Job market - is it me?

[oustedbymymate]

Trying to move jobs to a better paid role with better benefits. Back story was in education for 14 years and was basically bullied out and left on the grounds of extreme stress. Had suicidal thoughts etc. was awful. Took over 45 applications and about 13 interviews to secure the role I have now. Took a huge pay cut as well as benefits cut. I have the bare minimum holiday, no sick pay, minimum required pension etc. 40 hours a week over 5 days. I earn £28k now where I was on £48k previously. However less stress.

I don’t want to return to teaching. I have been applying for other roles and I’m currently on rejection number 32 with not a sniff of an interview. Is the job markers really this poor or am I shit at applications? I do all the usual get someone to check it over go through the criteria and give examples of how I meet each one etc.

Any advice?

its a very tough market out there. The economy is reducing so many, many places are 'tightening their belts' Its really no you, its them.

Try local authority education teams. With the proposed white paper due out next year they're looking for staff with school experience for advisory roles/admin roles

It's hideous..DH has taken 18 months and hundreds of rejections to get a new role after being made redundant in July 2024...he starts in Jan. Recruiters said he had a brilliant CV, he had loads of positive conversations with his network etc but there are more job seekers than jobs.

I have just got a 'returnship' into my old profession but last year was in a company that recruited for 2 part time min wage admin roles....we had 100s of applications, many from hugely over qualified individuals.

As others have said, the job market is really tough at the moment, so 32 applications and no interviews is not necessarily a sign that you are doing anything wrong.