Last month, I took 12 minutes out of my busy day to listen to a speech by a former colleague. Andrea Mokros delivered the commencement address at the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts, and her message about the important role that your reputation and relationships play in your life really resonated with me.

Now, I don't have Mokros' impressive title of "Special Assistant to the President and Director of Strategic Planning at The White House," but the story of how we each got to where we are today has many parallels.

I am a connector. I feel great satisfaction when I can connect people together to make a difference. I am also a person who people like to consult for job searching advice, as I have a lot of experience hiring.

I would like to share the key messages I took away from the commencement address with everyone who is looking for that next great opportunity.

The overarching message is that successful people don't get their dream jobs because of their GPA or their resume. They get their dream jobs from the relationships they make and the reputation they have created for themselves.

People hire based on recommendations from people they trust, not from faceless resumes. This trend reminds me of one of the many wise statements my grandfather would share with us over and over: "It isn't always what you know, it is often more about who you know."

There is a difference between networking and relationship building — both have their place in the job searching world. Networking is when you have an opportunity to connect on a broad level with many different people. Relationship building is more focused and the intentional connecting with specific people who can help you.

It is important to remember that not only do you need to build those relationships, but you have to make efforts to maintain those relationships. Remember, nobody achieves success on his own. The most successful people have surrounded themselves with great people who support them.

The final message I walked away with that seems like a no-brainer but unfortunately isn't to most — is to manage your social media reputation. It will follow you forever, and it says everything an employer needs to know about your judgment.

And I don't mean just your spring break pictures. What you choose to share and say to the social media world is reflective of your judgment as well.

I am no hiring expert, but I can tell you that I have made strong efforts to build a solid reputation in my industry and among my peers. I have also made it a priority to build and manage solid relationships. These two efforts alone have opened incredible doors for me and my career, and they can help you, too.