The Chicken or the Egg?

Hi Everyone!
I'm planning on moving to Manchester in August, alone and without a job.  I do have a EU passport and some job qualifications, and I think I'll find work but I just don't know the order to go about doing things.
Which am I supposed to get first: a job or an appartment?  I'm sure landlords want you to have a job, but don't employers also want you to have an address?  What should I do?  Should I stay somewhere temporarily, like a hostel, while I'm job searching?  Has anybody done that?
The same thing about the bank account.  I've heard that banks want you to present a letter from your employer (and proof of address, again) in order to open an account  but that employers want you to already have a bank account when you're hired.  Which comes first?  Job-flat-bank, bank-flat-job, flat-bank-job?
Thanks for any help.  This is a great site.

Ha, we're having this problem (we live in the UK already, but our lease is expiring in a few months at the same time that my work contract ends and my fiance graduates from uni, so we'll be potentially without jobs and a house at the same time.)  I would focus on getting somewhere to live first.  How much do you have in savings?  If it's a sizable amount, that might help with landlords.  If it's not, then staying in a hostel/serviced apartment/B&B for a few weeks might be what you have to do while you look for a job.  If you don't have a job, I'd stay away from estate agencies- private landlords are usually more flexible though.

As far as banks go, I know that there is at least one that will theoretically let you open a bank account with just your passport (it's either Lloyds TSB or Barclays, check their websites).  But usually you need proof of address, so I'd do flat-bank-job (or really, flat first and job and bank hopefully at about the same time.)

Thanks, that sounds like good advice.  I'm only going to arrive with a couple thousand pounds, so that's probably not going to be enough to satisfy a landlord.  Are there any other ways of convincing people to let to you?  My parents would be more than willing to cosign for me or give me money to pay a large deposit up front.  What are most people required to have/prove/provide when renting?  Thanks again!