How to Find and Prepare for Remote Work Opportunities in Ireland

What's All the Fuss About?

Despite its meteoric rise over the past two years, remote working isn't new. Many Irish people have been doing it for decades but it's only recently—due to technological advancements and the pandemic of course—that it's gained the attention it deserves. 

Sure, it's not for everyone. You can probably guess that those who were forced to work from home during lockdowns had a tougher time setting boundaries than those who had been doing it for years. 

People who suddenly found themselves without an office tended to work longer hours and struggled to disconnect after their workday. This, along with a lack of social contact and an abundance of negativity in the news, has caused many people to feel fed up with remote work and their professional lives. 

At the same time, great strides in remote working have been made in Ireland over the past decade. The advent of Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) at enterprise centres has made remote work more accessible and social. Meanwhile, the pandemic has opened people's eyes to the benefits of countryside living and the fact that working remotely is possible (and for many, the preferred option).

New Legislation

Did you know that the right to request remote work is set to come into force by the end of this year? Government plans are in the works to give employees the legal right to ask for remote work. The employer will still have the right to deny that request but only on limited grounds (although we don't know what those are yet). 

Better Infrastructure = Better Opportunities

More and more BCPs are also receiving investment. Recently, the Department of Rural and Community Development approved €8.8m in funding to 118 projects across the country. 

Several hubs located in towns across our Xplore Local network (including Tralee, Fermoy and Killarney) have been awarded a total of just under €250k to improve or expand their facilities. 

For those who don't have a home office, good broadband, or would rather work in a more structured environment, innovation/enterprise/co-working hubs offer the ideal solution. Renting a private office in places like these allows you to stay local, cut your commute, and maintain a separation between your home and professional life.

I've Never Worked Remotely. What Kind of Jobs Are Out There and How Do I Prepare?

Remote work is no longer just for tech-heads. Positions are now available in the fields of customer service, marketing, digital creation, copywriting, sales, banking, accountancy, software development, human resources — even wedding planning!

Grow Remote is a fantastic resource for anyone looking for a job closer to home. They are a not-for-profit, Irish-based organisation that seeks to support small communities by raising awareness of remote jobs available in the country.

Their remote working skills courses aim to give people the tools they need to succeed in a remote role. You can enrol now for their 8-week Remote Work Ready course beginning September 7th. 

According to them, you don't need to be super-qualified to get a foot in the door of remote work. They recommend not to self-filter when looking for work and to apply for jobs even if you don't tick all of the employer's boxes.

Where to Look

In addition to peer-support groups and training courses, Grow Remote have a regularly updated Remote Job Board that is curated specifically for Irish jobseekers.

Thinking of hotdesking/coworking but not sure if there's a place for that in your community?

The brand-new connectedhubs.ie provides a searchable database of hubs near you, along with information on their facilities, pricing plans, and how to get in touch.