Q: I’m graduating in May, and have applied for many companies I hope to work for over winter break. A few companies have told me to wait until April to apply, while others have asked me to apply now. What is the right approach to take?
A: When I was graduating, it was common practice to have interviews lined up with companies before spring break of the last semester. Nowadays, companies practice different philosophies. Some, with clear succession plans and clear start dates of roles, may follow the practice that I describe. Others, whose needs are unclear, may wait until you are close to graduating to consider you for employment.
For example, if you are available May 15, you may want to revisit some of the companies you have sent a resume to around the 1st of April. At that point, the company knows you are going to be available within 6 weeks, and may have a more accurate picture of what their needs are.