Research is a pyramid, fewer posts at the top

Tough going for 3 years, 6 months was hard for me, projects around the house, volunteering at archaeology digs kept me going
Any contact with the job centre, and particularly the sanction regime is hideously depressing, demoralizing and really knocks your self esteem, making you even less employable.
That’s why projects outside of the system help ime

Professional cv writer ?

Thought of retrading completely?

So you’ve done a degree, a PhD, and two Post Docs…

How much time spent on those? And how many “career” roles have you had since then? How old are you now?

During which time you were not unemployed, surely? Just not employed at whatever level you feel you deserve to be?

Keep your chin up and keep pushing on. It may come to a point in time when you need to forget your trained skill and go for something else.

Have you considered contracting to get some experience ?

http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome/People/Join-the-team.html

If you have a background in chemistry you could do worse than looking into a career in H&S as a specialist in that area. It is relatively easy to get into and entry qualifications are inexpensive, quick and easy to gain. Starting out it won’t exactly be well paid, but you can progress very quickly if you have the required attributes and drive.

teach chemistry in a high school – this country is desperate for passionate chemistry/science teachers.

why do you need trained chemists?

there are no jobs.

No I don’t think that’s what the OP is saying, there are no jobs at the OP’s level is the issue here.

interdisciplinary skill sets mean people are vague at a range of subjects.

there’s an erosion of specialists, and everything is bought from catalogues.

that’s the point.

What was your specialism? What are your core skills rather than detailed subject knowledge?

Don’t go into teaching unless it is something you actually want to do, I know a few post PhD people who have done this as a solution to finding work. They hate it or quit. I know one who realised half way through her PhD that she wanted to teach and is brilliant and loves it.

OP tough times. Without knowing too much sounds like it’s time to change something. Not sure where you are based but perhaps you should consider further afield. PhD chemist – more than basic IT ?

My god, you lot are a depressing bunch at times!

I have a PhD and now a successful academic career, yet if I’d listened to some of you during the 1 1/2 years I was unemployed (5 years ago) I would’ve probably jumped off a bridge!

I advise the OP considers carefully his/her options. With a science PhD, you have demonstrated yourself to be highly skilled in a specialist technical area. Look for who/where/what will value that ability now and, further, evaluate closely what it is you actually want to do. Then make ‘you’ look like the person who has always wanted to do that – externally to people reading your CV. This may require some arm-bending to obtain a voluntary work placement in the area you want to be in. You now need to demonstrate commitment to a particular area and that you have your head screwed on.

Seek direct advise from professionals in the area you want to work in – on your CV and covering letter. Again – beg, plead, be nice. Get good advice from successful people – not ‘the Internet’.

Above all.. I’ve been there – and I know how it feels. Keep on at it – whatever direction you choose – and you will get there! 🙂

Yeah, to hell with paye, jump on a bike and f off round the world.

Where are you looking? I see a good number of chemistry jobs appearing in the north east? Normally around teeside in oil and gas spinoffs.

Things are slow and people have been laying off staff but there is still a demand for people with the right skills.

This is a career path for many crap scientists who can’t cut it in their choose field (not saying that is what the OP is btw). Don’t do it unless desparate, and sure you want to wave being a scientist behind.

Move to Loughborough

Don’t laugh