eFinancialCareers

In normal circumstances, the fact that a couple of international institutions are recruiting for a few corporate banking roles in Ireland wouldn't attract a lot of attention. However, because they're among the only firms to have looked to hire within this beleaguered sector for some time, the industry has sat up and taken note.

Both HSBC and Barclays have been on the hunt for corporate bankers in recent weeks, with rumours circulating that they're looking to grow their books in Ireland.

The timing is, of course, very good – redundancies have occurred within Ulster Bank, Anglo Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland recently, and those remaining would no doubt grasp any new opportunities with both hands.

One recruiter tells us: "We've more or less gone 18 months without seeing a single senior corporate banking role, so these positions seem significant. The fact that they're recruiting from the domestic talent pool is a shrewd move – it's very large currently."

Another headhunter tells us: "They are looking to bring on board individuals in the Irish market with an ability to bring with them a contact book and to be able to develop business straightaway and bring on new clients."

There is, however, one significant stumbling block – neither firm is looking to recruit people with construction or property background, which are the sectors to have suffered the most job losses.

Despite the suggestion that most financial services professionals value job security and would rather stay put than pursue new opportunities, recruiters believe that they'll be no shortage of relevant applicants to these relationship manager roles.

"Within the domestic banking sector, individuals are facing the prospect of no pay rise and no promotion until the end of 2010," says one. "I suspect that recruiting for these roles will prove considerably easier than usual."