Internships are practically a prerequisite for full-time employment
From The Wall Street Journal, February 18, 2005

"Last year, major employers said 38% of their interns went on to full-time positions, up from 25% in 2001, according to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers… It wasn't long ago that summer internships meant a lot of make-work tasks, at best giving college students some exposure to an office environment. Now they're the latest example of how quickly the career clock starts ticking for today's students. Some companies say they're practically a prerequisite for full-time employment, while college guidance counselors advise that a distinguished summer position is one of the best ways to stand out in a competitive job market. At Vault, which publishes career information online, 90% of 1,272 members surveyed in the class of 2004 reported having participated in at least one internship, up from 63% a decade ago."