There’s no Place like Home!
The aftermath of the 2008 financial meltdown and the associated doom and gloom led to mass emigration from Ireland. In the four years following the crash 300,000 left Irish shores, 4 out of 10 were aged 18-24. In this time, half of adults aged between 25 and 34 considered leaving Ireland.
I made the decision to pack my bags and leave in late 2007, not spurned on by the economic downturn but more an incentive to travel. So unbeknownst to me I became part of this mass exodus. With five years’ of Banking and Funds experience under my belt I made my first stop in Sydney before eventually settling in Toronto for six years.
Finding work was straightforward with my background and it didn’t take too long before I immersed myself in the local cultures. It’s not long before you forget about how Cork are progressing in the All-Ireland and turn your attentions to the Toronto Raptors journey to the NBA Finals or the taste of a fresh pint of Guinness is replaced by a schooner on the shores of Coogee Beach, and let’s be honest, on one likes to admit it but we all love to be the “token Irish guy”. But at the end of the day, home is home.
It’s inevitable that eventually you are faced with that question, stay or go? For sure it’s not an easy one. You get to a point where you think about the lifestyle that you have grown accustomed to, you compare the relative merits of lifestyle, job opportunities, weather and friends. Ultimately, It boils down to one thing, family. A recent survey showed that a staggering 83% of expats moved home for family reasons. I was one of those.
But nothing could prepare me for what lay in store back on home turf. Ireland and Dublin in particular is buzzing. It’s no surprise that the CSO figures published for the year ended April 2016 showed the first net inward migration numbers since the crash. Dublin definitely has the feel of an international city and the mojo is restored and enhanced from the Celtic Tiger days.
It’s six months’ since I got back and was drawn to a career in recruitment. Having been in the industry for two months now I can see clearly how the country is thriving, particularly in Funds and Financial Services. There is no doubt in my mind that I made the right decision and I would wholeheartedly advise anyone to follow suit.
To discuss roles in Funds and Financial Services or for consultative support on returning to the homeland, give me a call:
Tel: 01 567 5570
Phone: dcurley@toptierrecruitment.com
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https://www.toptierrecruitment.com/job-search