Dublin's fair city
Edinburgh native Robin Stewart, 27, is senior catering sales manager at the Four Seasons hotel in Dublin. He began his training at the Scottish Hotel School at Strathclyde University, followed by four years in London, including a training spell at the Savoy. Then a colleague moved to the Four Seasons, and he came too.
Robin's day: I start at 8am and spend the first hour, before clients begin calling, dealing with e-mails and consulting chefs and banqueting managers. Weddings are a big part of our business, and patience and diplomacy are needed when dealing with brides and grooms. It can be a very rewarding part of the job, helping to make their big day as perfect as possible.
Highs: I love Dublin. It's such a young, vibrant city. Half of the population is under 25 years old, and there's so much to do.
Lows: Very few. People complain about the cost of living, but London is more expensive, and you don't have traffic worries - I walk to work in 20 minutes.
Social life: I'm having a great time. The Irish are so warm and friendly. Even on my first day colleagues were waiting to take me to the pub for a welcoming drink. There is none of the hypocrisy you get in London. If they don't like you here, they'll tell you so.
Salary range: €35,000-€45,000 (£23,700-£30,500).
Outgoings: My flat costs €900 (£607) a month, but I don't have any commuting costs and the hotel canteen provides lunch.
Career: My ambition is to become a director of catering, moving within the group to Canada or the USA. Long term, I plan to go back to Scotland, maybe to a top job in Gleneagles or Turnberry, or possibly the Four Seasons when they open up there.
Moving from Melbourne to Dublin might seem a formidable undertaking for some, but not for Angela Moore, the Four Seasons hotel's 28-year-old bar and lobby lounge manager. En route, she stopped off in Switzerland to collect a degree in hotel management and then worked for a time with the Four Seasons group in Austin, Texas.
Angela's day: As I'm responsible for two departments, the hours can vary, depending on what's happening. I may start at 10am or 3pm and finish at midnight or 2am or 3am. I usually have Sundays and Mondays off, but the downside is that I'm working while most other people are out having a good time.
Highs: It's a very exciting time to be in Dublin. The city is growing and changing fast and becoming so international.
Lows: The cost and quality of housing, and the traffic, of course. I'm lucky, as I have an apartment just behind the hotel and I walk to work. It takes just six minutes.
Social life: Sunday is my big night out, usually to the cinema and to restaurants with friends. I've made lots of new friends here. They're a really great bunch, just like family.
Salary range: €35,000-€45,000 (£23,700-£30,500).
Outgoings: The big expense is my apartment in Ballsbridge. I pay €1,000 (£675) a month in rent, but that's the going rate in most parts of the city.
Career: I'm in no rush to leave Dublin or go back to Melbourne. Long term, I'd like to stay in Europe working in food and beverage, my big interest.
Interviews by Anthony Garvey
