I'm currently going through the recruitment process and while length of time from initial application to enrollment in BMQ varies greatly from applicant to applicant, I'll tell you a little about my personal experience. I've found these forums terrific for gaining insight on practically everything--I figure the more info one can read in terms of any question one might have, the better.
I actually originally started the hiring process back in 2006, but after meeting with a local recruiter I was somewhat disheartened and knew I wasn't ready, in either life experience or maturity in general. I submitted an online application again in October of last year.
Everything was relatively quiet for a while, since I applied when most trades were either already closed or nearing the end of their specific hiring cycles. I applied Navy, but my trade of choice is MP (Military Police). I made a few calls here and there just to see how my application was moving along (had it been reviewed, etc.), because there weren't any changes on my status via internet. (This being said, I lived and worked overseas, as well as had family who lived and worked overseas--this can greatly hold things up while your presec is being completed and you're getting cleared.)
Things started happening slowly in April of this year (April is the start of a new fiscal year, so that's generally when job/trade availability opens up) and eventually my CFAT/medical/interview and subsequent merit-listing for my trade in October were completed.
That brings us to now, where I'm currently waiting to be selected/contacted for an MPAC (Military Police Assessment Centre) session. (This is a stage that applicants wishing to become MPs wait to go through.)
I could be waiting for a while given the volume of applicants for this particular trade--It all comes down to how I stack up against my competition.
What job you want can make all the difference, but there are several variables that make up the length of time from initial application to offer of employment. If you're thinking of applying or already have, just be prepared to go several days/weeks, maybe even months without hearing anything at all. It's a good idea to find out where your application is (primarily the early stages of applying) and getting the name of your file manager once it's been assigned. I called about once a month or so to see if there were any updates, or to ask questions I may have had along the way.
So, to sum up, it's been over a year for me and I haven't made it to Basic Training yet--and it could still be months until I do. Hopefully you're doing something to sustain you for a while, because it's rarely a speedy process, from what I understand--sometimes, but not often. You'll read repeatedly that people advise you to use the time wisely, be patient and work on you in the mean-time. I've lost 25lbs, have started running races and am spending quality time with family when at all possible, so I'm enjoying the time. Don't get me wrong, it can be frustrating, but good things are worth waiting for... :nod: