If it’s your first season ever in the world, there is no option to start recruiting before the season starts. You recruit for the next season, starting with the opening of scouting on day 1. If you’ve played in the world before, you can apply for a job, and take over during the job change process. This allows you to recruit in the second session. But if you reserve a team, you start at the beginning of next season, as if you are brand new.