The graduate jobs market can feel like Clapham Common tube station on a weekday morning: floods of commuters, all with the same urgency to get to their destination, attempting to cram onto a tube that just doesn't seem to have enough space.Commuters have to get up earlier and earlier to try and ensure they get into work on time.Similarly, research suggests that graduates are applying earlier and earlier for employment as they attempt to get onto the overcrowded tube that is the jobs market.More than two fifths of students began applying for jobs almost a year before leaving university. A study of 17,737 students revealed that 42% began applying for positions in September/October of last year.This had increased to 61% by March.The number of applications is also increasing: students made an average of 6.9 applications each, up from 6.8 last year.The study, conducted by High Fliers research, suggests students have become less inclined to take gap years or go travelling, for fear of missing the boat with employment.Only 12% students said they were planning on taking time off before going finding a job. 

Martin Birchall, managing director of High Fliers Research, said: "Our latest research shows just how hard today's university students are working to get a graduate job at the end of their degree.

"The proportion of final year students planning to take time off or go travelling after their studies is at an all-time low and record numbers of students are now opting to research their career options in their first or second year at university, rather than leaving job hunting until the final six months before graduation."

While researching careers options in your first year at university may seem a bit premature, twenty first century students have the almighty privilege of the internet.With the rattle of a few keys and the click of a mouse swathes of information is available to you about the requirements employers demand from job applicants.This does not mean you should feel if you have not got a job or internship sorted before the end of your first year at university you might as well throw the towel in.It is, however, worth giving it some thought and doing some research sooner, rather than later, so as not to get left behind.  

Mona, GRB Journalist