From USA to Ireland: Thrilled With My Move, But Here’s What I Wish I’d Known Before Relocating

• I relocated from the US to Ireland via the Irish Working Holiday Visa five years back.
• Securing a full-time position, finding cost-effective accommodation, and assembling a solid circle of friends proved challenging.
• The nation might be pricey, yet I've discovered there's plenty to discover, particularly through road trips.

In 2019, I relocated from the US to Ireland and didn't look back.

Everything I possessed consisted of two extremely large suitcases, roughly $4,000 in savings, and a folder filled with creased documents. Irish Working Holiday Visa This enables new graduates to explore traveling and working in Ireland for one year.

I embarked without a job or place to live arranged, no family ties or contacts in the country, and essentially no specific plan, and I have received numerous inquiries from individuals worldwide eager to learn how I managed it.

Years later, I find myself wishing I could go back in time and offer some sage advice to my 23-year-old self.

Set aside as much as possible since Ireland might turn out to be costly.

Living in Ireland proved to be quite costly, with my savings depleting faster than I had planned.

I set aside as much money as I could prior to arriving, knowing it would provide a stronger safety net in case it took more time than anticipated to secure employment.

I avoided going out at night and dining with friends for almost an entire year prior to my move. Ultimately, I decided that I would prefer enjoying a pint of Guinness in Dublin over having yet another latte from a Starbucks in Missouri.

Securing employment in Ireland can be challenging, particularly if you haven’t arrived in the country yet.

For months prior to my relocation, every job application yielded an identical reply: "We should discuss once you've arrived."

I’ve discovered that you’ll only begin getting substantial replies when you’re based in Ireland, with an Irish address and telephone number included on your CV as evidence.

Unfortunately, the Irish job market is highly competitive, particularly in Dublin. For several months, I sent out applications to numerous positions but received responses from only a few. To gain some relevant experience listed on my resume, I began working as a nanny.

Even though there are numerous casual and short-term jobs , you will compete alongside other Irish high school and college students as well as young individuals from the European Union.

These groups often claim most of the available positions initially, particularly for temporary roles or jobs in tourism and hospitality sectors.

However, you can still advance your career as an American in Ireland.

Prior to relocating to Ireland, my sole professional background was working as a marketing coordinator for a non-profit organization. Having just graduated from university, my resume wasn’t very extensive, and I figured that the only opportunities available would be limited. coffee shops or retail stores.

Following many months without success and after holding a couple of interim administrative positions, I ultimately gained entry into my preferred sector by leveraging various recruitment firms for networking opportunities.

In contrast to my experience in the US, this turned out to be the simplest way to secure a full-time position. in Dublin It paved the way for me to secure permanent contract positions in my desired industry.

With the Working Holiday Visa, individuals interested in staying permanently in Ireland can opt for sponsorship from their employers. Should this occur, you might qualify for a work visa, potentially leading to permanent residency—provided you remain with the company for between two and four years.

Securing housing in Ireland is just as challenging, if not more so, than searching for employment.

Securing accommodation in Ireland generally poses significant challenges, yet locating housing remains quite tough. in Dublin It's an ongoing challenge. Sadly, it's becoming more difficult annually.

Don't worry if attending an overcrowded showing for a rental room in a communal house makes you feel uneasy. It’s also not unusual to find that the room has quite a steep price attached to it.

In Dublin, you might find yourself paying approximately €2,000 (around $2,100) for rent every month, whereas in smaller towns, the typical cost usually comes out to be around €1,500 (roughly $1,575) per month.

Obtaining an Irish telephone number is essential.

For my first few months, I made the mistake of keeping my American phone number, which seemed to hurt my chances while applying for housing, jobs, and basically anything I needed in Ireland.

I found that people seem to trust you more as soon as they see you have an Irish number. It shows a commitment to living here and putting down roots, so I recommend making the switch as soon as possible.

To simplify things, you may opt to pay for unlocking your phone (assuming it’s not already unlocked) and purchase an Irish SIM card with a prepaid mobile plan.

Even if you're just traveling Across Europe, if you wish to avoid exorbitant charges for international data and calls during your holiday, simply purchase an affordable SIM card at your destination. These typically remain functional for around 28 days.

This provides you with unrestricted data usage, allowing you to access social media platforms and Google Maps from anywhere without limitations.

Americans based overseas are able to participate in U.S. elections — and the procedure is not as complicated as one might think.

When relocating to another country, it's crucial to investigate the process of casting votes from overseas in your nation.

Regrettably, in Ireland, voting is restricted to onshore locations—thus, Irish citizens must undertake a specific journey back home to cast their ballots. However, U.S. citizens residing overseas retain the ability for their votes to be counted.

I've voted absentee online For the past two U.S. presidential elections, it became quite simple after I researched the procedure.

It doesn’t rain all the time (though it often does).

The Irish have plenty of justification for their penchant for discussing the climate frequently. The country is famous for its constant wind, gloomy weather, and persistent rain throughout most of the year, so make sure to pack appropriately.

However, each year as March arrives, there’s a universal sense of relief — people eagerly anticipate the end of the long, damp weeks ahead.

Between March and September, you might encounter occasional splendid weather in Ireland.

Even though the summers are considerably less intense, the weather tends to be mostly cloudy, and rainfall can suddenly begin regardless of whether the sky had been clear beforehand.

Due to the erratic nature of the weather, it has sparked the classic Irish adage, "Every season can be witnessed within a single day."

When it comes to packing, less is more.

The first time I journeyed to Ireland, I lugged along two fully packed suitcases. However, one would have sufficed and perhaps even been too much.

Despite being an expensive country, Ireland boasts several affordable stores where you can find all sorts of items for your home — hence only pack What you're ready to carry up several flights of stairs and let tumble down steep cobblestone roads.

Penneys, which goes by the name Primark outside of Ireland, is an iconic fixture for Irish shoppers. Here, you can purchase clothing, footwear, home goods, and virtually anything else imaginable. What sets it apart is that it offers affordability without compromising too much on quality.

Discover as much as you can, particularly by vehicle, whenever feasible.

Whether you're drawn to UNESCO World Heritage sites, top-tier beaches, or charming villages with peculiar customs, Ireland offers an intriguing destination for discovery.

Although quite compact, roughly akin to the size of Indiana, this place boasts highly distinct counties, each offering unique fragments of ancient history for exploration.

Currently, I don’t own a car (someday I’ll make myself learn how to drive on the other side of the road). So, I depend on public transportation for getting around because it’s more practical and less expensive compared to driving within the city.

However, there’s an entire country to discover beyond Dublin, and since Ireland is largely rural—featuring numerous twisty, narrow backroads that aren’t even mapped by Google Maps—the most effective mode of exploration is by car.

Fortunately, my Irish companion owns a vehicle, allowing us to enjoy picturesque drives.

Locating my kinfolk in Ireland required some patience.

When I moved to Ireland, I approached making friends with an overly optimistic outlook, as though everything would be rosy.

It may take some time to integrate with established friend circles, particularly those who have known each other since their school days. However, I suggest making friends with both individuals from abroad and locals, as Ireland has quite a diverse population.

I have developed strong relationships with many of my colleagues, and I've also formed several friendships via mutual connections.

Discovering and becoming part of social media pages or Facebook groups focused on Americans or expatriates living in Ireland has been quite beneficial for making connections. It’s wonderful to have someone to talk to who understands what you’re going through as an American abroad and can relate to missing aspects of life back home.

You can't prepare for every eventuality, but you can still have a good time.

I learned from experience that there isn’t much you can prearrange beyond short-term lodging before relocating to Ireland with a Working Holiday Visa.

It's extremely difficult to secure employment or permanent accommodation ahead of time. As someone with a Type A personality who enjoys making detailed checklists and planning every aspect well in advance, this situation was quite daunting.

However, Ireland is a country brimming with excitement, friendly locals, and abundant good times (craic).

Every time I come back to the U.S. during the holiday season now, I feel much more confident about who I am and what I can do.

The top recommendation I have for those considering making this transition is simply to go ahead with it. Personal growth is impossible if we continually avoid activities that scare us.

The tale was initially released on February 6, 2022, and has been revised most recently as of July 18, 2024.

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