How To Study And Work In Ireland As International Student

In Ireland, bagpipes and kilts are the first things that come to mind. By already being there, you experience student and school life there, but you can also work and immerse yourself a little more in the culture.

Indeed, the student job is an excellent way to finance your studies. In addition to your course schedules, you have the possibility with a bit of motivation to fill your portfolio and add additional experience to your CV.

This guide gives you the leads and explains the regulations for finding a student job in Ireland!

The culture of student work in Ireland

With an unemployment rate hovering around 5%, the country remains reliable in terms of employment. Highly renowned for its modernity and innovation, Ireland is at the forefront of technology.

As for the capital, Dublin, it is not to be outdone given the large number of professional opportunities it offers. The official language is Irish Gaelic, so it is better to get by in English in order to find a job!

Regarding the legal age, it is set at 16 years minimum. Specificities exist for the category ‘children’ between 14 and 15 years old. Beyond that, they are ‘young people,’ between 16 and 17 years old. This makes it possible to properly regulate the work of young people, both in terms of hours, wages and hardship.

Employment regulations in Ireland

If you are present in the territory and wish to work, you must have a residence permit. The request is made to a local police office, and must be made within the first 3 months. Some mandatory papers, including your school certificate, and a cover letter are required.

1. Minimum earnings in Ireland

Irish law regulates young workers, particularly in terms of pay. In addition, the employer selects the period, known as the pay reference period, from which the average hourly wage will be calculated.

For example, a week, a fortnight or a month, but not more than a month.

2. The working week in Ireland

According to the 1997 law on the organization of working time, the maximum average working week cannot exceed 48 hours. This does not mean that a working week can never exceed 48 hours; it is the average that is important and it is generally calculated over 4 months. In all cases, your schedules are indicated on your contract.

If you work on Sundays, you will have to agree the additional remuneration with your employer. If necessary, you can negotiate a salary increase, or paid leave from work, for example.

In addition, there is a specific regulation if you are under 18 years old. You can find it on the Citizens Information website.

3. Paid leave in Ireland for a student job

There is no special legislation concerning days off for students, to facilitate your exams for example. You can count on paid annual leave and holidays. At least 4 weeks are granted to employees and are calculated in different ways.

In your case, you will probably be on a part-time contract. Annual leave is calculated according to the 3rd method, i.e. 8% of the hours worked.

Taxes and duties on your remuneration

It is very similar to France. Income tax is deducted from your salary by your employer on behalf of the Irish government. This is known as Pay As You Earn (PAYE).

The amount of tax you have to pay depends on the amount of income you earn and your personal situation. It’s up to you depending on your number of hours and income as there is a ‘range’ of tax breaks that can reduce the amount you have to pay.

It is also necessary to take into account all social contributions such as the universal social charge (USC), or the charges for illness, disability or unemployment. More details on the portal of the International Labour Organization.

The most common student jobs in Ireland

1. Administration and sales

If you manage with the English language, you can look in the secretariat, accounting or in international relations (or French). The customer services of major brands are also on site with call centres that recruit internationals.

As for the sales sector, food or clothing distribution brands are looking for students for shelving, maintenance or sales. Similarly, there are occasional assignments as distributor of flyers, or invigilator during exams.

2. Service jobs

The famous Irish pubs… But not only that, you have of course the bars, restaurants and cafes to which you can apply.

We must also think of the hotel sector, or positions such as store salesperson or host at events. These functions do not necessarily require a lot of skills or experience, only motivation and adaptability.

3. Specialized sectors

Ireland is an innovative country. The headquarters of the big world names, such as Facebook, PayPal or Google are there. If you have any skills and an attraction for entrepreneurship, why not give it a try?

In addition, if you have skills in IT, pharmaceuticals, engineering, energy, or another sector, do not hesitate to inquire about part-time jobs. In addition to a significant experience on your CV, it is also a way to fill your wallet!

4. Language course

Your native language is French. Why not put it to good use if you have an educational streak? Give private lessons or help with homework, for example. And even better, if you already have a good level of language, you can even apply for translation or tourist guide assignments.

Also, Read “What to anticipate from Greater Choices 2022 – The Irish Occasions”

How to find a student job in Ireland?

The first step is to edit your resume and cover letter. To do this, do a little research on the most common presentation.

Indeed, it is better to pay attention to the way of filling in your personal data as well as to its ease of reading. The Modelo Curriculum site gives the keys to the ideal presentation of your Irish CV.

Regarding research, the platforms and websites listed offer you ads of all kinds. It’s up to you to classify according to your city for example, or your criteria. Here is our non-exhaustive selection:

• The Indeed Global Portal
• Irish jobs.ie
• Student Job.ie
• ie
• Jobs Boards.ie

Another aspect not to be overlooked in your search, the network! In France, on-site in your youth hostel, or with your friends, do not hesitate to talk about it around you. Similarly, why not try spontaneous applications, by addressing companies directly or in stores?

You can also search within your university or faculty. For this, inquire directly on-site, or in the dedicated service of the school. Also, remember to look around you: announcements may be posted on bulletin boards in the library, hallways, or cafeteria.

Finally, take a look at the LinkedIn social network, or at newspapers such as the Irish Times or the Independent!