Nearly 25% of our new colleagues choose to join Essent based on enthusiastic stories from their network and are referred to us as candidates for open positions. In "Thanks New Job," we highlight successful recruitments through referrals. This time, Sara Trouw is thanking Leon Ewals for helping her secure her new role as Product Owner. What is your role at Essent?Sara: “We’re both Product Owners.”
How do you know each other?Leon: “We don’t know each other very well, but we have a mutual friend. I used to work with her, and she is a good friend of Sara.
Sara had experience as a Product Owner and was working at MediaMarkt, which is our new sales partner. That’s why I thought of her when this position became available.”
Sara: “Leon spoke very enthusiastically about Essent and its organizational structure. What really convinced me was the SAFE framework and the size of the IT department. In my previous job, I was quite isolated as a Product Owner. This gave me a lot of freedom, but I missed some support, understanding, and a sparring partner. At Essent, I am truly part of a group that faces similar challenges. We help each other grow, which allows me to continue developing as a Product Owner.”
Product Owners of Different Products
Leon: “We are both Product Owners at Essent but don’t work directly together. We are Product Owners of products that don’t overlap much. I’m working on the new proposition Dynamic Contracts, while Sara is in the Cockpit team.”
Sara: “There are some overlaps between our products, so we meet in meetings. We also see each other frequently at community events.”
Getting to Know Essent
Leon: “When you start as a new employee, it can sometimes be challenging to know who you need or where to go. My tip is to really take the time to get to know the company and all the teams within the IT department. There is a lot of knowledge in the company, so make use of it and don’t hesitate to ask colleagues a lot of questions.”
Personal Note
Leon: “With my bonus, I bought extra Sinterklaas and Christmas presents for my kids.”
Leon: “I was also referred through a referral and know how valuable it is to leverage your own network. So, share within your friends and family how great Essent is and that we are always looking for new talent!”
Use Your Network!
Join in and refer someone from your network as a new colleague, just like Leon did. This not only helps Essent but also benefits you with a nice bonus.
Visit
werkenbijessent.nl/en/campaigns/referral