Jobs Abroad in Dublin

After the Celtic Tiger took hold of Ireland's economy, Dublin quickly transformed into a world-class hub for technology, manufacturing, and medicine. The diverse economy of Dublin has opened positions at big corporations, start-ups, NGOs, hospitals, clinics, small businesses, and many more places, making work in Ireland programs plenteous! 

A techie paradise, Dublin houses large multinational offices of Facebook, Google, Twitter, IBM, and Amazon — not exactly small potatoes. While the technology industry giants are at play, startups are feeding off their energy and providing many jobs in Dublin for innovators, coders, and creatives as they grow and expand. Many of these tech jobs in Dublin, especially in engineering, IT, and computer science, are growing increasingly competitive, so drop your old job like a sack of potatoes and join the ranks in this dynamic industry in Dublin.

While a relatively small cohort of the total workforce, medical engineers and lab technicians are crucial to some of Ireland’s biggest export sectors like pharmaceuticals and medical technology — strong fields to find work in Ireland for foreigners. These health science industries continue to show exponential growth and are predicted to further drive up the need for science skills. Nurses, doctors, and medical practitioners are also in high demand and warmly welcomed.

If the idea of office work sends you into a tailspin, hospitality and service industry jobs (shift drinks included) are also widely available. Irish friendliness is a tired cliché but at the end of the day, working in hospitality among some of the most notoriously hospitable folks in the world is a mind-blowingly awesome opportunity to hone your craft. Bartending and brewing jobs are aplenty.

P.S. Learning how to brew Guinness in Dublin will give you mad street cred.

While landing a job abroad in Dublin is a valid excuse to buy a cute new umbrella and wellies to strut to work in, there is so much more to life as you work in Ireland for a year than playing “Who Wore it Best: Raincoat Edition” with your coworkers.

Dublin is a vibrant and ever-evolving city with plenty to discover, both for first timers and those who think they already know it well. The literary ghosts of the greats swirl along the brick streets into the plenty of poetry, literature, and theater events taking place in Dublin. For those who prefer the outdoors, there are dozens of parks and kilometers of coastline providing space to breathe, adventure, relax, and explore.

Dubliners are a specific breed of Irish that take spirited socialization and passion for their culture very seriously, making them avid disciples of the work-hard-play-hard lifestyle. After hours provides no shortage of opportunities to let loose in the recently revitalized Dame District, or the more touristy Temple Bar. From chic cafes to historic galleries and pubs, there are always opportunities to drink in the history! All that before even mentioning how hard you can shamROCK Dublin’s famous and prevalent pub and live music scene.

Living in Dublin isn’t mighty cheap, but the good news is that the cost of living is slightly more reasonable than at comparable cities in England and many other European destinations. Just keep your eye out for that elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

As one might expect anywhere in the world, salaries for jobs in Dublin vary according to the specific position and field, but are often based on experience and credentials. Expats who manage to secure a job in Dublin are typically paid enough to ensure a good quality of life despite the expenses. And, in true Dublin fashion, most hardships (and dispiriting weather) can be overcome at the local pub.

Maybe you’ve been dreaming of living and traveling in Ireland in one of those majestic, Georgian townhouses for which Dublin is so famous. Or, maybe you’re crossing your fingers for a quaint little abode to rest your head. Housing in Dublin may not give your bank account much mercy, but there are plenty of options for expats in the Irish capital.

The most widely available are cozy flats or semi-detached row houses that can be shared by roommates. Living in the center or lower-numbered zones can be quite chaotic, so check out other neighborhoods that are still walking distance to the city center, like Portobello, Ranelagh, or the Liberties.

The work visa application in Ireland follows a pretty standard process. For residents of most countries, obtaining a visa to work abroad in Dublin will be a piece of Irish whiskey cake. You must have sponsorship from an employer in order to get a work visa approved, and then they are typically in effect for a two-year term. Applying for a working-holiday visa for short-term positions for up to 12 months will also get you out of the starting gate in a cinch. For more information about the process, visit GoAbroad’s Embassy Directory.

Smooth sailing. With Dublin’s friendly personality and diverse expat community, your transition to life abroad will be smoother than most and full of craic. Everything from the friendly Irish to the prevalent English will make your transition to the expat life even easier. You’ll be properly clinking your Guinness with a robust “Sláinte!” in no time at all. 

Bring your A game. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve realized that Dublin is an awesome place to work abroad and a few others folks have taken notice as well. Even though there are a lot of jobs available, there are a lot of applicants duking it out for those top spots. So make sure you prepare to dominate in those interviews!

What ye sayin’? All that quirky lingo and slang spewed out with a very distinctive Irish accent will be hard to get a grip on at first. Even if English is your first language, there will be a little lag time between hearing and understanding. But in no time, yer’ll be speakin’ like a true Oirishman.

Get your jig on. Dublin has more festivals than sheep in its pastures. There’s a day set aside to celebrate everything from art and food to tractor plowing. And if you haven’t heard, there’s also this little holiday called St. Patrick’s Day that happens in March.

What really makes finding work in Ireland for foreigners extraordinary is that every mundane activity you experience at home (grocery shopping, commuting, etc.) is suddenly transformed into an exciting adventure. When living abroad, boredom, routine, and normal cease to exist. All that’s left is the thrill and challenge of uncertainty. So go forth, you little expat you! May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and may trouble avoid you wherever you go.