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Theres a certain 10-letter word that incites dread among shy college students and young professionals: networking.

Whether youre in high school, college or just starting out in the workforce, chances are you have a relative or teacher who lives by the Its not what you know, its who you know mantra. But what actuallymatters most when it comes to landing a dream internship or job: who you know or what you know?

While its nice to think that a stellar GPA and packed resume will land you the job, a recent LinkedIn study proves as painful as it may be to hear that, in some cases, our parents and teachers have been right all along. For students looking to go into certain industries like banking, film and higher education it does matter who you know after all.

Seventy percent of professionals worldwide were hired by a company at which they had a connection, the professional social networking service found.

(Graphic provided by LinkedIn)

Industries that require highly specialized training or degrees such as technology, entertainment, and defense companies are most likely to hire within their own networks.

Since those individuals tend to have specific capabilities and experiences, the hiring pool tends to be much smaller, the study states. Whats more, hiring managers will often rely on current employees with the specialized skill or qualification theyre looking to attract recommendations.

So, if you want to work in these industries, its in your best interest to hold on to all those business cards.

(Graphic provided by LinkedIn)

But if youre looking to go into fields like graphic design, photography and medicine, you can clear some of those business cards out of your wallet or purse.

Those fields are among the least likely to hire from within their networks. LinkedIn speculates this ispossibly because many medical positions are decided on a more geographically-random application process and often value quantitative results like test scores over culture fits or referrals.

In other fields, though, the importance of networking isnt as clear cut.

Students looking to work in higher education should focus on building their networks, but those who want to work in primary or secondary education dont have to worry about their networks as much.

Only 16.1% of primary and secondary education hires come from network connections, compared to 36% of higher education hires. Professionals at colleges and universities rely on the work of professionals at other schools, which is how they forge network connections. The primary education industry, however, is less driven by these relationships.

If you plan to enter an industry where networking is key but dont know where or how to start, dont worry. LinkedIn Senior Product Manager Kylan Nieh has some helpful tips:

Acomplete LinkedIn profileincreases your chances of being discovered by recruiters. Even just adding a photo makes you stand out from the crowd. Add any relevant job or volunteer experience, education and skills both soft and hard skills to make yourself stand out.

Yourprofessional network is the best tool you haveas you embark on the job hunt. Add friends from your class or campus clubs, and consider joining LinkedIn Groups that are relevant to your professional interests.

Reach out to alumni from your university, as they may be more open to talking with current students. In addition to helping your search, this can also give you a better sense of the types of jobs people with your same major got after graduation.

People and companies that you find interesting. This will help you understand more about the industries you care about. But also, when you follow a company on LinkedIn, you will be among the first to know about their job listings and news. You can also see shared connections and those who can help you find your way in to a new opportunity.

Kyler Sumter is a USA TODAY College digital producer and a Boston University student.

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Your connections matter most in these industries, according to LinkedIn - USA TODAY