Tips And Tricks When Applying For Jobs In Ireland
Aidan Mortimer
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With our thriving economy and vibrant job market, Ireland attracts professionals from all over the world. As a non-Irish national, you may have unique challenges and opportunities when seeking employment in Ireland. In this blog, we provide you with valuable tips and tricks to help you navigate the job search process effectively and increase your chances of securing a job here in Ireland.
Interview Preparation
How to Prepare for Competency Questions?
- To prepare to answer competency-style questions, we recommend using the STAR Method. This involves highlighting the situation you were in, the action you took, the task at hand, and the resolution that occurred.
- Briefly discuss the situation, task, and result but do not dwell on it.
- Put the focus of your answer on the action piece. This will indicate how you will respond if or when a similar situation occurs in your new role.
- It is always good to mention a project you were part of where you can describe the actions you took most clearly – keep it simple for this. Overcomplicating your answers may cause you to lose your train of thought.
- The interviewer is trying to see if you are a proactive person and if you can manage relationships & other tasks at hand while being proactive. This highlights good communication skills.
What Questions Should I Ask the Interviewer?
- Ask about what key projects are ongoing, or planned that you might be working on
- What are the interviewer's hopes for the role?
- Speak of your strengths as much as possible and link it back to your experience.
How To Approach Weaknesses Questions?
- When an interviewer asks this type of question, they are aiming to see how well you can measure your self-awareness
- This question is not aimed at highlighting your lack of certain skills or experience but to show an understanding of your current skill set. For example, ‘I could do x but I used Y to resolve the problem…’
- However, it is important to show that you know where your weaknesses lie and that you are committed to upskilling to improve and achieve these.
How Do I Speak About My Employment Gap?
- When the interviewer brings up a gap in your employment, they are not trying to challenge you – they’re simply trying to get some clarification on the situation.
- Having an employment gap should never be an issue, so long as it is not a result of gross negligence, e.g., prison stay.
- Be honest about your employment gap, don’t over-explain, and simply move on.
How Do I Answer a Salary Question?
- If you are using a recruiter, we will handle all queries that surround your salary.
- However, this is not a guarantee that your salary will not come up in an interview.
- If it does arise, it is more of a clarification rather than a challenge.
- Give the interviewer a sense of where you would like to get to in terms of your salary.
- Don’t talk in absolutes as this may show that you are not flexible.
Formatting Your CV For the Application Process
Format:
- Cohesive font style and size throughout. We recommend Calibri.
- Always use bullet points, and avoid the use of paragraphs.
- Avoid using tables as they can be messy when opened on different platforms.
- Be aware of the sector you’re applying to. Show off your Microsoft Word Skills.
- Quality content is often better than creative content.
Order:
- Order your experience from most recent to oldest.
- The order we recommend is: Personal Details -> Education -> Experience -> Interests.
- Always put education before experience when a degree/qualification is necessary for the role.
- For references, simply state that referees are available upon request.
- Ordering the content of your CV wrong can make you look like an unsuitable candidate at first glance.
Content:
- Avoid unnecessary information like date of birth, home address, and profile picture as it is not standard practice in Ireland.
- The hobbies section is not crucial and can often be too wordy.
- Keep previous experience relevant to the role you’re applying o.
- Ensure detail for previous jobs is varied – don’t duplicate your wording for different jobs.
- Avoid giving unnecessary detail – it can come across unprofessional.
Social Integration and Building Your Network
Attend Industry Events and Conferences:
Research events that are specific to the industry you wish to work in. By attending these events, you will make connections, meet professionals, and learn about industry trends. Actively engage in conversations, ask questions, and exchange contact information such as LinkedIn profiles, with relevant individuals.
Join Professional Associations and Groups:
Join professional associations or organizations related to your industry. Attend their meetings and seminars to meet like-minded people. Participate actively in discussions, share your expertise, and seek guidance from experienced members.
Be Open and Approachable:
Embrace a friendly and approachable attitude when interacting with colleagues and professionals in your workplace. Don’t be afraid to initiate conversations and introduce yourself to new people.
Explore Local Meetup Groups:
Check out local meetup groups that align with your personal or professional interests. Meetup.com is a great platform to discover diverse groups, from tech enthusiasts to language exchange meetups.
Securing a job in Ireland as a non-Irish national may seem challenging, but with the right approach, determination, and preparation, you can achieve your professional goals. Remember to stay positive, persistent, and proactive throughout your job search journey.
Feel free to reach out to us for help with your search.