Recruitment with impact

We are STRIVE

Strive is a specialised recruitment agency with a modern, progressive and innovative approach to recruitment. Strive was co-founded by Stephen Hoban and Kevin Halligan. We have a combined 20 years of recruitment experience in Ireland and across the UK, Europe and America.

What we do

Strive provides a full suite of recruitment services that can be tailored to our client’s needs. We partner with employers of choice, sourcing the best qualified professionals.

Permanent
Contract
Retained

Executive search
RPO

Sectors

At Strive, we connect top talent with leading employers across a range of industries. Whether you’re hiring or seeking new opportunities, we deliver tailored recruitment solutions that drive success.

Accounting

Funds & Asset Management

Banking & Financial Services

HR & Office Support

Construction

Property

Science & Engineering

Risk & Compliance

Design

Featured jobs

CREATE JOB ALERT

Member Services Officer

Location

Galway

Member Services Officer

Location

Clare

Assistant Project Manager

Location

Dublin

Associate Director (Commercial Property Management)

Location

Dublin City Centre

Site Engineer – Cork

Salary

60,000 - 65,000

Location

Cork

CEO Credit Union

Location

South Dublin

We know that the small things matter.

Therefore “Recruitment with Impact” is our simple philosophy. We are striving for excellence, with our human first recruitment approach positively impacting our clients, our candidates and our communities.

Customer reviews

5.0 rating of 43 reviews

Oisin Staunton

13:16 26 Sep 25

Had a very good experience working with Kenan, very professional and constantly kept me up to date!

Eoin

08:47 18 Sep 25

I had a great experience working with Amara. Kept me in the loop constantly throughout the process and gave great advice and tips before the interviews. Really exceptional work, would recommend this service for anyone looking for a new role

John Hudson

10:39 01 Jul 25

What an amazing company this is ! From the moment I applied through Strive Search it was like being welcomed in the door of the company. Amara McCalliog was exceptional in her work and she really helped me in getting a job I’ve always dreamed of. Her endless help and support was amazing and I want to thank her for all she done to help me. I would recommend this company to anyone !!

Julie Hogan

17:25 27 Jun 25

Strive Search were fantastic to work with—professional, responsive, and genuinely invested in my success. They took the time to understand my background and career goals, and matched me with a role that was a great fit. Their guidance throughout the interview process was clear and reassuring. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a supportive and effective recruiter.

orlac barry

06:57 25 Jun 25

I had a great experience working with Stephen from Strive. He was incredibly professional throughout the entire process and placed me in a fantastic role that’s a great fit. What stood out most was how consistently he kept in touch, providing updates and support every step of the way. Highly recommend Stephen and the Strive team for anyone seeking their next opportunity.

Damien Williams

11:04 23 Jun 25

Very good service from start to finish and Odilija was brilliant from registration to interview and starting at my new role. Highly recommend.

Mihai Porosnicu

17:01 20 Jun 25

Worked with Odilija, all what I can say is thank for helping me and guide my steps for new role and a step up for my career, even if I was afraid I will not handle it. Thank you for all the patience.

Urvashi Dhamecha

14:25 20 Jun 25

Exceptional service! I wasn't actively job hunting, but Amara McCalliog from Strive reached out with a great opportunity. She was knowledgeable, supportive, and proactive throughout the entire process. Her communication was prompt, clear, and concise. What impressed me most was her dedication to ensuring I was prepared for the role and her follow-up even after I secured the offer. Her expertise and passion for matching candidates with the right opportunities shone through. I highly recommend Strive to anyone looking for a new job - they've got talent and dedication in spades!

Amy Doheny

09:15 20 Jun 25

Stephen at Strive was an incredible help when I was looking for a new job. I wasn’t sure which direction I wanted to take my career, but he took the time to understand my goals and found me the perfect company with an amazing opportunity. He stayed in touch throughout the whole process and supported me every step of the way—from the initial interview to starting my new role. I’d definitely recommend Strive to anyone considering a career move

Benard Hoda

20:13 01 Apr 25

I wasn’t actively looking for a new role, but my experience with Strive—particularly with Stephen—was outstanding. His approach was professional, well-informed, and engaging, making the opportunity too good to overlook.From our initial conversation to securing the role, the process was seamless and efficient. Stephen took the time to understand my experience and aspirations, ensuring the role was a perfect fit. His communication was excellent, keeping me informed at every stage and making the transition smooth and straightforward.Strive is a company that clearly values both its clients and candidates, and I appreciate the care and professionalism shown throughout. I would highly recommend them to anyone open to new opportunities, whether actively searching or not.Thank you to Stephen and the team at Strive for an exceptional experience.

Tommy Comerford

09:58 22 Mar 25

I would not hesitate to recommend Strive, they are not your typical 'copy and paste' recruiters.

Sean Conneally

16:16 21 Mar 25

Stephen and Strive are excellent to deal with, very professional and I’d highly recommend.

Michael Sammon

15:23 21 Mar 25

Great company to deal with. Very nice staff who take a personal approach to understand the needs of both employer and candidate. Great communication throughout.

Declan Kavanagh

14:42 16 Oct 24

"I would highly recommend this company for their professionalism and dedication. A special thanks to Mark Doonan, who was extremely polite, respectful, and honest throughout the process. He went above and beyond to help me find the right job, staying true to his commitments. Mark is a hardworking individual, and I am grateful for all his efforts.Thanks again, Mark, for everything you’ve done!"

sarah buggle

13:17 02 Jul 24

Stephen helped me with my job search, very efficient proactive guy. Really easy to deal with. Invested in ensuring I had all the correct information regrading the role prior to interview. Genuine interview prep. Overall I would recommend the service. I will be sure to share my experience and his details with friends!

Declan Woods

10:55 02 May 24

Kevin was an absolute pleasure to deal with. He knew what we wanted, took all the stress away and came back with constant feedback and suggestions, and we hired the candidate that was his first choice. Kevin didn't put volume on CVs in front of us, he waited until the right candidate came forward who ticked all the boxes for what we needed.In addition, Kevin remains in contact and has created a genuine working relationship. I have recommended Strive to a handful of companies/friends since, and they have the same to say about Kevin.

The best service I’ve received in a long time! The team was incredibly responsive, and their expertise was evident in the final product. There was a small miscommunication initially, but they quickly resolved it. I would definitely work with them again.

Isabella Turner

Project Manager

Isabella Turner

Project Manager

Isabella Turner

Project Manager

Industry news

30 September 2025

Strive Search Construction team attend the Guaranteed Irish Construction Forum by KPMG

Strive Search Construction team are delighted to attend this year’s forum, proudly sponsored by Kingspan Group and hosted by KPMG. The event brought together leaders from construction, facilities, energy, and Guaranteed Irish House members to tackle some of the sector’s biggest challenges, share innovative solutions, and explore how we can

7 July 2025

Strive Search Proud To Sponsor The LIA Conference 2025

Strive Search were proud to sponsor the LIA Credit Union Forum 2025, a key event in the Credit Union calendar that brought together industry professionals to explore both the challenges and opportunities facing the sector today. Kevin Halligan and Kenan McSweeney both attended and had a fantastic day connecting with

7 July 2025

Strive’s Engineering Team Attends The ACEI Conference

Strive Search’s engineering team attended this morning’s Association of Consulting Engineers of Ireland (ACEI) Conference – a key event for the infrastructure and housing sector, focused on insight, strategy, and action Highlights included: • Minister Jack Chambers on the National Development Plan • Mayor John Moran on public-private delivery •

9 June 2025

Strive Construction Team Site walk

Strive’s Construction team had the pleasure of heading out on a site walk to visit one of our client’s prestigious apartment developments. It was a fantastic opportunity to see the progress firsthand and connect with the teams driving the project forward. A massive thank you to the entire Cairn team

6 June 2025

Construction activity rises to highest in three years

Irish commercial building activity rose significantly in March, becoming the best-performing category within a construction sector that expanded at its fastest rate in three years last month despite rising cost inflation. In its latest construction purchasing managers’ index, AIB said a strong rise in new business led to growth in

6 June 2025

Housing crisis: Construction report warns of looming supply constraints

A steep fall-off in housing starts combined with a slowdown in residential investment have fuelled further doubt about the government housing targets. The latest quarterly market analysis from Construction Information Services (CIS) indicates that active housing commencements, the strongest indicator of future supply, dropped to a four-year low of 3,126

29 October 2024

Mortgage drawdowns climb 1.4% in third quarter

Mortgage drawdowns continued to grow in the third quarter, but at the slower year-on-year rate of 1.4 per cent, according to the latest update from Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI). More than 7,000 first-time buyer mortgages were drawn down in the three months to the end of September, it said, with

24 October 2024

Developers need more funding options to meet housing demand

The real estate lending market has been fluid for some years now, impacted by interest rate increases, post-pandemic behaviour changes, and an increase in non-bank lenders entering the market. Whilst last year’s EY Real Estate Borrower Outlook survey, which examines the mindset of borrowers in the lending market by

10 October 2024

Banks finally move to release pre-crash shareholders from their financial shackles

Sixteen years after Ireland’s banks required bailouts that plunged the State into a financial crisis, lenders are finally getting around to dealing with one of the final loose ends from that era – the tens of thousands of shareholders who are left with holdings in the banks that are now

Get in touch

STEPHEN HOBAN

+353 87 7007748
[email protected]

KEVIN HALLIGAN

+353 85 7316009
[email protected]

Recruitment with impact

We are STRIVE

What we do

Sectors

Featured jobs

CREATE JOB ALERT

Member Services Officer

Member Services Officer

Assistant Project Manager

Associate Director (Commercial Property Management)

Site Engineer – Cork

CEO Credit Union

We know that the small things matter.

Customer reviews

Industry news

Get in touch

STEPHEN HOBAN

KEVIN HALLIGAN

Apply for this job

Job overview