As an international student in Canada, how long in advance should I apply for a full-time job before graduating?

[526939916]

I'm a computer science student in Canada. I'm going to graduate in August 2018. I did a 16-month-internship so my graduation time is different than most other students'. I can apply for the work permit right after my graduation. My question is when is the earliest time to send out my resume? Can I apply for jobs before I get my work permit? I have some friends studying in the state. They started to attend interviews a year in advance. I didn't hear about this is the case in Canada. Most of my friends who studied in Canada searched for jobs after getting their work permits. Does anybody have experience with this?

If you are a local, could you share your experience how you found your first job? Did you get the job before your graduation? Thanks!

[Clayton]

There is nothing to be lost from applying sooner rather than later. You'll probably find more new postings will open up around graduation, but you lose exactly nothing by applying early, especially if you need to get a work permit/upgrade your student visa.