So disheartened with job hunting

[Momsnatter]

I work in higher ed in a professional services role.
I've been unhappy for a while and have been applying for other jobs for about 2 and a half years. However, because what I do is quite niche there have only been about 6 jobs that I have applied to.
I've had no luck. I'm applying to jobs which are almost identical to my current role and sometimes a lower grade that my current role and I'm just getting nowhere.
I have all the skills and experience they're looking for in the job ad.
Either:
a) I come across badly at interviews
b) I've mostly been applying to a far more prestigious university than I currently work in so maybe that's an issue?
c) I've been unlucky and the jobs are going to internal candidates (this seems to be the case with about four of the jobs I've applied to).
I've just had a knock back from a civil service job which would have been my dream role and my confidence is on the floor.

I put about a month's worth of prep into the application and interview but on the day they asked me questions I wasn't expecting (supposed to be competency based but were more about what I would do in that role). I had researched the role thoroughly too but I was just unlucky with the questions on the day.
They seemed to like me but I knew my answers weren't good enough. I'm waiting for feedback on that one.
Other feedback I've had (from prestigious uni) is I didn't have experience on one of the desirable criteria and on another I didn't research another university (which wasn't the one I was applying to!)
I've even paid over £200 for professional coaching.
Does anyone have any tips or similar experiences? The last time I applied to a new company was a long time ago but I never had any trouble back then.
Is it really tough out there or is it me?

[Independentstateofeyebrows]

Unless you have contacts it's really tough out there. I've been applying for jobs for over a year. Hundreds of applications resulting in three phone interviews and one in-person interview (all unsuccessful, all for roles paying half my previous salary). It's soul-destroying.

[Shen0102]

as it's niche possibly someone at that university also applied internally.. they'll most likely favour someone who already works there and knows their system etc. you can also send them an email with comprehensive answers of the questions you struggled with during the interview afterwards. I've known someone to do this and they got the job after they had stumbled in the initial Interview. just make sure to remember the full name of the person who interviewed you.

[daisychain01]

Maybe your job is so niche you're narrowing your field of possibilities a bit too much? Can you spend time researching how to widen your scope of interest to target jobs that you had not previously considered?

Do you, hand on heart, believe your current skills are even in demand any more ( I don't know what your job is, but maybe it has become a nice-to-have not a must-have)

If you've previously had career coaching, what did they recommend and have you maximised their advice?

Why do you have to restrict your job search to universities. Educational institutions are going through mega tough times and many are struggling with the internet revolution, they aren't keeping up with the times (reduced revenue streams, insufficiently innovative teaching methods) and so employment is extremely stunted.

[fifipop185]

It is very tough out there. I was out of work for a year andapplied for hundreds of jobs. I had 6 face to face interviews, didn't get any of them. Mostly, I was either over qualified, goofed up my competency answers or they took on someone who wanted slightly less money. Recruitment companies didn't help much, they find you vulnerable, they build you up and then you don't hear from them for weeks until they finally tell you that you didn't get the job and then drop you. I was getting very low and felt so rejected. But, I accidentally fell in to a perfect job in a local company I hadn't even known existed until DH went there on related business and asked if they had any jobs going - I started a month later. So, don't give up something good will happen in the end!

[Momsnatter]

Thanks for all your replies. My field is emerging right now, which is why it is niche. (Using technology in teaching). I actually do want to get away from HE but have found it hard to find suitable jobs. I think I need to start thinking laterally. Because I’ve found it so tough to get jobs that I have full experience in I haven’t tried others. Time to bite the bullet though I think’

[elelfrance]

If you're currently working within a HE institution, have you thought about working for the technology companies that provide that type of solution, or similar solutions for other industries ?

[daisychain01]

Why not find out how to build a MOOC in one of the platforms like edX Coursera or FuturrLearn.

That could be your USP