How do I approach contacts for my job search?

Directly and honestly — but not desperately. Bad: 'I'm looking for a job, do you know anything?' Better: 'I'm currently open to new opportunities in the field of X. Do you have 15 minutes for a brief exchange about the market? And if you know someone relevant, an intro would be very valuable.' NBER research shows: Warm introductions are more effective than direct applications — use them actively. Give-first principle: Offer value before asking for something — share a relevant article, make an introduction yourself, actively help. LinkedIn Economic Graph: Contacts from previous positions and university are the most active referrers. GDPR: When reaching out, respect data privacy — no mass outreach without consent.