Spotlight Online for Career Services Professionals, October 28, 2009 

Experience does matter: NACE’s 2009 Student Survey found that graduates who had taken part in an internship fared far better in the dismal job market than their peers who didn’t.

Overall, just 19.7 percent of the Class of 2009 who had applied for jobs had one by the end of April, but grads with an internship under their belt beat that average—23 percent had a job in hand. For those who didn’t do an internship, the job market was especially unwelcoming: Just 14 percent of those who hadn’t been interns landed jobs.

NACE’s 2009 Student Survey was conducted from February 19 through April 30, 2009; more than 35,000 students from more than 840 colleges and universities nationwide—including more than 16,500 graduating seniors—participated. Moving On 2009 , the report based on results of the survey, is now available.