How to start your job search

‌Whether you are looking for a graduate programme, a job in your chosen field or temporary work while you decide on your next step, it’s important not to leave it until after your final exams. It can take many job applications before getting your first interview, so apply throughout your final year.

Here’s our Top 10 Tips:

Careers Connect
The Career Development Centre’s hub for jobs, events, appointments, funding. Browse current jobs, search for companies and update your profile to get weekly emails. Registered University of Galway students use your usual login. Graduates of 2019, 2020 and 2021 sign up as a graduate giving your old student number.

Social media 
Find which suits the career you are pursuing and where the employers are promoting themselves. Use Twitter to follow companies and professions that interest you, many share job alerts as well. You can also search using appropriate key words and hashtags (e.g., #jobfairy). Follow companies that interest you on LinkedIn, use the job search tool, and see where graduates of your subjects are working. You can also add the url to your detailed profile to your CV.  See our Social Media tips for details.

Job Fairs
Go to our Graduate Jobs Fair in October, Teaching Fair in January and Internships & Graduate Opportunities Fair in January. Gradireland have fairs in Dublin usually in October and June. RDS usually have one in January. Online ‘EU Job Days’ www.europeanjobdays.eu

Network 
Use every opportunity to talk to those in the industry that interests you. Go to our panel discussions and employer events on campus – check Careers Connect for details.

Speculative approach
The direct approach can yield results. The majority of companies have a ‘careers’ page on their website (either in the menu bar or under ‘about us’). Browse Enterprise Ireland's company directories or the IDA's industry profiles and company listings for companies in your targeted sector.

Friends & Family 
People hear of vacancies within their own workplace or may pass on your details to someone that is hiring. Talk to everyone you know! 

Students Union
Can be contacted with part-time jobs so follow them on social media. These may also be advertised on Careers Connect.

University Department
Sometimes jobs get sent directly to the department so keep an eye on their notice board. 

Recruitment Agencies 
Often specialise in particular industries, many recruitment agencies will take graduates on to their books. They may also have temporary jobs to help you get experience. Remember, you should never have to pay to use an agency’s services (online or office based) – they charge the employer. 

Specialist magazines, journals and societies
Often have classified adverts and may have associated websites. Check the James Hardiman Library reading room to see if they hold any in your area of interest.


International students at University of Galway - The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service outline the conditions for working during/after your studies. Also see support pages from the University of Galway International Office