It’s complicated to explain, but I’m a Masters student graduating in December but I could extend my stay until May if I want, while getting paid by the school. I’m applying to some corporate-type jobs which generally bring people on at the end of the school year (May) because they often do mass indoctrination programs to everyone who joins.
I’m unsure about how I should describe my graduation date on my resume. If I say December and the company wants to hire people for May, does it look bad that I’ll be, in their eyes, hanging around for 5 months before starting? Or is it good that I show myself as available earlier? Alternatively, should I say in my resume that I’ll be graduating in May, in order to conform with their ‘normal’ expectations?
Are you sure the companies you’re interested in won’t be doing orientation from Jan-May? I worked for a company that had a weeks-long program but they did it year round. Even if it’s geared at ‘recent grads’, that might include December grads (like you) and people who switched jobs within a year or two. Or in this economy, because the company didn’t hire anyone in May.
So JMHO but if I could start work in January then I would say that I’m available for January. If they have some rigid calendar then that’s not a reflection on the applicant. IANA recruiter.
Put the December date, as its the earliest date you’ll be available. They won’t know or care if you are just ‘hanging around’ until May. But May is a long ways away.