When to apply for jobs...

[piersk]

I am due to finish Uni at the end of May. When would you say the earliest to apply for jobs is?

I don't want to do any graduate training scheme, because I don't like the idea of tieing myself down to one company for x years, but is now (mid-february) too early?

[RossC0]

Apply for them asap! - wouldn't worry about doing a grad scheme - if theres a good one.

Nothing says you have to stay with the company for x years...

[piersk]

Would it not be too soon to apply for the job now, since I have 3 months before I graduate?

[vaaaska]

Do it. I had my first post-college lined up about six months before I got out. It turned out to be a horrible place to work (and they went bankrupt) but it totally made life easy.

[RossC0]

Its only too early if you definately don't want to go for the grad schemes.

But if you decide to take a look at the grad schemes - now is a good time.

The worst that will happen is you get interview practise...

[onion2k]

Start applying now. The later you leave it the more likely you are to be getting interviews during your final exams.. that would not be fun.

[dartcol]

You could try temping. It's not too hard to get 3-6 month contracts. These can then lead onto more permanent work with the company by which time you might have changed your mind about staying with them. Alternatively, if you've had enough you can leave.

ALso, with any public sector job over here i nthe UK it often takes up to 6 weeks to go for the interview and it can then take another 2-4 weeks for them to make their minds up. For this though, you may well get a decent pension scheme (never too early - he says, without one at 32! :eek: ) as well as decent hours.