by Catherine Allen and Chloë Benjamin
Myth: Applications have to be submitted in the Fall
Reality: Applications are submitted all year long
Because there is not a universal timeline for recruitment, we can look at trends to help answer this question. For example, we know that more internship applications are submitted in October and March while more job applications are submitted in September and October. We also see that a fair amount of applications are submitted throughout the year, including over winter and summer breaks. The heat map below (Handshake, 2022) shows the number of applications submitted in Handshake by month from June 2021 to July 2022.
When are the best times to apply for jobs? Internships?
This is a question we are often asked and, like most questions in our world, it depends. Timeframes will vary by company, demands on the labor market, funding, and more. The ultimate sign that it’s a good time to apply is when you are ready. Here are some clues that it might be time to apply:
- Your resume tells the story you want it to tell.
- You’ve talked to people in the industry.
- You have done some level of research on the company(ies) of interest, their roles, and their requirements.
- You feel it’s time – even if it’s testing the waters.
Reach out to your network of helpful humans to discuss your goals and how you can prepare yourself to begin applying. Processing with someone you trust can make your decisions easier and help remind you that you aren’t alone. Career Advisors and Coaches are great resources to guide and encourage you along the way; don’t hesitate to make an appointment through Handshake.
Myth: If I don’t have a job or internship offer by December, I am out of luck!
Reality: You’re not out of luck. Students get offers all year long.
No evidence shows that you are out of luck if you don’t have a job offer by December. Job openings and postings fluctuate throughout the year, and, as we shared above, applications are continually submitted all year long.
When candidates secure jobs
Going into more detail, for example, if we look at First Destination Outcome survey data for Duke Master’s in Engineering graduates, we see that most students landed their roles during the semester of their graduation (orange below), with a peak falling within 3 months of graduation.
Totals among 209 who secured full time jobs:
- The semester before graduation: 61 of 209
- The semester of graduation: 90 of 209
- Most are within the 3 months before graduation: 72 of 209
- After graduation: 58 of 209
First Destination Outcome Preliminary Data for 2021-22 Graduates of Duke’s Master’s in Engineering programs (Data pull was from July 2022)
When candidates secure internships
Duke Master’s in Engineering data shows similar trends for internships. Most Master’s students applying for internships land their positions between March and May, after months of networking and improving their application materials. Check out the chart below and this article called “I don’t have an internship yet, and I’m kinda freaking out” for more on this.
Recent 2021-22 continuing student data shows that most Master’s in Engineering students secured their internships between March & May.
Summary
Students submit job and internship applications all year around, and it’s okay to start applying as soon as you feel ready. Some companies begin early recruitment for summer opportunities during the fall or summer semester, hiring for anticipated roles far in advance. This is especially common for large companies with highly selective recruitment. But many companies hire as needs arise or intentionally closer to graduation, pulling in the applicants who did not land positions during the fall term. So if you are a May graduate who has not landed a role by December, or a continuing student needing an internship, do not worry. The time you have spent clarifying the story you want to tell, refining your application materials, networking, and preparing for job interviews, should pay off as you get closer to graduation and a job offer!
