8 tips for finding a job in Ireland as an expat

Ireland is a small but very international country. Many foreigners come to Ireland to seek work, especially in Dublin. This small country has a great culture of art, music and folklore. The history of this country and its many traditions are definitely very attractive to expats. The fact that this country is English-speaking is also advantageous for expats.

Working in Ireland is open to everyone but there are some things to take into account, that is why in this blog post you can find several tips to find a job in Ireland as an expat. Enjoy reading!

PREPARING YOUR CV

This step is really important, if not the most important. Your CV allows the recruiter to know who you are, what your professional background is and your skills. In short, the CV allows the recruiter to know why you should be selected.

• Profile section : Highlight what kind of job you are looking for? For how long? Full time? Part time? Highlight also your status, are you a student? Are you a former professional looking for work in ireland?

These things are what the recruiter is likely to look at first, so make it clear and not too long, like a short introduction.

• Education section : In this section, simply write down your educational background, studies, training, etc. It allows you to see what you have studied and whether the job you are applying for is a good match for your background.

• Professional experiences : Like the education section, write your professional experiences background by highlighting the position(s) you have held and a short description of the tasks you have had to perform.

• Skills and qualities : This section allows the recruiter to see what skills you have and whether they are relevant to the job. It also allows you to see your qualities, are you motivated, dynamic, flexible, sociable? Write all this information in this section.
• Languages : Specify which languages you speak and in particular your level of English.

And finally, don’t forget to write your CV in English!

PREPARING YOUR COVER LETTER

The purpose of the cover letter is to make the recruiter want to meet you. To do this, try to stand out from the crowd by introducing a good catch phrase for example or by highlighting your passions/hobbies that are out of the ordinary.

Yes it is not easy but it is what could make you stand out so be creative!

A cover letter is composed of several parts. It allows you to see who you are and how motivated you are. It usually starts with an introduction, with information about you and what you are looking for.

In the second part, you can explain why you have chosen this company and this position, if you have responded to an offer. This part also shows why you are the perfect candidate and why you should be hired. That is why it is important to showcase yourself. So remember to highlight your qualities and skills. Talk about yourself, your hobbies, your experiences, your plans for the future, the purpose is to show that you are a motivated person.

Do not hesitate to elaborate, a cover letter is about half a page or even a page long.

The last part is usually devoted to greetings. Thank the recruiter for considering your letter and

mentioning that you would like to meet the company for an interview and to talk about your skills.

WORK PERMITS

Non-European nationals generally need to obtain a work permit to work in Ireland. Work permit applications must be made by the employer in Ireland, not the foreign worker.

There are different types of work permits in Ireland (for more information check it : Visas & Stamps), including General Employment Permits, Critical Skills Employment Permits, and Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment Permits. The type of permit required will depend on the job being offered and the qualifications and experience of the foreign worker.

A Personal Public Service (PPS) number is also a requirement in order to work in Ireland for EEA nationals. Employers pay tax and social security contributions on an employee’s behalf using this unique reference number. To obtain this PPS number, you can go on MyWelfare website.

SOCIAL MEDIA TO FIND A JOB

Using social media to find a job in Ireland is a good option. There are several platforms such as Linkedin, Twitter or even Facebook. Linkedin is the most professional of them all, you have access to several offers and you can filter them to target exactly what you are looking for. Make sure that you spend time developing your LinkedIn profile, this is really important to highlight yourself.

Facebook allows you to find a job through groups, you can follow several and create a post by specifying that you are looking for a job in Ireland, the city, dates and sector. People who are already in Ireland can help you to find a job.

You can also enter keywords in the search bar and view results, such as : job, ireland, marketing, pub, etc.

Twitter is a bit like Facebook. Enter your keywords and discover results, you can be agreeably surprised!

IRISH JOB WEBSITES

Here are a few Irish websites to find a job in Ireland. These websites offer jobs for all sectors :

• Jobs.ie
• Irishjobs.ie
• Jobs Guide Ireland
• Recruit Ireland
• Irish Times
• Dublin Works
• FRS Recruitment
• Careerjet
• Hays.ie
• Career Builder

On these websites you may be asked to create an account by putting your resume so again think about putting yourself forward and make a nice resume.

SPONTANEOUS APPLICATION

This technique is very effective. It is simply a matter of going there and distributing your resumes and cover letters in the places that interest you. Are you interested in working at McDonald’s in Dublin? Go to several restaurants in this chain and ask if they need employees. Show them that you have experience in catering if that’s the case, in short put yourself forward.

People generally like this kind of initiative. It shows that you are determined in what you do.

OPEN DAYS AND RECRUITMENT DAYS IN IRELAND

This technique is practical because you can talk directly with the recruiter about your potential missions, tasks in the company. You can also ask them about anything you need. It is a real exchange between you and the recruiter and increasingly these days, can also be held by video call.

Just target sectors and companies that interest you and search on the internet if there are open days and recruitment days planned in these areas/ companies.

On these days :

• Remember to dress professionally to make a good impression
• Preparing a copy of your resume and cover letter

IRISH NEWSPAPERS

This method is often forgotten by young people but it is practical to discover new jobs. In Ireland, you can find all of this information in several newspapers. The most famous is Irish Times, it publishes offers regularly. But you can also find offers in other newspapers such as : The Irish News, The Irish Press or even Leinster Leader. Local newspapers are also a good option to find a job opportunity in Ireland.

You have the possibility to consult it on the internet but you can also buy it in newspaper stores.

We hope this guide helps you to find a job in Ireland. Best of luck!

For more information on looking for a job in Ireland, you can check these links:

• Recruitment Companies in Ireland
• Bank accounts
• CV and cover letter
• Volunteering