It's not surprising that workers across Europe have flocked to job fairs promoting 60,000 openings for skilled workers in Irish companies. Now, though, American workers seem to be following suit.

American workers who are disillusioned and frustrated with the workplace here are more than curious about what it might be like to find a job abroad--which was the trend I've noticed in past years. When organizers of the job fair that came to New York in late 2006 to flaunt the strong Irish economy and expanding job opportunities in technology, pharmaceutical and chemical industries and financial services and e-business, it was mainly American citizens who showed "interest and seem eager for a new career and new life in Ireland's booming economy," according to a New York Times article.

And it's not just the young and restless 20-somethings. Among the disenchanteds are people like 54-year old Robert Aspland, who says that for someone like him in America, "getting a full-time job with benefits that also pays a living wage is like a pipe dream here these days."

The organizer of the event says there's a small but unmistakable trend regarding Americans moving to Ireland. "Nearly three times more Americans moved to Ireland last year than Irish immigrated to the United States," and the numbers are growing, notes Gregory Craig in the article.

Besides plentiful jobs, some of Ireland's enticing advantages are competitive pay, four months maternity leave, free health care and free education through college, he says. And although workers like Aspland love his American city of New York, he says there's "more opportunity in Ireland for someone with my background and my age."

Employment remains high in Ireland, according to www.movetoireland.com, a Web site started by a couple who moved there in their 40's. They say, "The hi-tech sector has come back, building (construction) and pharmaceuticals and finance are roaring and papers are filled with job ads from highly skilled to hamburger flippers."

But they warn that age discrimination does exist. "If you're in your forties or fifties and not highly qualified as an engineer, technician, doctor, nurse, architect programmer, or the like, getting a job in your chosen field can be tough." It's getting better, though, with the economy in such high gear and as labor shortages intensify, they add.

More than 600 software companies have been established in Ireland, says www.prospects.ac.uk, employing over 25,000 people. Other growing industries are pharmaceutical and chemical, medical devices and diagnostics manufacturers, financial services and call centers as more multinational companies develop service centers in Ireland.

Before you start packing, learn as much as you can about looking for work in Ireland, which you can begin to discover by going to a source like www.labourmobility.com.

Although they say the general focus of your resume, or CV, is the same in the U.S.--that is, to persuade the employer to invite you for an interview--they say "don't mention your skills and motivations in your CV in Ireland, this should be mentioned in your application letter."

On interviewing, they offer the same advice I would if interviewing in America. Don't criticize former employers, don't sit until invited and don't be "deceived by the chatty style in which interviews are held"--they're looking for the ‘real' you.

© by Andrea Kay