Which sectors are hiring, which employers sponsor visas, what salaries to expect, and exactly how to approach your Irish job hunt. No fluff — real information.
Honest assessment of each sector — demand, sponsorship rates, and realistic salary ranges.
Ireland's largest graduate employer. Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Stripe, HubSpot — the full roster is in Dublin. Strong demand for software engineers, cloud architects, DevOps, and cybersecurity professionals. Active sponsorship for qualified candidates.
One of the fastest-growing areas in Ireland. Every major tech firm is expanding AI teams. Data engineers, ML engineers, and AI researchers are in critical shortage. Sponsorship is almost universal in this space for qualified candidates.
Ireland's second-largest sector. Pfizer, MSD, AstraZeneca, Roche, J&J — all with major Irish facilities. Quality, regulatory, validation, and manufacturing roles are in consistent shortage. Very active sponsorship, particularly in Cork and Limerick.
Dublin's IFSC employs 44,000+ in banking, fund management, insurance, and fintech. Risk, compliance, fund accounting, and data analytics roles are actively hiring. Sponsorship varies — large banks sponsor more readily than smaller firms.
Cross-sector demand — every industry needs data talent. Business analysts, BI developers, and data analysts are hired in tech, pharma, retail, and government. Moderate sponsorship — better at larger organisations.
Ireland has a critical shortage of healthcare professionals. Nurses, healthcare scientists, and medical technologists are among the most actively sponsored roles in the country. The HSE and private hospitals are actively recruiting internationally.
Universal demand across all sectors. Tech companies, pharma manufacturers, construction firms, and government agencies all need project managers. Sponsorship is more selective but available at larger organisations.
Competitive market but strong demand. Google, Meta, HubSpot and 200+ digital agencies in Dublin hire marketing graduates. Sponsorship is less common than STEM roles — strong portfolio and agency experience improve chances significantly.
We've placed 10,000+ students in Ireland since 2015. Here's what we've learned about who succeeds and who struggles — and what the difference comes down to.
Ireland is genuinely one of the best countries in the world for an international graduate's career. But it's not automatic. The students who succeed are the ones who treat job hunting as a second degree — starting early, networking relentlessly, and presenting themselves as professionals, not just students.
Read Alumni Stories →Starting your job hunt 3–4 months before graduation. Attending industry meetups and tech events. Optimising LinkedIn with Irish keywords. Connecting with our alumni already working in Dublin. Targeting large multinationals first — they have established sponsorship processes.
85%+ of our tech and pharma graduates find sponsored employment within 6 months. Finance takes 4–8 months typically. Project management and marketing are slower — 6–12 months is realistic. Starting salaries are strong; growth after 2–3 years is exceptional.
Waiting until after graduation to start applying. Applying only to Irish SMEs (smaller companies rarely sponsor). Expecting the university to find you a job. Underestimating how competitive the market is for non-STEM roles. Not building a LinkedIn presence during your studies.
Visa sponsorship adds a step that EU/Irish graduates don't face. Some smaller Irish employers are unfamiliar with the work permit process. Marketing and general business roles have lower sponsorship rates. Accommodation costs in Dublin can be stressful. We help you navigate all of this — but go in clear-eyed.
Begin applying 3–4 months before your course ends. The Irish job market moves fast — early applications catch roles before they close.
75%+ of Irish hiring happens through LinkedIn. Complete profile, Irish-relevant keywords, and active engagement matter more than any job board.
Google, Meta, Accenture, Deloitte — large firms have HR teams familiar with work permit processes. SMEs often don't know how to sponsor.
Tech meetups, fintech events, pharma industry conferences. Ireland is small. One conversation at an event can lead directly to an interview.
GlobalGrad alumni are working in Dublin, Cork, and Galway right now. A warm referral from an insider is worth 50 cold applications.
Generic CVs get ignored. Every application should reference the specific company's Ireland operations and your knowledge of their Irish team.
Don't hide it — address it early. "I have Stamp 1G for 24 months and am eligible for a Critical Skills permit" is reassuring, not alarming.
For tech roles, a visible portfolio of projects is worth more than your degree certificate. Start building it during your first semester.
A 6-month contract at a large firm often converts to permanent. It gets your foot in the door and starts your work permit clock.
Book a free session. We'll look at your background, target sector, and career goals — and give you a realistic roadmap from application to your first Irish job.