Want a job in IT? Get an internship first.

College graduates hoping to land a job ininformation technology shouldhave an internship on their resume if they expect to be hired, according to a new survey by Robert Half Technology.
 
In a survey of more than 1,400 chief information officers at U.S. companies, 79 percent said internships are an important consideration when hiring new graduates for information technology positions. Only 13 percent said these programs are unimportant, while 8 percent were unsure.
 
“There is high demand for IT professionals in areas such as web development and business analytics, but experience is key,” said John Reed, senior executive director of Robert Half Technology. “Employers expect new hires to contribute right away, and experience gained through internships can help recent graduates hit the ground running.”
 
How important is it for an IT grad to have an internship on his or her resume to land a job at your agency?