Hiring
How do I search for talent in Ireland?
To search for talent in Ireland you have three main routes: post a job advertisement yourself, use a managed-search service that handles sourcing and screening for a fixed fee, or engage a contingency recruitment agency (typically 15–25% of first-year salary, payable on hire). Which route suits you depends on the role's salary, your internal HR capacity, and how quickly you need someone in post. Advertising alone is cheapest but demands your time. Managed search costs more upfront and saves time. Agencies cost the most but carry no upfront risk.
How to search for talent in Ireland
Finding the right person for a role in Ireland is not complicated, but the route you choose has a real effect on cost, speed, and the quality of candidates you see. Below is an honest comparison of the three main approaches.
The three routes
| Route | Typical cost | Who does the work | Upfront payment? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job advertising (self-managed) | €499–€599 for a premium multi-board package | You source, screen, and interview | Yes |
| Managed search (fixed fee) | €1,800–€4,300 depending on salary band | Provider sources, screens, presents shortlist | Yes |
| Contingency agency | 15–25% of first-year salary (market rate) | Agency sources, screens, presents | No — fee on hire |
Those agency percentages are a widely published Irish market range, not our fee. We are giving you that figure because it belongs in a fair comparison.
When advertising alone makes sense
If you have someone in-house who can read CVs quickly and conduct first interviews, advertising the role yourself is the most cost-effective option. A Premium package is €499; Premium Plus is €599. Both place your vacancy across multiple Irish job boards simultaneously. You own the process from that point.
The honest downside: if your HR capacity is thin or the role is specialist, the volume of applicants can become a burden rather than a benefit.
When managed search makes sense
Managed search sits between advertising and a full agency. You pay a fixed fee; the provider handles sourcing, screening, and presenting a shortlist. Our fees by salary band are below.
| Role salary | Managed-search 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 |
If a role is not filled, you receive a 100% refund — that is our guarantee. There is no replacement candidate clause; you simply get your money back.
Across the 8 roles we have filled and publish data for, the median time to fill was 53 days (middle half: 22–69 days; fastest: 20 days; slowest: 137 days). We sourced and screened 322 candidates across those roles and presented 51 to clients. 9 were hired. The median number of candidates worked per role was 30. Those figures are published in full on our how it works page — we do not round them up or leave out the slow ones.
When a contingency agency makes sense
If you cannot afford any upfront spend and need to keep cash risk low, a contingency agency is worth considering. You pay nothing unless they fill the role. The trade-off is cost: at 15–25% of first-year salary, a €50,000 role costs €7,500–€12,500 on hire. For hard-to-fill or senior roles where the agency relationship adds genuine market access, that premium can be worth it.
We concede this openly: if your budget is very tight and you cannot absorb an upfront fee even with a refund guarantee, contingency is the lower-risk short-term choice.
Practical steps for an Ireland talent search
- Define the role clearly before you post anything. Vague job descriptions attract broad, low-quality applications and slow down every route.
- Check salary against the Irish market. The CSO publishes earnings data; roles benchmarked below market typically take significantly longer to fill.
- Decide who is doing the screening. If no one internally has the time, that cost is real whether or not it appears on an invoice.
- Give candidates a fair process. Irish candidates talk to each other. A slow or opaque interview process damages your employer reputation.
For more on where candidates actually come from, see our guide to finding talent in Ireland.
If you want to talk through which route suits your role, call us on (01) 575 5347.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to hire someone in Ireland?
Across our published data, the fastest fill was 20 days and the median was 53 days using managed search. Advertising alone can be faster if you have someone available to screen immediately. There is no honest answer that guarantees a specific timeline — role complexity, salary, and location all affect it.
Do I have to pay VAT on recruitment fees in Ireland?
Irish business customers are reverse-charge for VAT purposes, so no VAT is added to our fees. If you are using a large multinational agency, check their invoicing terms, as arrangements can vary.
What happens if the role is not filled?
With our managed-search service, you receive a 100% refund if the role is not filled. That is a cash refund, not a replacement candidate. With a contingency agency, you typically owe nothing if they do not fill the role, but you will have spent time managing the process.
Is it worth advertising on Irish job boards directly?
Yes, if you have the internal resource to manage applications. The main Irish boards (Indeed, IrishJobs, LinkedIn) reach the majority of active candidates. A multi-board package through us costs €499–€599 and saves you managing separate postings. See our [advertising page](https://www.talentfinder.ie/advertising) for what is included.
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 Guaranteed Hire — a flat fee by salary band with a 100% refund if the role is not filled. No VAT is added for Irish businesses.
See Guaranteed Hire Advertise a job
Or call (01) 575 5347.