Here’s How to Land Your Dream Job

Based on a Guest Podcast with: Merryn Roberts-Huntley, Founder of Made to Hire

Merryn Roberts-Huntley is a career and executive leadership coach with over 20 years of experience. She also teaches graduate-level business school courses at the University of Oregon.

When it comes to job searching, most people are making a critical mistake: only applying online.

According to executive coach and founder of Made to Hire, Merryn Roberts-Huntley, 

“When I’m working with job seekers as their career coach, often people will come to me after they have been looking for a job for quite some time and they’ll say, Merryn, I am so frustrated. I have submitted 17 applications in the past month and I haven’t gotten any calls.”

So what’s the problem then? Submitting applications is not enough on its own. If you want to truly stand out and land your dream job, you need a more strategic approach. Below are Merryn’s five steps to landing your dream job—a proven framework that goes far beyond hitting “apply.” You can also listen along to our guest podcast by clicking ‘play’ below.

Step 1: Build Your Brand

Contrary to what most people think, your first step isn’t sending out resumes. Rather, it’s making sure your professional brand is strong and consistent.

“There are three big things that are part of your brand,” Merryn explains. “Number one is your resume… Number two is your LinkedIn profile… and the third thing is really thinking about how you tell your own story.”

Think of brand building as the foundation of your job search. A polished resume, a compelling LinkedIn presence, and the ability to confidently tell your career story will set you apart before you even walk into an interview.

If you need support here, our professional resume writing service can help you present your best self to employers.

Step 2: Leverage Your Network

Networking isn’t just a buzzword—it’s one of the most effective ways to get in the door. Merryn encourages job seekers to start with a simple exercise:

“I always ask my clients this: if you had to give me a list of the five people who you think are the most likely to lead to your next job, who’s on that list?”

Once you identify those people, engage with them. Let them know what you’re looking for and ask for introductions or referrals. “The people who are getting called for interviews are doing much more than just applying online,” Merryn emphasizes. “They’re really leveraging their network to get into the right pile and to be viewed as a very strong candidate.”

Step 3: Create Your Portfolio

This step surprises most people, but it’s a secret weapon. Merryn suggests creating an interview portfolio—a curated set of documents that support your application.

“This is if you send it electronically, it’s a PDF or if you’re handing it over in person, it’s a printed set of documents that are going to support your application and/or your interview,” she explains.

Your portfolio might include a case study, a project summary, a list of key achievements, or reference quotes. It provides tangible proof of your skills and helps hiring managers picture you in the role.

Step 4: Submit Your Application

Yes, applying online is still part of the process—but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. By the time you hit “submit,” you should already have a strong brand, activated network, and a portfolio ready to share.

As Merryn puts it:

“You can see how there are all these other things that you can be doing to get yourself into that job faster and with way less pain.”

Step 5: Ace the Interview

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

The final step is nailing the interview—and it all comes down to storytelling and preparation.

“We know that every interview starts the same way,” Merryn says. “They say to you, So tell me about yourself.… The interview is essentially over after you tell your story. Because if you do a great job at telling your story, the rest of the interview is a confirmation.”

Merryn also advises preparing five to seven specific stories from your background that align with the job. Keep them handy (even on a Post-it during a virtual interview) so you can respond strategically instead of reactively.

Final Thoughts

Landing your dream job takes more than sending out dozens of applications. It requires a strong personal brand, a thoughtful network strategy, tangible proof of your skills, and sharp interview preparation.

“Make sure your resume’s up to date, your LinkedIn is up to date, you feel great about how you’re presenting yourself. And if I can help you at all, please feel free to reach out.”

If you’re ready to take the next step, schedule a free call with our team today or see client success stories from job seekers who landed faster with Let’s Eat, Grandma.

By following these five steps to landing your dream job, you’ll stand out in a crowded market and position yourself as the clear choice for your next opportunity.