Not in the job market? Returning after a break? Changing careers? We connect you with real work experience and internship opportunities from Irish employers — for free.
CE, Tús, WPEP, BTWEA, Springboard+, JobPath, ARC — Ireland has over a dozen government-funded routes back into work. Corporate returnships from Deloitte, the Civil Service, and tech multinationals exist too.
But finding them? Understanding which one you qualify for? Knowing where to even start? That's where people get stuck. The information is scattered across a dozen government websites, none of them designed for someone who's already overwhelmed.
Built In Ireland puts it all in one place. Plain English. No jargon. Real opportunities from real Irish employers — whether you're a mother returning to work, someone changing careers at 45, or a 19-year-old who didn't go to college.
Four steps from where you are now to real work experience. Inspired by programmes that have placed thousands globally.
You have more skills than you think. We help you identify what you already know and articulate it in a way Irish employers understand — even if your experience is informal, international, or from years ago.
CE scheme? Springboard+ course? Corporate returnship? We match you to the government schemes and employer programmes you actually qualify for. No more guessing.
Browse real work experience and internship opportunities posted by Irish employers. Filter by sector, location, and type of placement. Apply directly or through the relevant scheme.
Work experience leads to references, confidence, and often a job offer. We support you through the placement and help you turn it into a permanent career move.
If you recognise yourself in any of these, this platform was built for you.
You stepped away to raise your kids. Now the gap on your CV feels like a wall. It doesn't have to be. Returnship programmes exist specifically for you — and many are paid.
Stuck in a field you've outgrown? Work experience in a new sector is the fastest way to prove you can do the job — without going back to college for three years.
On jobseeker's for 6+ months? You qualify for schemes like CE, Tús, and WPEP that give you real work, a better payment, and a reference. We'll show you which ones and how to apply.
You have qualifications and experience from home. Irish employers don't know what to make of them yet. A local placement bridges that gap faster than any application form.
Didn't go to college? No problem. Apprenticeships, traineeships, and entry-level placements can launch a career without a degree — if you know where to look.
Coming back after illness, injury, or a tough time? Supported work placements ease you back in at your own pace, with understanding employers who've signed up to help.
Every government-funded route back into work, explained in plain English. No jargon, no legalese.
Part-time work in your local community for people who've been unemployed 12+ months. You keep a payment of €286.50/week (as of Jan 2026) and get real experience plus a reference.
Community work placement for 12 months. Similar to CE but shorter and you're selected from the Live Register — you don't apply directly. Payment matches CE at €286.50/week.
6-month voluntary work placement with a real employer. You keep your social welfare payment plus get a top-up. Great for career changers wanting experience in a new field.
Want to start your own thing? Keep a percentage of your jobseeker's payment for up to 2 years while building a business. Year 1: 100%. Year 2: 75%.
Free and heavily subsidised college courses in areas with job demand — tech, healthcare, green energy, finance. Part-time and full-time options. Open to employed and unemployed.
Assisted Return to Career — a 6-month paid placement in the Irish Civil Service for people who've been on a career break for 2+ years. 100% conversion rate to permanent roles so far.
Real stories from people who used work experience to get back on track.
* Stories are composites based on real outcomes from Irish employment programmes. Names changed for privacy.
Struggling to find staff? The majority of employers who offer work placements end up hiring the participant. Government subsidies cover most or all of the cost.
CE, Tús, and WPEP participants are paid by the State — not you. You get motivated people, they get experience.
Six months of real work tells you more than any interview. Convert the best placements into permanent hires with confidence.
Our community actively wants to work. They're not passively scrolling job boards — they're seeking their way back in.