Want to get hired? Internship experience is key: research

About 90% of employers also say value internship experience more than educational background.

Future graduates will need to have relevant internship experience if they wish to get hired as soon as possible, a study by Hong Kong Healthcare Market Research and Consulting Ltd revealed.

Based on the study, internship experience (62.4%) is amongst the top competencies employers are looking for in candidates who are fresh graduates. 

Employees said graduates should also have an "IT application know-how and prospect" (81.6%) and have "studied relevant subjects" (62.4%).

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Between internship experience and education background, 90% of employers say they also value the former more than the latter.

"Respondents have confirmed that they might consider hiring a recent college graduate with relevant work experience even though the graduate may not have a degree relevant to job requirements," the study said.

Meanwhile. 68.8% of employers in Hong Kong said they plan to hire new graduates in the second half of the year.