me feel this way, I did it to myself — I had the endless support and patience of my colleagues. This is why it’s so important to recognise imposter syndrome and stamp it out. It can hold you back from taking advantage of the help and guidance that’s out there.
I didn’t speak up much because I didn’t yet have the language to express myself. I didn’t know what design features were called. But, when I asked to shadow some of the designers, they didn’t laugh at (what I thought to be) stupid questions. Of course, they didn’t — generally, people are helpful and kind! It’s just hard to see it like that when you’re in your head. I started to ask questions whenever I needed to and began to find projects much easier to tackle. Along with asking questions, here are some tips I used to find my confidence as a newbie in a design team:
What I wish I’d known
Ask for help
If you’re anything like me, you’ll try and figure things out on your own to try and prove yourself and to seem as competent as possible. Don’t do that! Everything will just end up taking much longer, and it can be a real hit to your confidence. Be sure to speak up if you need pointing in the right direction. For example, I realised after a whole 9 months that I had been really over-complicating sharing projects between Google Drive and Trello. I didn’t want to ask how to do it because it seemed like it should have been straightforward — turns out I should have. Oops.
Don’t be afraid to ask people to ‘translate’ things
Whether you’re a seasoned designer working with developers, or a copywriter working with product managers hearing talk of KPIs and conversion rates, we all talk in terms that make sense for us, based on our past jobs and experiences. This all sounds like another language when you’re new, but even with more experience, a new buzzword might throw you. In cross-functional teams, we all need a reminder sometimes to explain things transparently.
Find a mentor or shadow if you can
I’ve done both because I’m lucky enough to work with such a great team. I’ve shadowed UX and UI designers and a developer, and early on I had some mentoring sessions with a product manager, who started as the office manager. She gave me most of the tips listed here.
Get involved if you want to
If there are any STEM opportunities or Women In Tech/BAME groups you’d like to join as either a member or an ally, give it a go to grow your network and familiarise yourself with the way teams interact.
Don’t let the fear of looking stupid hold you back
It’s a cliche but it’s true! People know you’re new, and if they don’t, tell them. They’ve been there. Everyone started somewhere, and you won’t be new forever.
Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good
(Another cliche, sorry.) Even now, I’ll find myself spending slightly too long on a project to try and make it the best it can be. Often, before I started overthinking it, it was great. On that note, don’t delete your drafts!
Fake it til you make it, ask for help when you need to
It’s important to remember that there’s no typical path to get to the job you want anymore. Ask anyone you admire in your field, and they’ll probably reel out stories of past jobs, and difficult bosses, and (now) hilarious mishaps. Everyone has felt at least a little out of their depth, and made it through with a combination of faking-it-til-you-make it and help from others. If you’ve spent a lot of time working jobs that didn’t make the most of your talents or qualifications, that’s a great thing — you’ve picked up experience and skills you wouldn’t have otherwise.
I feel settled in the design team now, and see how my different background can be a strength. The great thing about collaborative work and cross-functional teams is that everyone has different feedback and different experience, so we can bounce off each other to create the best product.
I used to walk past a mural on the way to university every day that said ‘be bad until you’re good, and good until you’re great.’ I’m pretty sure it was a cheesy advert for a gym but I try to remember it. Give yourself license to be new and not very good at something. As long as you hold onto your enthusiasm, you’ll be great.
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