What time of year do most graduate job applications close?

Hi, Georgia: you are correct in assuming that the timing depends on the type of job you're seeking. However, many colleges have a recruiting program which brings employers to campus (or virtually) to conduct interviews. This process begins in September and proceeds throughout the fall. Many employers like to have job offers made by the end of Fall semester. This process applies primarily to large employers which are looking to hire many new graduates each year.

There are equal numbers of employers, however, that do "just in time" hiring which means they only start the process when they have an actual vacancy. So, it really depends on what kind of job you are seeking. Generally speaking large companies can anticipate how many openings they'll have each year, but smaller employers not so much. Also, certain industries follow traditional hiring seasons. For example, public schools tend to hire new teachers in the spring every year once their teaching staff indicates whether or not they'll be returning. In the mass media (film, TV, radio, etc.) companies hire only when they have specific openings. If you want to work for the US Government, their hiring process is lengthy, so it's good to get your applications in early. In other words, it's hard to generalize about hiring practices. I suggest you start contacting people who work in your target industries because they'll have the best, most up to date info on this topic. Best of luck.