To think job hunting is not easy for niche jobs?

[sunshineNdaisies]

So I am currently employed in the public sector earning £35,000 pa (not in london).

My job is very niche, education related, but not teaching. So I work in colleges, universities, schools and that kind of environment. Its very very niche, we have a specific qualification and a specific industry body.

So eg teachers can really only work in schools - that's the kind of situation that I am in although I'm not a teacher and my qualification is not a teaching one. To say what my qualification is would immediately out me.

I love my job.

I don't love my company. I don't love my bullying manager and I have a grievance out against her which I fully expect to be dismissed because that's just what the company are like.

I have multiple disabilities, some visible but mainly invisible. all very much permanent and all disclosed to my employer since I started about 15 years ago. I have adjustments in place but attitudes are the problem.

I am off long term sick with anxiety due to this treatment.

I am searching for similar jobs and just getting nowhere.

Similar jobs are in the charity sector for about £20000 per annum max. I can't afford that salary drop.

These jobs are all temporary or fixed term. I can't take that risk either.

I don't want to re-train. I worked very hard for my qualifications.

Self employment is far too risky - I'd never make the same salary.

I've tried registering with recruitment agencies and they say they don't work in my industry (despite their websites saying they do) so clearly the disabilities put them off me.

I've been searching on TES, Indeed, goodmoves, S1jobs, scotcareers, myjobscotland, civil service jobsite, jobsite, JCP website, reed, university and college websites, jobs.ac.uk, linkedin jobs, other social media sites.

I just can't seem to find anything.

I'm entering month 3 of my sick leave. I get 6 months full pay then I think I'll be forced to return to work for the manager who reduces me to a shaking sobbing wreck.

I submitted my grievance 3 months ago. No invitation to hearing yet. No resolution although they are offering mediation which I do not want and pushing me to stick to the informal route (even though I have concrete evidence of discrimination).

I just came on here for some sympathy and to sound off really. Does anyone have any tips for job hunting?

I have had career counselling which helped but still no luck.

I have a very niche job and have had a few in my career, but just because i work in one specific and very limited sector didn't stop me from using my transferable skills into a different (although related and equally niche) job in the past. I'm about to change again. I think you are pigeon holing yourself. I'm sure you have transferable skills that you could use to get a different job, especially in the public sector.

I have a niche occupation and was made redundant. I literally emailed my cv to any company within my area who may employ my role or simular. I was lucky enough to find somewhere that actually incorporated my speciality into what had been a more generalised role. You can try this approach, you have nothing to lose

Niche or not every job has transferable skills. Good luck. Job hunting isn't easy and I can imagine doing so whilst under the strain you're under isn't fun either.

Job hunting definitely isn't easy. I feel for my son who graduated 2years ago with an Animation Degree. All the jobs he is wanting to apply for all want at least 1-2 years experience in the industry and that is even for a Graduate or Junior role. How is he meant to get experience when no one will employ anyone with out it. So I have told him to look at other jobs, graphic designer etc, again companies want experience.
I'm getting stressed as a mother as I don't like seeing talent wasted and 3 years of expensive tuition mounting up so I hate to say how he is feeling and I know he is not the only graduate without a job.

I feel for you. I'm in a similar situation without having disabilities to make it harder. Does your job have a transferable element that might allow you to move into a different area? For example, some people I knew who worked in publishing moved into project management as they overlap in places, and some moved into PR etc.

You sound very negative
Every job has an element of transferable skills
You have a good job, can you put your efforts into making this situation better ?

Op if you're in a niche, education-related job can you not try for something in HR to tide you over? Are there not transferable skills between them?

Also, if you're on the west coast and your husband needs to be there for work, but all the roles suitable for you are in edinburgh, then you just need to move halfway between them so you both have a 1 hour commute!

Curious as to how this situation turned out - op are you still on mumsnet to provide an update ?