Career – Ireland

Career in Ireland

Ireland has one of the youngest populations in Europe, graduates hoping to start their careers in Ireland should feel right at home.

The country has one of the highest standards of living in Europe and has a well-connected geographical location and low corporation tax rates, an impressive number of multinational companies have European headquarters in the country, providing a wealth of opportunities.

Job market in Ireland

With the fastest growing economy in the European Union (EU) Ireland is a great option for those on the job hunt.

The service sector dominates the job market. Opportunities can be found in a number of major industries including the growing technology sector, where the demand for IT workers, Pharmaceuticals, is high, and thanks to Ireland’s rising popularity as a holiday destination, the hospitality and tourism industry are in need of both skilled and casual workers.

The country is also home to several multinational companies, including:

    1. Apple
    2. Facebook
    3. Google
    4. Microsoft
    5. Ryanair


Competition for skilled jobs is fierce and your chances of securing work will increase with relevant work experience and third-level qualifications. In general work will be easier to come by in major towns and cities such as Cork, Dublin and Galway. While the capital city of Dublin is known to be relatively expensive, the cost of living is cheaper than other major European cities such as Copenhagen, London, Paris and Zurich.

Look for job vacancies at:

    1. Irish Jobs
    2. Jobs.ie
    3. Monster.ie
    4. RecruitIreland.com


Skill shortages

The Irish economy has skills shortages in a number of areas including:

    1. Business and finance – accountants, business intelligence analysts, financial advisers, risk and compliance professionals
    2. Engineering – biomedical engineers, chemical engineers, electrical engineers, energy engineers
    3. IT – app developers, data analysts, software developers, IT support specialists, programmers
    4. Healthcare – doctors, nurses, pharmacists, opticians, radiologists
    5. Hospitality – chefs
    6. Transport and logistics – logistics and supply chain managers, supply chain analysts, transport managers.

 

How to get a job in Ireland ?

You can start applying for jobs in Ireland before heading to the country. While it isn’t essential for you to secure a job before arrival, researching, searching and applying for jobs from your home country may give you a head start in the hunt for work.

You’ll search for vacancies online, in the press and via your networks and contacts and apply for positions with either a CV and cover letter or an online application form. If your application is successful you may be invited for a formal interview.

There may be multiple interview stages. Some recruiters may first offer you a phone interview, and if successful you could then be invited to a face-to-face meeting. You may also have to pass an assessment day/centre for some jobs.

Your CV should be one to two pages long; it’s a good idea to include your level of English proficiency if it is not your first language and details of any other languages spoken.

Internships

Because of the competitive job market in Ireland, you are more likely to secure a role in the country if you have relevant work experience.

Depending on the industry in which you want to work, you could contact firms individually to see if they have a scheme in place. Alternatively, there are numerous services for helping people secure work experience, including:

    1. Equipeople – Irish Agricultural Work Experience
    2. Gradireland
    3. Intern Group
    4. InternshipsIreland
    5. Stint Ireland