Industry web sites and portals can also be good sources for job information, as well as for networking with people working in the field. Yes, there is an advantage to showing that you have completed a course of instruction that can be used as an evaluation of skills, and that you had good quality instructors. Certification is like an insurance policy in the job market because it demonstrates persistence and a good work ethic. Usually students will also spend the extra time to create a demo reel and or portfolio of their work. Internships are a good way to get your foot in the door, especially straight out of college.
Internships can lead to permanent jobs.
For example, we have more video, post-production, film, and game companies than any place else. The Web itself is new, and graphical features on the Web are new - this industry did not exist 5 years ago. The educational software market is up. In the future, 2D and 3D-savvy users will be commonplace, and knowledge of those skills will be a fundamental requirement for almost any job, just like knowing Word or Excel . The entertainment companies that create Visual Effects, Games etc. sometimes follow a cyclical employment situation.