How I Got a Job at Google Dublin with No Irish Experience (2026)
I arrived in Ireland in January 2025 with a Master’s degree, zero local network, and no Irish work history. By August 2025, I was working as a Software Engineer at Google Dublin.
No referrals. No prior FAANG experience. Just strategy.
🎯 My Profile:
Degree: MSc Computer Science (TU Dublin)
Coding: LeetCode (300+ problems)
Portfolio: 3 live projects on GitHub
Visa: Stamp 1G → Critical Skills Permit
Degree: MSc Computer Science (TU Dublin)
Coding: LeetCode (300+ problems)
Portfolio: 3 live projects on GitHub
Visa: Stamp 1G → Critical Skills Permit
Step 1: Built a “Proof-of-Skill” Portfolio
Instead of just listing degrees, I built:
- A real-time transit app for Dublin Bus (using GTFS data)
- An AI chatbot for Irish tourism FAQs
- Contributed to open-source projects on GitHub
✅ All code public. All projects deployed (using free Vercel/Heroku).
Step 2: Mastered the Irish Tech Interview
- LeetCode: Focused on mediums (arrays, trees, graphs)
- System Design: Studied “Grokking the System Design Interview”
- Behavioral: Used STAR method – practiced with friends
Step 3: Applied Smartly
- Applied directly on Google Careers (not LinkedIn)
- Selected “Dublin” + “Entry Level” roles
- Wrote a custom cover letter mentioning Irish tech ecosystem interest
Step 4: Nailed the Interview Loop
Google Dublin process (4 rounds):
- Phone screen (coding)
- Onsite: 2 coding, 1 system design, 1 behavioral
- “Googleyness” fit interview
💡 Key Insight: They care more about problem-solving clarity than perfect code.
Step 5: Handled Visa Smoothly
- Google sponsored my Critical Skills Employment Permit
- HR guided me through GNIB registration
- Started on Stamp 1 → eligible for Stamp 4 after 21 months
💡 Free Resource: Download my “Tech Job Prep Checklist for Ireland” – includes LeetCode list, project ideas, and visa tips. [Your Link]
You don’t need Irish experience to work at top tech firms here. You need proof you can deliver.
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