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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Some people join and are just getting started. Others, like Stan, have had a bit more time to grow into their role, and are now seeing the bigger picture come together.

Finding the right starting point

After graduating, Stan was looking for a way into the industry that offered more than just a standard entry-level role. “I wanted something where I could learn quickly and really understand how things work in practice,” he says.

Harvest offered exactly that: a way to start working immediately, while continuing to develop both technical and soft skills.

Understanding systems at scale

One of the biggest eye-openers during the program? “The architectural landscape,” Stan explains. “At university, you don’t really see how big systems come together.”

Through masterclasses and working alongside experienced engineers, he began to understand not just what to build, but how everything connects behind the scenes. “That gave me a big step up once I started working in a real environment.”

When it clicked

Because Stan has been at Essent IT longer, there wasn’t just one defining moment, but rather a gradual shift. “Over time, you start feeling more at home,” he remarks.

Working closely with his team and being part of the organisation day-to-day helped him move from newcomer to someone who truly feels part of it. “At a certain point, you don’t feel like you’re just starting anymore...you feel like an Essenter!”

Growing within Essent IT

Since joining in 2023, Stan has had the chance to explore and grow beyond his initial role. From contributing to internal initiatives like the fun committee to earning his Scrum Master certification, he’s been able to develop in multiple directions. “There are a lot of opportunities here—you just have to take them.”

Making complexity clear

Today, Stan works as a DevOps Engineer in the invoicing team within I Pay. It’s an area where systems can be complex, especially from a customer perspective. “A big part of what we do is making things clearer and easier to understand.”

That focus led to a meaningful milestone. His team worked on a bill explainer, a solution designed to help customers better understand their invoices, which went on to win a customer impact award.

“It was great to see something we built actually help people,” he claims.

Growing in confidence

Looking back, Stan sees clear progress in how he approaches his work. “There were moments where I held back more than I needed to,” he notes. Over time, that changed.

By gaining experience, asking questions, and stepping into opportunities, he’s grown more confident in contributing and taking initiative.

His advice?

“Do the program!” he exlaims. “It’s a really good way to get your foot in the door and build experience quickly.”

And having gone through it himself? “It gives you a strong start and plenty of room to grow from there.”