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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For Milan Koster van Groos, growth came quickly, but never without support.
Starting with momentum
After graduating cum laude in Software Development and AI from Fontys in Eindhoven, Milan was ready to begin. But he wasn’t just looking for a job. “I wanted to keep developing—not just technically, but personally too.”
Harvest offered that combination.
The reality of the first step
“The jump into the workforce was big,” he says. With real responsibilities came real pressure—and at times, that felt overwhelming.
But he wasn’t navigating it alone. “Having regular conversations with my tech lead and soft skill coach helped me understand how to approach situations.”
When it clicked
The biggest shift came with one realisation: “you’re allowed to make mistakes.”
That safety net, created by teammates, Scrum Masters, and the broader environment, made it easier to learn and grow. This proved to be invaluable time and again.
Becoming part of the team
From the start, Milan felt integrated. “The mix of experienced and new people helps a lot—you always have someone to learn from.”
That connection extended beyond work. From team dinners to organising an escape room outing himself, he quickly became part of the social fabric too.
What he works on today
As a DevOps Engineer in the Incentivators team, Milan works on improving customer processes—from contract sign-ups to system transitions. “It’s a mix of building and talking to people,” he explains. “Understanding problems and then solving them.” Milan also enjoys solving puzzles—whether it’s sudoku, nonograms, or debugging a tricky system. And when he’s not behind a screen, he’s often in the kitchen, cooking or baking.
His advice?
“If you want to keep learning and growing, even beyond the pages of textbooks, Harvest is an amazing opportunity to do so.”
And one more thing: “be open about who you are. Both Harvest and Essent are open to feedback and willing to support you.”