Relocating to Ireland – A guide

5 Top Tips For Job-Seekers

It’s one of the biggest decisions you are likely to face during your career. It can also be one of the best decisions if you do your research and know what to expect. Here are some of our top tips to help you with this important step on our career journey.

1. Cost of living

While the salary ranges in Ireland can be quite healthy (especially in technical disciplines) the cost of living is quite high in Ireland, particularly in Dublin and the major cities. Before you make the commitment to relocate spend some time researching the cost of rental for the area you hope to live. Popular websites for rental property are daft.ie, rent.ie, property.ie, gumtree.ie and let.ie to name a few.

Other things to take into account in Ireland when it comes to cost of living are the Tax Bands that your job may fall into and other ancillary costs you may need to consider (transport costs, food, insurance cover, motor tax etc)

Tip: Check out this handy Tax Calculator to see what your take-home pay should look like.

2. Getting your paperwork in order

In Ireland you must have a PPS number to be able to access social welfare benefits, public services and information in Ireland. To get a PPS number, you will need to fill out an application form at your nearest PPSN registration centre , provide evidence of your identity and the reason you need a PPS number allocated.

Most importantly you will need a PPS number to receive salary payments and to set up a bank account.
You must also provide proof of your address. You will need two documents to open an Irish bank account: a document to prove your address and a valid form of photo ID. Your passport, driving licence or national identity card (if you are an EU citizen) are all valid forms of photo ID. Please visit citizensinformation.ie for further information.

3. Language

While it can be extremely beneficial if you have a foreign language when applying for many roles in Ireland it is very important that you have a good grasp of the English language if you want to succeed. Taking an English language course in advance of your intended relocation would be very helpful to bring you up to speed.

4. The Culture

The Irish are a very friendly people but in terms of work it can be said in many professions that the Irish like to work hard and play hard. Socialising forms a large part of the working mix and can help you meet new friends quickly as the Irish are easygoing and make friends quickly. Striking a healthy balance between social and work life will see you settle in to Irish life a lot easier.

5. Applying for a Job

When applying for a role on job-sites like Martinsen Mayer it is important you have a good C.V that is up to date for the roles you are applying for. It is also extremely important that you develop a good cover letter that can help set you apart from the competition.

Be Persistent: Ireland has a very buoyant jobs market at the moment and the competition level is very high across many sectors. Stay positive and look to continually improve your applications as you go through the process. Try not to take it too personally if you don’t get the first few roles you apply for. Always, where possible, look for feedback from the Recruiter as to how you may improve your chances in future applications.

Best of luck and we hope your Irish Adventure leads to great new opportunities for you.