<p>Hi guys,</p>
<p>I'm about to graduate in December and was wondering when you suggested applying for full time jobs. I've had a lot of people to tell me to start applying to positions now, but I am afraid it's really early and my resume would get pushed aside. Has anyone applied this early? What is your experiences, friends experiences, what do you suggest?</p>
<p>Also, when applying how would you mention that you can't start for 4 months?? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Most big companies recruit in fall/winter for seniors to start FT that summer. I would definitely start getting your resume out there. Go to career fair too and apply to tons of places. Make sure you stress you want to start in the winter</p>
<p>When I was scheduled to graduate in May, I started applying for jobs in August.</p>
<p>It’s never too early. Why do you care if someone throws your resume away? It doesn’t cost you anything except time to submit it, and I would rather have a recruiter reject me than to reject myself by not even trying.</p>
<p>If your graduation date is on your resume, then companies will know when you can start. It is never too early to start applying.</p>
<p>I graduated last December, and my first applications went out in June, 2010. I had an interview in July (though no offer) and put out about six applications before school started in September.</p>
<p>You will find that most of the better jobs for graduating students have a recruiting timetable. If your school offers on-campus recruiting, you will have a specific window during which you could submit your application, and ALL applications are read for those jobs.</p>
<p>Realistically, if you put in a resume and a company loses it because it is early in the game, you do not want to work for that company. </p>
<p>This summer, you should be doing several things:</p>
<ol>
<li>Update your resume. Take it to Career Services and have them look it over to give you advice on how to improve it.</li>
<li>Contact your references. Every job you apply for will require the use of references, and they will probably be contacted if you are in serious contention for the job. Make sure that your references know you well and are willing to speak on your behalf if contacted.</li>
<li>Do your homework. Determine what industry you want to enter, and then decide what companies you want to apply to. Keep location in mind when you do this – if a company is based in Ohio but you want to live in New York, they may have an office in NYC, NJ or Connecticut that could be perfect for you. Figure out who the recruiters are and how their hiring structure works so that you can limit the number of surprises you find when you go through the process.</li>
<li>Send out applications. Many companies don’t open their application window until September, but if you find one whose window is already open, send out your application!</li>
</ol>