posted about 1 week ago
I sympathise with you here, as I pretty found myself in the same situation after my second post-doc. The first post-doc had gone okay at my PhD University, however, the second post-doc had gone badly with some interesting work colleagues and micro-managing Professor I was glad to see the back of.
So there was me without a reference from the second post-doc except a neutral letter from Human Resources saying I had worked for the University.
In the years since my PhD, the oversupply fo PhDs to available post-docs has continued as before. If you add in many post-docs take on PhD candidates from the same research group that in many instances are still writing up their PhDs, then those looking for second or third post-docs from outside and trying to build up a research and academic profile have their work cut out.
You therefore should have a plan B and accept perhaps you need to take a job outside academia at least for the medium term until you do find something suitable. There are also real world possibilities you might look at where either your research skills or other transferable skills you might have gained might be an asset to an employer.
So even if you do have to look to the real world for a while, at least it may give you extra skills you can sell back to academia should a position become available.
Depebding upon how you sell yourself, these different courses of action can become an asset to you in that search for an ideal post.
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)