Returning to work can be daunting. But a returner-friendly employer can make the world of difference.
Back To Work Connect spotlights Irish companies that offer the most support to returnees, so you can find your perfect back-to-work fit.
This time we’re profiling IDA Ireland
If you’re looking for a fast-paced and varied role, love working with a team to meet a shared goal, and value work/life balance, then IDA Ireland may be the perfect place to restart your career.
IDA Ireland: Company background
IDA Ireland is Ireland’s Inward Investment Promotion and Development Agency, partnering with established foreign-owned companies to invest in Ireland and to expand across the country.
IDA Ireland prides itself on helping clients make the connections they need to grow their business from Ireland. They work with a portfolio of over 1,800 companies from different industry sectors to help bring jobs to these shores.
Currently, over 450,000 people are employed either directly or indirectly by IDA Ireland’s client companies, meaning that for every 10 jobs created by Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Ireland, 8 more jobs are generated in the wider economy.
IDA Ireland consists of a team of over 350 people and each day they embrace their values of: People, Professionalism, Passion for Performance & Achievement, and Public Service.
IDA Ireland has offices in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Dundalk, Athlone, Sligo, and Galway. Further afield, they also have representatives on the ground in the US, Europe (UK, Germany, France), Asia Pac – Australia, China, India, Japan, and South Korea
Why work at IDA Ireland?
There are lots of reasons to choose IDA Ireland as your route back into employment. Flexibility, for one. The organisation offers hybrid working (with three days at the office, and two at home).
They also offer flexibility in when you start and end your working day; great if you have a family or lots of extra-curricular activities and helpful in achieving a work/life balance.
The work itself is fast-paced and varied, and you’ll be offered ample internal training across many tasks and projects.
In fact, the organisation is committed to investing and maintaining a culture of learning across the organisation and makes it a priority to enhance their team’s skills and knowledge. You’ll be able to upskill via the IDA Ireland Learning Academy.
Employee wellbeing is a priority for IDA Ireland as well. They have an award-winning EID initiative and were the first public sector organisation in Ireland to receive Investors in Diversity Gold accreditation.
Other benefits of working at IDA Ireland include:
• Tuition Aid
• Language classes
• Opportunity to move around different departments in the organisation
• Public sector pension scheme
• Hybrid, flexible working
• Opportunity to travel or work abroad if the opportunity presents itself
What to expect
If you love a challenging, rewarding, and varied role, then a job at IDA Ireland may be the right fit for you. No two days are the same and you’ll work across a range of exciting and varied projects.
The organisation gives you the option to work three days in-office and two days at home, for ultimate flexibility. You can also avail of flexible working hours and open location roles.
Some days will be spent meeting with some of the world’s most successful multinational companies while other days will be spent on the road welcoming prospective clients to Ireland.
Another day could be spent in the office with your team, working as a partner to a client in your portfolio. Your responsibilities could include business analysis, market research, content creation, project management, and client visit planning and execution.
In some divisions, there will be opportunities to travel to different locations within Ireland as part of site visits and stakeholder engagement meetings as well.
What employees love about working at IDA Ireland
An atmosphere of teamwork and pulling together to meet a common goal is one of the things employees at IDA Ireland most love about working there. They are immensely proud of the work they do shaping the social and economic landscape of Ireland.
This organisation takes great pride in its colleagues and boasts a brilliant and incredibly talented team right across the organisation.
It’s this sense of camaraderie that IDA Ireland colleagues enjoy. They have a shared purpose in bringing jobs to Ireland.
Here’s what one employee who enrolled in IDA Ireland’s graduate programme has to say:
“Since joining IDA Ireland’s Graduate programme I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside some of the most advanced and innovative companies in the world, meet world renowned business leaders, and gain a unique insight into the world of FDI.”
“I was given the opportunity to make a real impact in my work from the very beginning, while being part of an organisation that has a World-Class reputation.”
Careers at IDA Ireland
Job opportunities at IDA Ireland are generally divided into two main categories: Client-facing operations and corporate support roles.
Client-facing roles are broken down into sectors, while corporate support roles are spread across HR, Finance and Facilities, etc.
So, if you want to work at IDA Ireland what can you do to improve your odds of getting hired? First things first, it’s a good idea to have a look at the IDA Ireland website – understand why companies would come to Ireland and how the role you’ve applied for fits into that.
IDA Ireland looks for cognitive diversity – colleagues who can look at a problem with fresh eyes and bring change/fresh ideas.
They also love a consistent colleague – the person who comes in and keeps the ship steady, so have a think about how your current skills and experience fit that mould.
Interesting in a career at IDA Ireland?
If you’d like to know more about the roles IDA Ireland is currently hiring for, check out our returner-friendly jobs board.
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