Lost my mojo career-wise

[Everyoneafter3]

I've worked in a professional support capacity in HE for many years. I'm highly qualified and I know I'm good at my job. For the most part I enjoy it, too.

But I really don't know where I'm going. I'm senior in my department now but due to politics a promotion has seen no pay rise or change in title just masses of extra responsibilities with no decrease whatsoever in my previous duties.

Jobs in my field and location are rare.

My line manager is unbelievably unsupportive. When I tried to speak to her about tackling my immense workload her only suggestion was to see a counsellor. I want to do a management course (I was promoted to manager having had no experience) but she's not keen. I daren't discuss my long term plan of a PhD because she won't support that.

Most of my colleagues seem to hate me. I'm talking turning their heads away when I talk hate. They try to trip me up daily.

I can manage my time effectively, more so then my ft colleagues (I'm pt but not by much).

We simply cannot afford for me to retrain as anything, or take a significant pay cut.

I just don't know what to do.

[RC1234]

OK let's look at the positives - you like the type of work and you are good at what you do.

There are training consultancies that run courses like assertiveness and resilience, having difficult conversations, holding disciplinaries etc. and these are the kind courses that you will need to day to day management (and in a good company would be offered automatically). There are even online service providers too. I recently did a course with a company called International Workplace but there are loads of others too. Ask again if they would fund something online at least or some short courses.

The negative atmosphere at work sounds destructive though and at the very least it sounds like they are taking you for granted (particularly if they are not training or supporting you in your new management role). Just because jobs are rare does not mean that they are not out there - if you don't look you definitely won't find or know what opportunities could be yours. Even just getting an interview may change the way your current work look at you..