Some say that it's not what you know, it's who you know. I think it's both. You can be a superior learner and great educator, but if you can't make connections and network with others (or vice versa), you won't travel far. Be good at what you do and develop the skills to expand your work. As college students, we must find a balance between the two. Your skills are important, but your connections are just as important. Here are five tips to use college networking to land a job:

Job Fairs/Exhibitions Conferences

There are countless of opportunities at ENMU to participate in events that help with networking and the ability to grow in the knowledge of your field. Eastern hosts job fairs at least once a semester. It's an opportunity to talk with local businesses and large companies in the area who are looking for candidates for their open positions. It's an event to learn about the expectations that employers seek out.

ENMU also has all types of exhibitions for students to show their work. Whether you are an art student or studying anthropology or a science major, being involved in an exhibition is a great way to showcase your work to the public and learn the skills to present yourself in a professional manner.

Lastly, Eastern provides conferences to build students up in their academics like the Leader, Education and Development (LEAD) and the Student Research and Creativity Conference (SRCC). This is a great event to dedicate one day to learn and apply new skills. On a regular basis, many clubs and organizations on campus bring in guest speakers and host free workshops. I encourage my fellow Greyhounds to participate in these events; you will find that they are beneficial to your educational experience.

Engage and Make Friends

Engage in the classroom and participate in group projects. Make yourself noticeable to your professor and allow people within your group to notice your strengths and the contribution you can bring to the project. Offer your services and time to your peers and say things like, "If you ever need help with anything, let me know I would be happy to help." Surprisingly you will notice that being friendly could benefit you, especially in the classroom. Build connections with your classmates because you never know what could happen a couple of years down the road. Be sure to create opportunities by leaving an open door of friendship. We live in a digital age: use your email and social media to stay in contact.

Employers May Check Your Social Profiles

For those of you that don't know about the impact of social media and other outlets of the internet, the biggest tip that I can give you is to be careful on what you post because it could come back to haunt you. As we move into a world where technology is a primary source to find information, many people forget that what you do in the present will have an impact in the future. I have heard of businesses and organizations that visit the candidate's social profiles before they hire their applicants. Employers check Facebook posts to make sure that the individual presents themselves in a professional manner. I encourage you to be very minimal in your posts and be cautious about what you post. Make sure that you nothing to hurt your professional impression and reputation. See what Huffington Post has to say about this practice.

Experience/Internship

This is probably one of the biggest attributes for a student that companies and employers will be looking for. To intern with an organization or a company means that you have experience and know the expectations of a real job. On a resume, it basically means that you are one step ahead of all those that do not have that kind of experience. Most students don't know that most businesses and corporations will likely hire their interns after they graduate. That's a good thing. Any kind of experience will help you personally grow and will also make you look good on paper. Keep in mind that internships are to your benefit.

Network with Alumni

Once in a while, you may come across Eastern alumni, and you may also find that many of the faculty and staff are Greyhound graduates. That's huge! Many individuals in Portales are great contributors that take on leadership roles in the community. I suggest you meet alums and connect with them. It's an amazing opportunity to talk with people that have already graduated and learn from their experiences and see what paths they took. Wisdom is a huge part of finding a job. Grab insights from your fellow Greyhound graduates; they will be happy to tell you about their journey into employment and education.