Colleges may want to emphasize internship programs for their technology students to help them gain real-world experience if they want to make the grade with tech employers, a Robert Half Technology survey suggests.
According to the survey from the tech staffing firm, 71 percent of chief information officers (CIOs) said they prioritize skills and experience over college degrees when they decide who they want to hire.
Another 12 percent said they place a little weight on the prestige of a job seeker’s university when evaluating applicants; only 5 percent were heavily influenced by an impressive alma mater.
“A quality education provides the foundation, but IT employers want to see evidence of practical application of that knowledge,” said John Reed, senior executive director of Robert Half Technology. “Job candidates with real-world IT experience can jump in and start contributing without a long ramp-up period, making them appealing to employers.”
The survey was based on more than 2,400 telephone interviews with CIOs from a random sample of U.S. companies with 100 or more employees in 24 major metropolitan areas, the company said.
