When is the best time to start applying for jobs? Graduating April 2010?

I am graduating this April from a postgraduate program and I was wondering when I should start sending out my resume? From what I heard, employers usually want candidates who can start right away. Should I start applying as early as March?

I’d start now. Businesses expect to meet several times with a candidate and if the candidate is in the working world, a two weeks notice is standard. So even if the meetings (like with HR, the hiring manager, maybe even someone else) all happen the same week – they would expect to hire someone in a minimum of 3 weeks. In reality, it could easily take twice that long – everybody is overworked and things at each level might take a little longer to get done.