Over the past few decades, I’ve had the opportunity to walk alongside friends, colleagues, and coaching clients as they’ve navigated the often-stressful experience of looking for a new job. And every time, without fail, I find myself going back to the same bit of advice—a simple approach that’s powerful, practical, and, in many ways, kind of magical.

A Simple Job Search Strategy That Works

I can’t quite remember where I first heard it, but I think it came from a book I read years ago called 48 Days to the Work You Love by Dan Miller. If you’ve never read it, I highly recommend it. Dan was a thoughtful, faith-centered guy who really understood how to help people find not just any job, but meaningful work that fit them like a glove.

Anyway, the core idea is this: Every day, reach out to two people and let them know you’re looking. Not in a desperate way—not in the "Hey, do you have a job for me?" way—but in a more thoughtful, human way. Something like:

"Hey [Name], I wanted to let you know I’m currently exploring new career opportunities. Given your background and the people you know in the industry, I thought you might be able to offer some insight or point me in the right direction. When would be a good time for us to meet. Would love to get your input and advice."

Ask For Advice, Not A Job

That’s it. You’re not asking for a job—you’re asking for advice, and people love being asked for advice. And if they do know about a job (or have one), they’ll tell you. You don’t have to push for it.

Now, you might be thinking: "That’s great, but I only know a handful of people I could realistically contact." Totally fair. That’s where the second part of this method comes in—and this is the part that blew my mind when I first heard it.

The Magic Question That Unlocks Networks

At the end of each conversation, ask this one simple question:

"Can you think of two other people I should talk to about my search?"

That’s it. Two people.

This is the key idea that I think comes from Dan Miller. Most folks can rattle off a couple names without blinking. And just like that, your network begins to grow. If you do this every day—talk to two people and ask each of them for two more—you'll quickly go from having a short list to more leads than you can possibly keep up with. It’s like networking on autopilot.

Exponential Growth in Action

Let’s do a little napkin math just for fun. If each person gives you two new leads, here’s what happens as you talk to more and more people:

- Round 1: Talk to 2 people

- Round 2: Talk to 4 people

- Round 3: Talk to 8 people

- Round 4: Talk to 16 people

- Round 5: Talk to 32 people

And it keeps doubling. By Round 10, you could theoretically have over 1,000 leads (not that you’ll talk to all of them). Now, real life doesn’t follow perfect math, but you get the idea—this approach grows fast.

Keep It Organized

To keep from getting overwhelmed, I always recommend tracking your leads in a simple spreadsheet. Nothing fancy—just columns for name, contact info, how you were introduced, when you reached out, and whether you followed up. That little bit of organization goes a long way.

Making the Outreach Personal

And when you reach out to someone new, you can say something like:

"Hi [New Contact], I was recently talking with [Mutual Contact], and they suggested I reach out to you as an expert in [Industry]. I’m currently looking for a new opportunity and they thought you might have some insights or ideas. Would you have a few minutes where we could chat and I could get some quick career advice?"

It’s personal, it’s respectful, and it’s incredibly effective.

Real-Life Example

I’ve seen this work for engineers, marketers, teachers, and everyone in between. One coaching client—an IT guy in his 40s—used this exact method and ended up getting hired into a role he never even knew existed before he started reaching out. It wasn’t posted online. It came through a connection that came from a conversation that came from… you guessed it—just asking for advice.

This method works because it’s relational. It respects people’s time, invites them to help in a way that feels good, and opens doors you’d never even think to knock on.

Start Today

If you’re currently looking—or helping someone else who is—I’d encourage you to try this. Start with the people you know. Don’t worry about whether they can hire you. Just start the conversation. You might be surprised where it leads.

And remember: You only need one great opportunity to say yes. That’s all it takes.

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P.S. On a personal note...

Writing this post really brought Dan Miller to mind. He’s been gone for a while now, but man—what an incredible guy.

“Better questions to ask regarding a career or job choice would be: What was I born to do? What would be my greatest contribution to others? What do I really love to do (and when I’m doing it, time just flies by)?”

— Dan Miller, 48 Days to the Work You Love

I had the privilege of chatting with Dan several times over the years, and I always walked away better for it. One conversation in particular I’ll never forget—it took place on the deck of an aircraft carrier. But that’s a story for another day. Thanks, Dan, for everything.