Hiring
Can you headhunt international candidates for roles in Ireland?
Yes, international headhunting for Irish roles is possible. Contingency agencies typically charge 15–25% of first-year salary. A fixed-fee managed search (advertising, headhunting and screening combined) costs €1,800–€4,300 depending on salary band. Median time to fill across published roles is 53 days. Whether you use an agency, a fixed-fee service or direct advertising, the fundamentals are the same: a clear role brief, a realistic salary, and a process that moves quickly enough not to lose candidates who have cross-border options.
Headhunting international candidates for roles in Ireland
Ireland has always pulled in talent from abroad — EU freedom of movement, a strong tech and pharma sector, and English as the working language all help. But "headhunting internationally" covers a range of things, and the right approach depends on what you actually mean.
What employers usually mean by this
Most searches that come to us described as "international" fall into one of three situations:
- The role is in Ireland, but the right candidate may be abroad — you want to reach people in the UK, Europe or further afield who might relocate or who are already commuting or remote-working across borders.
- The role itself involves managing international operations — the candidate may be Irish-based but the seniority and scope mean a narrow local search will not find them.
- You need someone with specific international experience — a language, a market, a regulatory background that is not common in the Irish domestic pool.
Each of these calls for a slightly different sourcing approach, but the underlying mechanics — writing a strong brief, mapping the candidate pool, making direct approaches, screening properly — are the same.
Your main options and what they cost
Contingency recruitment agencies Agencies working on a contingency basis charge a percentage of first-year salary, typically 15–25% in the Irish market, paid only on a successful hire. Some have international networks or sister offices. The rebate period (what an agency offers if the hire leaves early) varies — ask specifically what it covers and for how long before you sign. The percentage model means fees scale with salary, which matters at senior level.
Executive search / retained firms For genuinely senior international searches, retained search firms work for an upfront fee plus a final placement fee. Fees are almost always a percentage of salary. This suits roles where the candidate pool is small and highly passive. For most mid-market Irish roles, it is more than is needed.
Fixed-fee managed search (Premium Hire) Our Premium Hire service is a single fixed fee agreed upfront by salary band — not a percentage of salary. It includes a five-point review of your role (market standing, salary and package, competitor analysis, online presence, adverts and process), then a dedicated recruiter advertises, headhunts, screens and presents a shortlist of candidates who have already been interviewed. International candidates are included in the search where the role and salary support it.
| Salary band | Fixed fee |
|---|---|
| Up to €29,999 | €1,800 |
| €30,000 – €44,999 | €2,300 |
| €45,000 – €59,999 | €3,300 |
| €60,000 and above | €4,300 |
Across the 8 roles we have filled and published data for, the median time to fill was 53 days (middle half: 22–69 days). The fastest was 20 days, the slowest 137. We sourced and screened 322 candidates in total across those roles, presented 51 to clients, and 9 were hired.
Job advertising only If your employer brand is strong and the role is attractive, advertising alone can reach international candidates — particularly on LinkedIn and global job boards that index well outside Ireland. Our advertising packages start at €499 for Premium and €599 for Premium Plus. This suits employers who want to run their own process and are comfortable with volume screening.
Where international headhunting genuinely adds value
Headhunting — making direct, targeted approaches to passive candidates — earns its cost when:
- The role is senior or specialist enough that active job-seekers alone will not fill it
- The Irish domestic pool is demonstrably too thin
- Salary is competitive enough to make relocation realistic
- Your process is fast enough to keep international candidates engaged
It adds less value when the role can be filled from active applicants, when the salary is not competitive versus what a candidate earns at home, or when your internal hiring process takes so long that overseas candidates accept something else first.
Relocation and visa considerations
For EU/EEA citizens, there is no visa requirement to work in Ireland. For non-EEA candidates, the Critical Skills Employment Permit is the most relevant route for skilled roles. Processing times and eligibility criteria matter — if you are considering non-EEA candidates, factor permit timelines into your hire plan from the start.
See also: What do headhunter companies do in Ireland? and What do recruiters in Ireland charge?
If you want to talk through which approach suits your role, call us on (01) 575 5347.
Frequently asked questions
Do Irish employers have to sponsor visas for international hires?
EU/EEA citizens do not need a visa or permit to work in Ireland. For non-EEA candidates, the most common route for skilled roles is the Critical Skills Employment Permit, administered by the Department of Enterprise. You will need to factor permit processing times into your hiring timeline. Details are on enterprise.gov.ie.
Is a fixed-fee search cheaper than a percentage-fee agency for international roles?
At most salary levels, yes. A contingency agency charges 15–25% of first-year salary. On a €50,000 role that is €7,500–€12,500. Our fixed fee for the same band is €3,300. The difference widens further at senior salaries. The trade-off is that large retained firms with genuine international networks may access candidate pools that a fixed-fee service cannot — for a genuinely global executive search, that breadth can be worth the cost.
What if the international hire does not work out?
Before you place anyone — domestic or international — it is worth understanding what protection you have. Contingency agencies typically offer a rebate period if the hire leaves early; the length and terms vary, so read the contract carefully. Our optional Replacement Cover means that if your hire leaves for any reason within 12 months of their start date, we conduct one replacement search for the same role at no further fee. It must be purchased before the start date. We offer no refund and no guarantee on any service.
How long does it take to hire someone from abroad?
The search and selection timeline is similar to any hire — our median across published roles is 53 days. What adds time for international candidates is notice periods (which can be longer in some European markets), potential permit processing for non-EEA hires, and relocation logistics. Build at least an extra four to eight weeks into your plan if you expect candidates to be relocating.
Sources
Want the fixed price for your role?
Advertise it yourself across Ireland's major job boards from €499, or hand the whole search to a dedicated recruiter with Premium Hire — one fixed fee by salary band for a five-point review of your role, advertising and headhunting, and a screened shortlist. No VAT is added for Irish businesses.
See Premium Hire Advertise a job
Or call (01) 575 5347.