In short
Organizations that take students recruit on calendars that have little to do with the school year, and the calendars differ by field. Finance and consulting move earliest, large technology companies in late summer and autumn, the federal government in autumn, research programs in winter, and smaller organizations in spring. These are habits, not rules, and an employer's own page outranks this guide. If you read one thing here, read the table for your field and write down the next month in it.
Why so early
Large programs fill a fixed number of seats from a very large pile of applications, and opening early is how they manage it. It says nothing about anyone who starts later. If you are late for the large programs, smaller organizations, research with a professor on your own campus, and work you set up yourself stay open late almost every year. Put next year's opening month in your calendar now; the deadline calendar has a feed for that.
For postings that are open right now, see the Internships page.
Business
| Month | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Spring and summer before the summer you want | The largest banks and consulting firms start recruiting students a year or more ahead. Accounting firms run early programs for first- and second-year students |
| January and February | Mid-size firms recruit. Accounting and corporate programs interview |
| June to August | Applications for next summer open widely at large firms. Campus recruiting calendars are published in August |
| September and October | Interviews at large firms, career fairs, and a second wave of openings |
| November | Mid-size firms recruit |
| December | Quiet. A good time to prepare spring applications |
Technology
| Month | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| January to May | Startups and smaller companies post for the coming summer, often when they know their budget |
| July to September | Large companies open next summer's applications. August is often the busiest month |
| September and October | Assessments, interviews and career fairs. Many large programs stop reading by late autumn |
| November | Mid-size companies recruit |
| All year | A project you can show helps at every size of company |
Science and health
| Month | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| August | Ask for recommendation letters before the term begins |
| September and October | Fellowship drafting. National scholarship nominations. Ask a professor about a lab place for the summer after next |
| November | Summer research applications open at many university sites |
| December | A good time to write research applications, over the break |
| January and February | Many summer research deadlines fall now. Each site sets its own date |
| March and April | Research offers go out. College funding for unpaid summer work often closes |
Government, policy and nonprofits
| Month | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| June | Set up a USAJOBS profile and a federal-style résumé, which is longer than an ordinary one |
| September to December | Federal postings for the following summer begin to appear and continue. Some close early once enough applications have arrived |
| October and November | National fellowship deadlines. Summer policy institutes close |
| January and February | Scholarship nominations close. State and city programs post |
| February to April | Nonprofits, campaigns and local government post summer roles |
Federal background checks can take months, which is why the dates are early.
Arts and media
| Month | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| August to October | Named newsroom programs open and often close in the autumn |
| October and November | Newsroom and publishing deadlines |
| January | Summer programs at large newsrooms and publishers close |
| February and March | Galleries, theaters, studios and festivals post summer roles |
| All year | A portfolio or a set of clips does the work a transcript does in other fields |
Reading the calendar
On the deadline calendar, an entry marked "Checked" was compared with its source on the date shown. An entry marked "Usual months" is the pattern from past years and nothing more. Either way, open the source before you plan around a date.