h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Now, before I get accused of being soppy, etc. I wasn't thinking here of some romantic rendezvous <aren't word checkers great?) I was thinking about, in my case, meeting someone that if you had not met them, on that particular day/time then things would have turned out totally different.

I used to be an avid CB fan and always used to hear an American voice on the CB. So after talking to this guy for sometime I finally met him in a pub somewhere local (don't forget that CB was totally illegal so it was more cloak and dagger tatics). He offered me a job in his company; drove him to Glastonbury (plus point 1); met a pretty girl at his company (plus point 2); this girl taught me about s** and introduced me to Dylan, Crosby, Stils, Nash, Young, Hendriks, Clapton, Jagger,Captain Beefheart, Joe Cocker, Led Zeppelin,(loads of points there!); she recommended me a film called Education Rita; went on to get my O levels, A levels and a degree; with degree went to Germany - and the rest is history!!

Now, if I hadn't met that guy in the pub that night? Would I be sitting here now ... enjoying the first day of my holiday? Who knows?

That is interesting as I thought it would be a thread about someone who wanted to meet someone interesting and how to go about it. My answer would have been let nature take its course as trying to meet someone interesting usually doesn't work. And it seems that is was you did as you wasn't really trying to meet someone interesting, it just happend by chance. There is a risk of people actually chasing after interesting people as can drive them away.

Sadly, or perhaps happily, so much in life appears to be utterly dependant on pretty-much random events.
After University, and then a Masters degree I tried for years to find a job. I went on courses about applying for jobs, about createing the perfect CV, about filling in the bestsist application form etc.
I spent about three years applying for hundreds of jobs and got zilth. I barely ever made it to interview. Even when I showed by application forms, CVs etc for these jobs to friends who have managerial (I.E., hireing and firing) positions in exactly* the same sectors I was applying for; htey coudln't work it out either as to why I vertually never even got as far as the interview stage.
Back at teh end of this summer, I got into Email contact with a girl, well woman Who'd placed an 'Add' on, well, basically a dating/you know what I mean, kinda site.
We eventually met up, and by the third time we'd met (this was really just about sex), she'd spoken to one of her friends, and he'd got me a job. It just isn't* ment to be that way, and kinda undermines any sense of meratocracy as it relaly just seem to be random meetings with peple, and knowing the right person and the right time in order to get thigns to happen

I seem to find that most people here in Germany get their jobs through other people knowing them - is it just family which makes it nepotism? Now, if you had chickened out about meeting this girl/woman perhaps you would be still looking?

Remember that film with Chancey Gardener - Peter Sellors (Being There) - I believe he became President because of a chance meeting. I would much prefer to hire someone that I know directly/indirectly!

If I'd have chickened out, I'd not have a job, nor likely would have any chance of getting one: three years of solidly applying and getting no where put me off actually applying so I'd not really applied for anything recently at all since it all seemed such an utter waste of time

I've come to a similar conclusion ... sometimes you have to be courageous and do it!!