What’s it really like to start your career in IT? In this series, Harvest students and alumni share their experiences of learning, growing, and finding their place at Essent IT. From first-day nerves to career-defining moments, each story offers a glimpse into their unique journey.

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Daniël Kamphorst doesn’t like standing still. And that shows in the way his career started.

Looking for more than a job

After completing his Master’s in Computer Science in Utrecht, Daniël knew one thing for sure: he didn’t want something predictable. “I get bored quickly,” he says. “I wanted something dynamic, something where I could keep learning.”
Harvest stood out immediately, as it offered the opportunity to grow into a professional role.

Finding the right pace

From the beginning, the pace matched his expectations. “The bar is high, but so is the support.”
From early on, Daniël stepped into meaningful contributions, and the responsibility fuelled his motivation.

Learning beyond the technical

While the technical masterclasses were valuable, what stood out most was something else: "learning how to work with people, especially people who think differently.”
In a fast-moving environment, that ability becomes just as important as technical skills.

Stepping into more responsibility

What started as a DevOps role quickly expanded.
Today, Daniël is involved in:

- Leading parts of projects
- Coordinating across teams
- Acting as a bridge between technical and business stakeholders

“In bigger organisations, that usually takes time,” he says. “Here, you’re trusted earlier.”

Making an impact

One moment stands out: seeing his ideas gain traction. “One of my proposals was accepted by the community. That felt like real impact.”
It’s that combination of freedom, trust, and support that keeps things engaging.

His advice?

Take a chance on this program. If you do, it gives you a big head start.