_cloudland's journey

I've been feeling really trapped in my job at a small tech company where I've worked for the past two years. My manager, the director, has made it increasingly difficult to enjoy my role. The team has shrunk from six to just two people due to various departures, and now I'm left to handle most of the project responsibilities, often without adequate support. My director has been a source of constant criticism. At first, she complained that I was too slow, even when we were understaffed, and now she says I'm working too fast. It's confusing and frustrating. Her instructions often contradict each other, and when I seek clarification, she gets irritated and accuses me of being defensive. One incident that stands out was when she asked me to invite everyone to a series of meetings, but later criticized me for inviting too many people. I tried to explain that I was following her orders, but she interrupted me. Another time, I suggested sending a reminder about a location change for a town hall, but she shot it down, leading to confusion among attendees. Additionally, we’re relying on outside consultants due to our staffing shortages, but she complains about both their underutilization and the costs associated with them. She’s also put the responsibility of determining future resource needs on me, even though I'm not in a managerial position. Recently, I paid for my own ticket to a professional development conference, which she approved but then criticized me for not planning better, despite the fact that the organization could have provided passes. This has really affected my confidence, and I find myself afraid to take initiative because I never know how she'll react. I'm actively looking for new opportunities, but the job market feels brutal right now. Before the political climate shifted, I was getting interview requests weekly and had several offers on the table. Now, I'm applying constantly but facing rejections, often without even getting interviews. I've had two interviews this month, but I'm nervous they won't lead to anything. I really don’t want to quit without another job lined up, but the thought of spending another year in this toxic environment is disheartening. Has anyone else experienced a similar situation with a difficult manager while job hunting? How did you cope?