Here’s a piece of womanly advice for the desperate pub gentlemen looking for women – fish, don’t hunt.

But a piece of contrast advice for the clueless job seekers looking for opportunities – hunt, don’t fish.

Since you probably know more about how to attract women than I do (or I hope you do), I’m going to focus on the second inspiration.

Yesterday I made a new friend, Mengmeng, who is doing the same NWE project with me. To be honest, I was quite proud of my early application and ‘smart approach’ (which I will tell you about later) to secure the post – until she told me how she got it.

She walked straight into the office and asked for a job – when there was NO job available at all.

At first the staff said no. But as Mengmeng talked more about her current MA and personal objective, the guy who said ‘No’ earlier changed his mind. He said maybe we DO have something for you.

And that’s how she got her job.

By the time I started working, she’s already been on that project for a month.

A hunter, so it seems, is likely to gain more than a fisher; it is because instead of waiting, a hunter initiates.

Of course it can be intimidating walking straight into an office to ask for a job, and after all not everyone is so damn lucky.

However, there are a few things the job seekers can do which require no luck at all, but will definitely bring benefit. One of the tips which has been put to test by me a few times and proved 100% useful of all time is this,

If the job you are applying for says ‘contact John Smith for more details’, CONTACT him

If you fear your voice is going to suddenly disappear or your English will shatter over the phone, at least email him.

This is an opportunity to show your keenness and learn more than any other applicant about untold details of the job (so ask smart questions!) .

And once personal rapport is built, when it comes to your cover letter, you can always say,

‘prior to applying for this post, I have in person contacted John Smith…’

and that shows you are dedicated and fully prepared.

Not many people have done this.

In my case, the person I chatted to beforehand later became my interviewer for my current job, which turned out to be quite helpful.

Once again, the tip was played well.

10.00am As I’m browsing through Careers Service’s vacancies online, I find that a company is looking for a Chinese translator. The deadline is today.

10.05am For a brief moment, I get really excited – the job requires 12 hours a week, and the pay is 7 pounds an hour. Excellent opportunity for a poor student like me!

10.10am But my sanity tells me I can’t apply for that, because, as an MA student who’s already doing an NWE project, blogging for the Careers Service and freelancing for a Chinese newspaper, one more job isn’t what I can possibly handle (or is it?).

10.15am But surely there’s no harm in applying? I just can’t help feeling that this is really the kind of job I will do well at (a Chinese translator!), and on the other hand even if I do apply there’s a possibility I won’t get it in the end. So, what have I got to lose?

10.20am -10.50am I quickly write my new CV and spend a little time phrasing the cover letter, attach them in the email, click ‘send’, done.

10.55am I get an email back! And it’s a ‘No‘. The position unfortunately, has been filled. But it is also said my CV is ‘very good’ and they will keep my details and let me know ‘if any other positions open in the future’.

11.00am I feel relieved as well as disappointed. I needn’t have worried about balancing my time after all. However, I have learnt a few things too:

NEVER wait until the deadline if you really want the job

I thought deadline meant you had a chance until then; I was proven wrong today. And also,

There’s no harm in trying, because you’ve got nothing to lose

Especially if you have the time to think over how to balance everything if you get the job, use that time to apply for it. Because it can turn out like this: you work out a really good plan, but the job is not yours in the end.

But I actually did get something in the end – a potential future opportunity with the company! And for that all I needed was an hour.

There is a legend that memories only last three months. I contacted you in the summer and am enclosing another copy of my CV to update your records. I would like to convert this piece of paper into a face and look forward to meeting you.

I came across this unusual cover letter sample once reading through a book on CV guidance. The letter was real, and the guy who wrote it did get an interview with the company and later a job. So said the book.

So I copied it down to my notebook and thought one day it might come in handy. And one day it did. Not for me though.

My boyfriend has been struggling to find a work placement all summer, and is still on the hunt at the moment. The problem is he already went through the yellow pages and now his contacts have run out, and he hasn’t got a yes for an interview.

So I said why don’t you try contacting the companies that already said no again, with a different approach?

I know it’s a bit cheeky stealing that guy’s cover letter, but hey that letter was put into the book for a purpose! Out of other choices, my boyfriend put almost exactly the same lines in the email and sent it to those companies again.

Sadly, the letter did not work wonder a second time. However, among those rejecting emails, there is one that’s surprisingly nice and encouraging.

‘Thanks for your e-mail I do recall your previous application…Unfortunately as you are well aware the current financial market is making life very difficult…We are having difficulty in supporting our current team at present. I will keep your CV and should the situation change then I would be happy to interview you…I was in the same situation in 1989 when I was looking for a Part 1 Placement so I know how difficult and frustrating this is. Don’t give up there will be work somewhere.’

We did not expect an employer would write back in such a kind and encouraging manner, especially that he even related himself to this difficult situation and became so personal towards the end.

Well, I guess the cover letter did help in a way. At least it brought back some confidence and hope, and made us realise that even employers who turn you down are not so cold-blooded. They do have emotions, sometimes more than you think.