I moved from the US to Ireland. I'm extremely happy with my choice, but there are a few things I wish I'd known before relocating.
18.07.2024 - 16:40
/ insider.com
In 2019, I moved from the US to Ireland and didn't look back.
All I had were two very large suitcases, about $4,000 in savings, and a folder of crinkled paperwork for my Irish Working Holiday Visa, which allows recent graduates to travel and work in Ireland for a year.
I set off with no job or housing lined up, no relatives or connections to the country, and basically no plans in general, and I've gotten so many questions from people around the world wanting to know how I did it.
Years later, I wish I could've offered my 23-year-old self some words of wisdom.
Ireland is a very expensive place to live, and my savings disappeared more quickly than I budgeted for.
I saved as much as possible before I arrived because I knew it would give me a better security cushion in case it took me longer than expected to find a job.
I skipped out on nights out and meals with friends for nearly a whole year before moving. When it came down to it, I reasoned that I'd rather have a pint of Guinness in Dublin than another latte from a Starbucks in Missouri.
For months before moving, I received the same response from countless job applications: "Let's talk when you're on the ground."
I've learned that you'll only start receiving serious responses once you're physically located in Ireland (with your Irish address and phone number listed on your resume to prove it).
Sadly, the Irish job market is extremely competitive, especially in Dublin. I applied to hundreds of jobs for months and didn't hear back from most of them. I even started nannying just to get some Ireland-based experience on my CV.
Although there are plenty of casual and short-term jobs, you'll be competing with other Irish high-school and college students as well as young people from the European Union.
Those groups typically fill up spots first, especially for temp roles or tourism and hospitality jobs.
Before moving to Ireland, my only professional experience was as a marketing coordinator at a nonprofit. Fresh out of college, I didn't have much on my resume, and I assumed that the only places I'd find work were coffee shops or retail stores.
After several months of no luck followed up by a few temporary admin roles, I was finally able to break into my desired field by networking through several recruitment agencies.
Unlike what I experienced in the US, this was the easiest way to get a full-time job in Dublin. It opened the door for me to gain permanent contract roles in my chosen field.
On the Working Holiday Visa, sponsorship is also an option for those looking to stay permanently in Ireland. If your employer decides to sponsor you, it could lead to a work visa, which would ultimately earn you permanent residency — as long as you stick to the job for