Boyfriend making it about him

What is his CV like?

Are you in the same field? If you are and do similar work then he's treating you as some kind of competition which is definitely dickish behaviour.

Has he got form for being unsupportive when you need support and, have you spelled it out to him that right now you could do with some support while you look for a new job so could be please shelve or put his own (unnecessary) job hunt on the back burner? His reaction will tell you what you need to know about him. He may just not be aware of what you need right now, and think it looks exciting and interesting and a good source of common discussion. 🙄

He says he is going to apply for a job that OP has applied for, even though he works in an entirely different field. That sounds like the opposite of being supportive as he would be in competition with her for the same job that he doesn't need and she does. Why should OP support his job search when he is already in a stable job that he likes and she is coming to the end of a fixed term contract?

I think you are being quite self centred about the situation. He has decided that he would like to look for another job, nothing wrong with that.

It's ok to look for a job.

It's not ok to try to take a job she's applying for for himself.

He suddenly wants extra attention instead of letting OP get on with her job search and job searching can be very time consuming. Now he's going so far as to talk about applying for the same jobs. She is her kid's only support and her current job is ending. A job is an absolute priority for her.

I think he's trying to sabotage your job search. He doesn't want you in a possibly better role.

If you don't break up with him, as least grey rock him about your job hunt. Things are going, that's all the info he gets. Tell him you're too busy to look over his CV or whatever time wasting bullshit he comes up with.

Well she has to centre herself, she's on an urgent job hunt, with a child to support and a DP who is definitely not going to put her first.

Attention-seeking, competitive, insecure (he’s pushing for you to refocus on him and fears might do better than him), insensitive, immature and jealous prat.

I get why you find it annoying. But have you talked to him about it? Maybe it is some (misguided) way to try and empathise and connect with what you are experiencing. If you explain how annoying it, maybe he'll back off.
If not, and he is trying to compete/one up you then i think I'd be keeping out his way while I'm job hunting. Or telling him to do one if it gets too bad.

Oh!

How long have you been together?

That sounds like tbe perfect ick being manufactured

Not sure I could get over that level of lack of thought, stupid competitiveness etc

Ick!

I think you are being quite self centred about the situation. He has decided that he would like to look for another job, nothing wrong with that. Isn't he supporting you by sharing your experience and therefore can talk about it and sympathise about it. It sounds like you want exclusivity on it which is weird.

As for support, you are not living together. Why should he suddenly cook and do more in your house?

Best case interpretation, he’s not good at empathy and accidentally does this as a way to show he understands. When he obviously doesn’t.

DH does this with illness, aches and pains, tiredness. He feels bad that I’m feeling bad, but can’t quite work out the appropriate response, so he puts it down to him having whatever the issue is. Sorry I know that’s a wordy explanation!

I now know to say, ‘No you’re fine, you’re just thinking about it because I’m ill.’ ‘No you’re not, you didn’t drive 5 hours today’ etc.

If he’s generally a good egg, tell him that you’d like his support as you are in a very difficult position. Him choosing to get interested in changing his job is really distracting and unhelpful at the moment.

It’s either that or he’s a selfish arse sucking up all the oxygen in the room, just in case someone wants something from him.

Why can;t he look for a new job if he want;s to?

i don't think 'because he should be making me dinner' is a very good reason.

You sound like hard work and pretty unsupportive.

Does he suddenly become ill when you are too?

Wait. You're providing for your child as the only parent and he wants to apply for a job you've mentioned you might apply for.

Full stop here. That is a huge dick move and you have a child reliant on you for support. He's an asshole. I think that's relationship ending right there. It's not like he needs a job and yet he's putting himself in direct competition with you.

This man doesn't care about you. He wouldn't think of doing something like this if he did. Time to break up. He will always center himself and compete with you and you have a child to raise, not a selfish prick.

Extremely annoying and insensitive. If your job hunting has inspired his then great but since he has a stable job he could take his time with his so it’s not stressful for him and since he can see how much work it is he could be helping you when you are having to do yours under pressure.

My partner is like this and when I work 12 hour shifts and say I’m exhausted/ haven’t had time to eat etc he will say he is also tired as he has been to the dentists.

They do it on purpose so they don’t have to be helpful.

Good luck with the job hunt, put your energy into that not the relationship.

It does sound as if everything has to be about him. Don't get flu because he will come down with the black death 💀

Well that's a really twatty thing to do! To actually decide to apply for a job that you are going for so that he is in competition with you. It would make me reconsider the relationship.

He's trying to sabotage you and I'm not sure why.

Yep, he’s being an attention-seeking twat. Reminds me of an ex boyfriend.