Most career advice stops at the offer letter. We've written a lot about how long your job search should actually take, negotiating your offer, and what nobody tells you about moving to Dublin for a tech job, but very little about what happens once you've actually signed. That's a gap worth closing, because the first 90 days are where a placement either beds in or quietly starts to go wrong.
This guide walks through the three phases of getting settled (before Day One, your first 30 days, and the stretch from day 31 to 90), with a quick note for anyone relocating to Ireland for the role.
Before Day One
There's usually a gap of a few weeks between accepting an offer and actually starting. Use it well.
Sort your paperwork early. If you don't already have one, you'll need a PPS number to get paid correctly from day one, so apply as soon as your contract is signed, since appointments can take a few weeks to come through. You can start the process on MyWelfare.ie or find full guidance from Citizens Information. Once you have a PPS number, register your new job with Revenue through myAccount's Jobs and Pensions service. Skip this step and you risk being taxed on an emergency basis for your first few pay cycles.
Set up your bank account if you're new to Ireland. Most banks now let you start this online before you land, which saves a trip in your first week.
Reach out informally. A short email to your new manager asking what to expect on day one (laptop setup, dress code, parking or transit info, whether there's a team lunch) signals initiative and takes the edge off the unknown.
Don't over-prepare. You don't need to pre-read the entire codebase or memorise the org chart. Rest up instead, since the first month will ask more of your attention than you think.
Days 1–30: Orientation and Observation
This is a listening phase, even if it doesn't feel like one.
Understand your probation period. Irish employment contracts typically include a probation period of six to twelve months, during which notice periods are shorter on both sides. Read yours carefully so you know what's being assessed and by when.
Learn the unwritten rules. Irish tech workplaces tend to be informal in tone but still punctual and process-driven, and meetings start on time even if the chat beforehand is relaxed. Pay attention to how your team actually uses Slack or Teams, how meetings are run, and what the real (not stated) expectations are around hybrid or remote days. If your new employer covered this at offer stage, it's worth revisiting our piece on remote vs on-site vs hybrid preferences in Irish tech to see how your new team's approach compares to the norm.
Build relationships deliberately. Prioritise 1:1 time with your manager and the two or three people you'll depend on most. Ask questions freely in week one, since the tolerance for "how does this work?" drops fast after that.
Set expectations with your manager. Ask directly: what does success look like at 30 days? At 90? Getting this in writing, even informally over email, gives you something concrete to check yourself against later.
Common early mistakes to avoid:
- Staying quiet when something is unclear, rather than asking
- Overcommitting to prove yourself before you understand the team's actual priorities
- Assuming access/tooling delays are your fault, when they're extremely common and rarely a reflection on you
Days 31–60: Building Momentum
By now the observation phase should be giving way to contribution.
Take on a real deliverable. This is usually when you move from shadowing to owning something, even something small. Use it to demonstrate how you work, not just what you know.
Revisit the admin you set up in week one. Check that your Tax Credit Certificate has come through correctly, and if you're not already in a workplace pension, be aware that Ireland's new auto-enrolment retirement savings scheme may apply to you automatically once you meet the age and earnings thresholds. If your offer included share options or equity, confirm the vesting schedule with HR now rather than assuming.
Widen your network beyond your immediate team. Irish tech companies, even large multinationals, tend to have fairly flat, accessible structures. A coffee with someone in an adjacent team or a senior engineer you admire costs little and pays off later, particularly if building a longer-term engineering career path in Ireland is something you're thinking about.
Days 61–90: Proving Long-Term Fit
Prepare for your probation review. Most employers formally check in around this point. Come with your own view of what's gone well and what hasn't; it's a stronger position than waiting to be told.
Ask yourself honestly: is this the job you were sold in interviews? A little drift is normal, but if the role has changed substantially, or the expectations set at offer stage don't match reality, it's worth naming that directly with your manager rather than letting it settle into resentment.
If something feels off, don't sit on it. Whether it's role scope, team culture, or something about compensation that wasn't fully resolved at negotiation stage, raising it constructively at 90 days is far easier than raising it at nine months.
For Relocators and International Hires
If you moved to Ireland for this role, day 90 is often when the job feels settled but the life admin is still catching up.
Immigration registration. If you're a non-EU/EEA/UK/Swiss citizen staying more than 90 days, you're required to register your permission with Immigration Service Delivery and receive your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card. Book this as early as your permission allows, since appointments at the Burgh Quay office in Dublin can take a few weeks to come up, and you're required to register within 90 days of your permission being granted.
Healthcare and banking. Make sure you're registered with a GP and that your banking is on full (not temporary) status. Both are easy to let slide once the job itself is going well.
Find your community. Dublin, Cork, and Galway all have active tech meetup scenes, and expat and relocation groups can shortcut a lot of the "who do I even ask" problem. If you haven't already, our piece on what nobody tells you about moving to Dublin for a tech job covers a lot of the practical detail that only becomes relevant once you're actually living here.
The Bottom Line
Some unease in the first 90 days is completely normal. New systems, new people, and a new city (or just a new commute) all take longer to settle into than anyone admits out loud. What matters is whether things are trending in the right direction by the time your probation review comes around.
If they're not, if the role doesn't match what was promised, or something about the fit isn't working, talk to us before you make any big decisions. We placed you because we thought it was the right match, and we'd rather help you fix or rethink it early than watch a good hire go sideways for want of an honest conversation.
Whatever stage you're at, whether you're weighing up a new offer, settling into a role, or just starting to think about what's next, our team is here to help you navigate it. Get in touch with Software Placements and let's talk about where your career is headed.