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So there I was. I arrived to Ireland with one suitcase, leaving my old life behind and starting from scratch.

I moved to a new country on my own and had to find new flat, new job and new friends. It's been a long, exciting and challenging journey that brought me to where I am right now. Ireland is now my Home.   

I work as a multilingual recruitment manager and specilize in supporting candidates moving to Ireland from abroad, so over the last few years I have been continuously asked for advice on relocation. There are certainly many tips I could give anyone looking to relocate (the main one being: don't overthink it, just do it!), however, for the purpose of this blog, I'll stick only to the tips that wish I was given when job hunting for the very first time in a foreign country. So here they are:

Take a look at the structure of your CVs

While we all know to update our CVs with the most recent and relevant information on our skills and experience, what you might not realise is that the structure of CV differs throughout the world. Following the standard and rules will make your application look more professional and it will also show you;re familiar with the market. Some of the difference might in details, for example in English CVs it's well seen to use strong adjectives - something that wouldn't work in Germany. Another example could be disclosing your personal information or adding  photo - acceptable in continental Europe, but considered redundant on the Emerald Island.

Prepare a good cover letter

Your cover letter is your presentation card and your chance to introduce yourself. Make sure to take this opportunity to explain your reasons for planning to relocate. One of the first aspects an employer will try to understand when your CV lands at their desk is how serious you are about moving to a new country. Your cover letter should show your determination and willingness to relocate. Try to be open, honest and specific while listing out your reasons for making the move. 

Get familiar with the most popular jobs websites

Now you have your CV and your cover letter ready and it’s time to seek for opportunities. There are many websites that will help you get started such as irishjobs.ie, monster.com, toplanguagejobs.com, recruitireland.com and indeed.ie. Many companies will publish their job openings on multiple websites so try to keep track of the roles you're applying for - you don't want to flood your potential employer with hundreds of emails and messages. Make sure to check the jobs posted on our website as well (recruitment agencies don't always publish all their roles on the job boards). We might also have roles you could be a good match for that aren't yet advertised! Or you might not even realise that you could be the right fit for a certain role until you discuss the details with one of our consultants. 

Language exchange meetings or intercultural nights

Social life is just as important as your career. What's more, your social life and your work life are/will be strongly linked. Some of your colleagues will become your best friends. Some of your new friends might one day become your colleagues and help you progress through your career. As calculated as it may sound, the reality is that when living in a foreign country far away from your friends and family, it is all the new people that you'll meet and befriend who will help you survive the toughest times. 

As soon as you land, make sure to put an effort in meeting new people - either through Facebook groups or websites such as meetup.com (this is where I met my current best friends!).

Don't give up!

There will be days when you'll doubt whether you can make it in a new country. There will be nights when you'll feel lonely and scared. Know, that this is all normal and part of adaptation process. We have all been there and we all survived. Remember: anything worth having is worth fighting for.