I’d like to share a unique strategy that has unexpectedly landed me three job interviews in just two weeks. I’m not actively job hunting since I’m quite satisfied with my current role, but I like to stay informed about trends in my industry—who’s winning contracts, which competitors offer better salary packages, and so on.Recently, a company in my field secured a significant contract in a relatively new area for them. As it happens, I have direct experience with the solutions and technology involved in this type of work. Out of curiosity, I visited their website to learn more about the contract. While exploring, I quickly realized that their approach to the project was missing a few critical components.So, I decided to write a brief email to their engineering department. I introduced myself, outlined my relevant credentials, highlighted the challenges they were likely to encounter, and proposed a solution. I ended the email by offering further assistance if needed.I sent off the email and didn’t think much about it—until the next morning, when I received a reply from their lead engineer! He asked if I could come in for a meeting the following day. (The company, by the way, is located in the same city where I live.)Out of curiosity, I agreed. The meeting turned into a sit-down with three engineers, all of whom were very interested in my approach to the project and eager to offer me a job! It was clear they valued my insights, and after a two-hour meeting, they practically extended me a job offer. The only reason it wasn’t official yet was because, during the conversation, I realized I had significant leverage. I subtly made it known that my salary expectations were high, and they are now in talks with their finance department to see if they can meet them. If this works out, I’ll be more than doubling my current salary!The truly surprising part came afterward. I realized that other companies might also benefit from this same solution. So, I broadened my search and reached out to a few more companies using the same strategy. So far, this has led to a scheduled Teams meeting later this week and another in-person meeting when I’m next in a city I frequently visit for work.I hope this approach might inspire some of you in your job search. While it’s unconventional and may not apply to every field, it’s certainly adaptable. The key is to ask yourself, “How can I improve something that company X is doing now?” Then, write a concise email, send it, and the worst that can happen is you don’t hear back.Good luck with your job search!