Nearly 25% of our new colleagues choose to work at Essent thanks to the enthusiastic stories shared by friends and former colleagues who are now part of Essent. In 'Thanks New Job,' we celebrate each successful referral-based recruitment. This time, it’s Daniel Jackson who thanks Leigh Fish for his new position as Lead Typescript Engineer.
How do you know each other
Leigh: “We had already worked together at a previous employer. I was also a scrum master there, and that’s where I met Daniel in that role. We connected right away. We had plenty of coffee meetups, and we often went out for drinks with colleagues, which also helps strengthen bonds. We stayed in touch, even though I live in Sittard and Daniel lives in Amsterdam."
Daniel: “I had been working at my previous employer for almost a year when Leigh joined. She was exactly the fresh perspective we needed to restructure our work. I really appreciated her energy. We often worked together on new challenges, and our shared love for a good glass of whisky helped with that too!”
What do you do at Essent?
Leigh: "I’m a Scrum Master at Essent. I help engineers work in a way that suits them, creating flow in their work. I can actually be seen as a team coach. I wear many different ‘hats’ to meet the needs of my teams."
Daniel: "I’m a Lead Typescript Engineer at Essent. I work in the Contracting team, which is responsible for the user journeys for acquisition and retention. This means we frequently collaborate with many other teams to ensure we provide the best possible user experience."
And then the Lead Typescript Engineer position opened up. Why did you think of Daniel for this role?
Leigh: "As a Scrum Master, I also had discussions with Daniel about his ambitions at that time. We were working for a startup, a small company. I expected Daniel to hit a ceiling there. He wanted to grow, but that opportunity wasn't really available. At Essent, that opportunity exists. I wanted to introduce Daniel to the organization. Then, Essent organized an event for the Typescript Community, which is open to everyone. It’s truly a place to meet fellow professionals."
Daniel: "Leigh invited me to that event. She spoke passionately about Essent and the growth opportunities. That appealed to me. There wasn't a specific job opening, but she definitely planted the seed in my mind."
Leigh: "Not long after, the Lead Typescript Engineer position opened up. I immediately tipped Daniel about it. At Essent, he could take the steps he envisioned. He was interested, so I connected him with the recruiter. That’s also when I stepped back. I did my job!"
There was a match! How do you like it at Essent, Daniel?
Daniel: "I love it! It’s been a long time since I worked at a company as large as Essent. It’s really interesting to see how Essent operates with a modern development architecture and strategic planning. Everyone I’ve met is full of energy. You can just tell that the colleagues are happy to be here."
How did you know about the referral bonus, Leigh?
Leigh: "The recruiters actively point that out to you. I really enjoy looking for people in my network. I used to have a recruitment agency in South Africa. I’m enthusiastic about Essent, so I love to surround myself with colleagues who have that positive vibe as well. In South Africa, you have the Big Five in the animal kingdom. In the Netherlands, there’s also a Big Five of employers. Essent is definitely one of them. It’s a company that motivates you to grow, and the working conditions are very good. That’s why I like to recruit for Essent!"
What are you going to do with the bonus?
Leigh: "I'm moving soon, so I'm using it for my new house."
Do you have any tips for colleagues on how to get referrals?
Leigh: "Keep an eye on the job openings. I check once a week for interesting new vacancies. If I see a position that I think someone in my network would fit, I reach out to that person. I’m very straightforward. You shouldn't hesitate to approach someone. It’s actually a compliment to see them as a future colleague."
Use your network!
Join in and recommend someone from your network as a new colleague, just like Leigh. This not only helps Essent but also benefits you, as you earn a nice bonus.