Apprenticeship ยท Level 8 ยท Recruitment

Recruitment Executive

Recruitment executives match people with jobs and find talent for employers. This three-year apprenticeship leads to an honours degree and suits people with strong people and communication skills.

How apprenticeships work: you are hired by an approved employer and paid while you learn, mixing work with blocks of training in a college or training centre. You don't apply through the CAO and you don't need CAO points.

Key facts

How long
3 years
Award
BA (Hons) Recruitment Practice (QQI Level 8)
Where you train
  • Higher education institution (off-the-job training); managed by the Employment and Recruitment Federation
Pay
Salary from your employer while training on-the-job and off-the-job (rate agreed with employer)
Costs
Student contribution payable over the three years, paid by the employer

Entry requirements

  • Must be hired by an approved employer
  • Full eligibility criteria are on the National Recruitment Federation website

How to apply

You must be hired by an approved employer. Contact the Employment and Recruitment Federation, who manage this apprenticeship.

Official page on apprenticeship.ie โ†—

What you'll learn

  • Use sales and marketing skills to meet recruitment targets
  • Keep hiring clients happy
  • Manage job advertising platforms
  • Use databases and digital marketing
  • Negotiate with candidates and clients

Where it can lead

  • Recruitment executive in the recruitment industry

Useful Leaving Cert subjects

Business, Economics

These help with the content of the programme; they are not entry requirements unless listed above.

Tertiary degrees in Business and Information

Not sure which route suits you?

Our CAO Interest Test matches you to course areas, and now shows apprenticeships and tertiary degrees in your strongest areas too.

Take the CAO Interest Test โ†’ Try the free 3-minute test

Information from apprenticeship.ie, checked November 2026. Details can change, so always confirm on the official page before applying.