Where the commercial hiring is
SDR and BDR
The largest volume of openings and the most common entry point for international candidates. Language markets matter more than sector experience, and the training is usually provided.
Account executive and enterprise
Where the salary and the sponsorship viability sit. Employers hire on evidence: quota attainment, deal size, cycle length and named logos.
Customer success and renewals
Steady demand and often the easiest transition for people coming from support, hospitality or account management, with the same multilingual advantage.
Why your language is an asset here
A large number of technology and services companies base their European commercial operations in Dublin and sell into markets across the continent from a single office. That structure creates constant demand for people who can sell in Portuguese, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Dutch or a Nordic language.
The practical implication is that you should search by language market, not only by job title. A search for a Portuguese speaking account executive returns a fraction of the competition of a generic account executive search, and the shortlists are far shorter.
It also changes how you write your CV. Put your professional languages near the top with the level at which you actually work in them, not at the bottom next to hobbies.
What an Irish sales CV must show
- ·Quota attainment as a percentage, for each of your recent years, including the years that were not perfect.
- ·Average deal size and sales cycle length, so a hiring manager can place you against their own motion.
- ·The segment you sold to: SMB, mid-market or enterprise, and inbound versus outbound.
- ·Tools you use daily, especially Salesforce, HubSpot, Outreach, Salesloft, Gong and LinkedIn Sales Navigator.
- ·Professional languages and the markets you have actually sold into.
- ·One line on work authorisation, because commercial recruiters move fast and will not chase an ambiguity.
How to run the process
Search by language and segment
Combine your language market with the segment you want. This is the single highest leverage change most international candidates can make to their search.
Rebuild the CV around numbers
Every bullet should contain a figure. Sales hiring managers read for evidence of performance and skip everything else.
Rehearse the mock pitch before you need it
Pick a real product, build a discovery structure, and practise out loud. Most rejections at the final stage come from an unrehearsed pitch, not from a weak record.
Ask the quota question early
Ask what proportion of the team hit target last year and what ramp looks like. It signals commercial maturity and protects you from a role designed to fail.
Follow up the way you would follow up a deal
A short, value adding follow up after each stage is directly interpreted as a sample of how you would work with their customers.
Keep going
What clients say about working with us
“My experience with HULA Career exceeded my expectations. They provided exceptional guidance throughout every step of my dream job search. I am incredibly grateful to Hugo and Laura for their unwavering support.”
“Hugo is a friendly and dedicated professional who can help you with career coaching. He was very attentive to me, making calls to teach me strategies to get the perfect job and providing accurate and professional material.”
“If you're looking for any career related help or advice in Ireland, HULA is the one for you. Hugo and Laura are two of the sweetest and kind hearted people who go above and beyond to support you.”
“I had an amazing experience with HULA Career! Their team provided outstanding support in improving my LinkedIn profile and CV, making them more professional and impactful. Their guidance was clear, personalized, and extremely helpful.”
“I've been a client of HULA Career for a while now, and working with them has been one of the best decisions I've made for my professional growth. From the very beginning, they made me feel seen and heard.”
“I had a very good experience with HULA! Hugo is an amazing professional who always goes beyond to provide the best service he can. I learned a lot from our sessions and would recommend 100% for anyone who needs help finding a new job.”
“HULA met my expectations perfectly. I was looking for guidance to create a standout resume, and they fully understood my needs. The team was extremely attentive and delivered excellent services.”
“They are excellent professionals and exceed expectations. They helped me in a practical way, but also in a psychological way so that I could position myself in the labour market in another country. Thank you so much, you're amazing.”
Ready to position yourself for Irish commercial roles?
In the free consultation we look at your track record, your language markets and your work authorisation, and identify the commercial roles where you would be a strong shortlist candidate.
Written by
Hugo Faria
Career coach and co-founder of HULA. He works every week with international professionals hiring into Ireland, the UK and Portugal, and coaches them through CV, LinkedIn, applications and interviews. More about Hugo.
Frequently asked questions
Are there sales jobs in Ireland for non-native English speakers?+
Yes, and this is one of the most accessible entry points into the Irish job market for international professionals. Many companies run European sales operations from Dublin and hire for specific language markets, so speaking Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian or a Nordic language natively is a direct hiring advantage rather than a barrier.
What does a sales development representative earn in Ireland?+
SDR and BDR roles are typically advertised with a base plus commission structure, and the on-target earnings figure is what matters. Our Ireland salary guide sets out indicative bands. Always ask in the first call what percentage of the team hit target last year, because that tells you whether the on-target number is realistic.
Can sales roles get visa sponsorship in Ireland?+
Less often than technology roles, because most sales titles are not on the Critical Skills Occupations List. Senior enterprise and account executive roles with high salaries are the most viable, usually through a General Employment Permit. If you need sponsorship, target the senior and specialist end rather than entry level SDR positions.
Do I need previous tech sales experience?+
For SDR roles, no. Employers hire for coachability, resilience and clear communication, and many successful tech sales people in Dublin came from hospitality, retail, recruitment or teaching. What you must show is evidence that you can handle rejection and follow a process consistently.
How do I show sales results on a CV if my numbers are confidential?+
Use percentages and rankings instead of absolute figures. Percentage of quota achieved, ranking within your team, deal cycle reduction and retention rate all communicate performance without disclosing commercially sensitive revenue.
What is the interview process like for sales roles in Ireland?+
Expect three to four stages: a recruiter screen, a hiring manager conversation, a mock call or pitch exercise, and often a final panel. The mock pitch is where most candidates lose the role, so rehearse it out loud with a real product rather than reading a script.