7 min de leitura14 June 2026

7 Common Entry-Level Jobs in Ireland 2026 and How to Apply

Healthcare, hospitality, logistics and retail are sectors where many people find a first job in Ireland. If you are a Brazilian, EU, or international worker looking for your first role here, these seven roles often have lower barriers to entry than others. This guide covers what each role involves, what employers tend to look for, and how to get your CV right for each one. For pay, check the job advert and the official minimum wage rates on the Citizens Information website, as they change.

1. Healthcare assistant — a common entry route into care

Healthcare assistant (HCA) is a common entry-level role in Irish hospitals, nursing homes and community services. Pay varies by employer, location and shift pattern, so check the job advert.

Where: hospitals, nursing homes, home care and community services
Requirements: QQI Level 5 in Healthcare Support (or equivalent), manual handling cert, Garda vetting arranged by the employer
Work permission: check the current Employment Permits rules on the official government website if you need a permit

If you have care experience from Brazil, Portugal, or elsewhere, frame it using Irish terminology. Irish employers say "healthcare assistant" — not "auxiliary nurse" or "care aide". See CV template →

2. Kitchen porter — hospitality's backbone role

Kitchen porters keep restaurant, hotel and hospital kitchens running, and the role is a common way into hospitality.

Where: restaurants, hotels, canteens, hospital kitchens
Requirements: usually no formal qualifications needed. A HACCP food safety cert is an advantage
Advantage: some kitchens offer meals during shifts and flexible scheduling

Your CV needs to emphasise reliability and physical capability. Mention shift availability explicitly — it is often one of the first things a hiring manager checks. See CV template →

3. Warehouse operative — logistics and distribution

Warehouse operatives work in distribution centres, retail logistics and parcel networks. Shift patterns vary, and night or weekend shifts may pay more, so check each job advert.

Where: distribution centres, retail logistics, parcel and freight firms
Requirements: manual handling cert, basic English, safety footwear
Advantage: a forklift licence (counterbalance or reach) can make you eligible for more roles and sometimes better pay

Irish warehouse employers use specific vocabulary: "picking", "packing", "goods-in", "despatch". Use these terms on your CV — they match what many job adverts and ATS keyword searches look for. See CV template →

4. Care worker — home support

Care workers and home support workers visit people in their own homes to help with personal care and daily living. Employers often value reliability, empathy and a driving licence.

Where: home care providers and community services
Requirements: QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support (or willingness to complete), a full driving licence (often needed in rural areas), Garda vetting
Work permission: check the current Employment Permits rules on the official government website if you need a permit

Employers value empathy, reliability, and a clean driving licence above all else for home care. If you have any caring experience — even informal family caring — mention it on your CV. See CV template →

5. Cleaner — work across many sectors

Commercial and residential cleaning exists in almost every sector, from offices and hotels to hospitals and homes. Specialist settings such as hospital or industrial cleaning may pay more, so check the job advert.

Where: offices, hotels, hospitals, private homes, contract cleaning firms
Requirements: usually no formal qualifications. Reliability and attention to detail.
Advantage: early morning or late evening hours can suit people studying English or attending ETB courses

For cleaning roles, your CV should highlight reliability, physical fitness, and any experience with specific environments (hospital, office, industrial). See CV template →

6. Delivery driver — gig and employed roles

Delivery driving in Ireland splits into two types of work: self-employed gig platforms and employed driver roles with a courier or logistics company. Employed roles normally come with a contract, holiday pay and employer PRSI, while gig work is usually self-employed, so check which one you are applying for.

Where: couriers, parcel networks, food and grocery delivery
Requirements: a valid driving licence that is recognised in Ireland (Category B minimum) and good English
PPS number: you will need one to work. Apply at your local Intreo centre

Delivery driver CVs should emphasise a clean driving record, time management, and customer service skills. See CV template →

7. Sales assistant — retail's permanent need

Sales assistant is a common entry-level retail role in shops and supermarkets across the country. Pay and hours vary by employer, so check the job advert.

Where: supermarkets, clothing and homeware shops, convenience stores
Requirements: basic English, flexibility for weekends and evenings, a customer service attitude
Advantage: languages other than English can be useful in shops with international customers

For retail CVs, Irish employers want to see customer service examples and flexibility. Use "sales assistant" — not "shop worker" or "vendedor". See CV template →

How to get your CV right for these roles

Many employers hiring for these roles use ATS software or an online portal to sort applications before a person reads them. If your CV uses the wrong format, wrong terminology, or wrong structure, it can be overlooked — however qualified you are.

MeuCV builds CVs specifically for these Irish roles. You fill in your details, and the AI rewrites your experience using the vocabulary Irish recruiters actually search for — "warehouse operative" instead of "almoxarife", "healthcare assistant" instead of "auxiliar de enfermagem". The output is a clean, single-column PDF in an ATS-friendly format.

From €5.99. No account needed, you see the result before paying, and your data is deleted within 72 hours.