I can't emphasize how important it is to have the right mentors and contacts. Mentors are people who take some interest in your future and offer advice. A mentor doesn't have to be just one person: you might have a mentor for your major, a mentor for industry contacts, and a mentor who helps you with social issues. And a mentor doesn't have to be someone with a "Mentor" badge - sometimes you'll just get good advice from someone you see occasionally. It doesn't have to be a formal relationship. Just seek out smart and connected people who seem to be giving you good advice.
These days, with people carpet-bombing companies with resumes, having an inside contact at a place you are applying is gold. In my forty-plus year working career, I have applied for a job without an inside contact exactly once - my first job. As a student you have to cultivate whatever resources you can to develop contacts: profs, alumni, campus visitors, local company people, and your friends and family. LinkedIn is a good place to start. There is a separate page on networking tips to get you started.
Keep track of who you have talked to and who has been helpful. Contact those folks regularly, in a non-intrusive way. An email or FB post to let them know what you are up to will keep you in their minds.
