Tips for finding study programs, work and long-term accomodation.
Living semi-permanently in Ireland studying
or working is often a good way to really
experience local culture. If you have advice
or a job placement, please e-mail us with
your information at ireland@backpackglobe.com
WORKING
If you have an EU passport you may legally
work in Ireland and all other EU countries.
To get an Irish passport which also allows
you to work in Ireland and other EU countries
check if you have a parent or grandparent
from Ireland. Commonwealth residents with
a parent or grandparent born in the UK
do not need a work permit to work in Northern
Ireland. For more information contact
your nearest British Consulate or High
Comission before you go to Ireland or
the Department of Employment in Ireland
(www.entemp.ie, tel. 01 631 2121). To
apply for a work permit takes about four
weeks to process and is valid between
one month and one year. It can be renewed
but your prospective employer must obtain
it for you.
Job Ideas
Check the Irish employment agencies and
classified job ads in major papers. Some
of these include The Irish Jobs Page (www.exp.ie),
IrelandHiring.com (www.irelandhiring.com),
Nixers.com (www.nixers.com) and Top Jobs
(www.topjobs.ie).
Short-term work
The service sector or in agriculture is
the best place to look for short-term
work.
Long-Term Work
Give yourself plenty of time to get a
good long-term job. International placement
agencies are a good way to tackle it from
home but be wary. US citizens shoudl go
through the Council on International Educational
Exchange's Work Abroad Programs (888 COUNCIL;
www.ciee.org). This can help you get a
three to six month work permit/visa and
help you get jobs and housing. This costs
about US$350. Another option for college
students are internships. These are often
unpaid or poorly paid but provide good
experience. Try Search Associates (www.search-associates.com).
Working Ireland, 26 Eustace St., Dublin
2, Ireland (tel. 01 677 0300; www.workingireland.ie)
is an agency that helps with placements.
Teaching jobs are popular with travelers.
You need a bachelor's degree to be a full-time
teacher. Undergraduates may get work in
summer positions or tutoring. You can
also volunteer as a teacher, you can get
free accommodation and try for a stipend
from your college. To check for teaching
work try The International Educator (tel.
508-362-1414, www.tieonline.com), Americans
in Ireland (www.geocities.com/teachingirish)
or Teach Abroad (www.teachabroad.com).
Or try the Job Options Bureau, Tourist
House, 40-41 Grand Parade, Cork, Ireland
(tel. 21 427 5369, info@joboptionsbureau.ie).
Au pair work is another option. These
are usually female positions for travelers
aged 18-30 who live-in as nannies looking
after children and doing housework for
board and a small stipend. For an average
weekly wage you can expect €60-70.
Your enjoyment of the job will depend
largely on the family with whom you are
based. The hours are long and you need
a love of children! Here's a few hints
for where to start looking for work:
Accord Cultural Exchange, 750 La Playa,
San Francisco, CA 94121, USA (tel. 415-386-6203,
www.cognitext.com/accord).
Au Pair in Europe, P.O. Box 68056, Blakely
Postal Outlet, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
L8M 3M7 (tel. 905-545-6305, www.princeent.com).
Douglas Au Pair Agency Ltd, 28 Frankfield,
Douglas, Cork, Ireland (tel. 21 489 1489,
www.aupairhere.com).
Other options for work include the usual
waitressing, bar tending, temping, childcare,
farm work and volunteering. A lot of hostels
offer work several hours a day in exchange
for free board or discounted costs. You
could try agricultural work like World
Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF,
www.wwoof.org) to help you arrange work.
LONG-TERM ACCOMODATION
Here are some hints:
- budget enough money to stay in a hostel
for 1-2 weeks if you don't find anything
more permanent sooner.
- add to your budget that you may need
bond money once you find a place.
- check university bulletin boards and
newsletters that may feature cheap student
accommodation, shared housing etc
- see advertisements in local newspapers
- walk the streets and talk to people.
Let it be known what you are looking for.
- some boarding schools offer accommodation
in return or a few hours helping out at
the school either in the dorm or elsewhere.
This may limit your night hours however.
- look into exchanging housing. There
are web sites and agencies that help organise
this. Search our bulletin boards or leaving
your own posting.
- some hostels may discount your lodging
for long term stays or you may be able
to work for your accommodation. Other
hostels refuse stays of longer than several
days. Check our discussion boards and
job pages for listings.
- some cities have cheap workers dorms
- go to the local housing agency
- join a house sitting organisation or
check our bulletin boards for house sitting
opportunities. There are usually requirements
to fill, age is a big one.
