For students of the Olin Business School, a summer internship has always been an important part of the career planning and search strategy. In a recent survey of HR professionals, managers and executives commissioned by the Chronicles of Higher Education, it was no surprise that internships still outweigh other factors when employers evaluate candidates for hire.

Internships were ranked as the most important factor in deciding whether to hire a recent college graduate or not, even ahead of employment during college, academic major, volunteer experience and GPA.

Image: Flickr creative commons, Flazingo Photos, Scrabble resume