I began applying for jobs in August, right before I started training. Based on advice from my friends in the medical field, and experienced coders, I’ve applied for every entry level, "foot in the door" position I could find. Jobs like document scanning, data entry, reception desk, phone switchboard, and even housekeeping. Positions that specifically stated in their postings, "no experience necessary" or "at least one year of customer service", "must have working knowledge of computers", etc. Basic jobs. Between then and now (my training has been complete for about a month) I have applied to nearly 60 different positions, with a strong resume, cover letter, references, and a clear objective. Out of all of those jobs, I have received maybe 40 responses, with some variation of "You are not qualified" or no response at all. I even pushed back the date of my CPC exam, to focus on trying to lock down entry level work. I have posted in the forum before, about how I have two decades of retail management experience. And, anyone who has ever been in that particular field can tell you, you have your hands in everything. From banking, to dealing with sensitive information, HR, taxes and payroll, hiring/training personnel, doing paperwork, taking meetings, scheduling, running office equipment, using every computer software program known to man, answering phones. And, complicated things, like supervising packed stores, dealing with hostile customers, assisting large numbers of people at once, managing a staff of 20+ people sometimes, alone. And yes – housekeeping. It’s a role that always kept me on my toes. A role where customer service was always the biggest component, thus, the main priority. Yet, in the eyes of hiring reps for healthcare jobs, at least in my area, I am not qualified to answer a phone, process a payment, file papers/records, or deal with clients/patients in a customer service related position. As I prepare to finally sit for my CPC exam – which I am very confident about – I do remain concerned about my chances in the job market. I’ve heard horror stories from people with 30 years in billing, who couldn’t find coding work. And, I’ve heard horror stories from people like myself and others on this forum, who are new, and genuinely wanted to make a career change, but were not being considered for one reason or another. I’m trying to fight through the doubt and remain optimistic. The bottom line is, you can’t get that 3-5 years of experience that most employers are looking for, unless someone gives you a chance. And everyone deserves that chance. Especially if they are serious and legitimately care about being in this industry. And, I’d say 99% of us are! I spent nearly 20 years interviewing, hiring, and training people, and while I took their resumes into consideration, I also looked at their potential. I understood that if someone was applying to work for me, it was because they wanted to, and felt as if they had something to contribute. I always hired people who were motivated, willing to learn, and ready to jump in with both feet, no matter how new or scary it may have been for them. More importantly, I always had respect for people who were trying to make a positive change in their lives, by taking on a new challenge. I hope that anyone in my position, who is struggling, certified yet or not, will keep pushing. Knock on doors, apply to everything, until someone finally says "Yes." And, for anyone looking to hire new coders – be it for actual coding, or for an entry level, "foot in the door" job (because we WANT to work, we WILL take it if it’s the right fit!), don’t judge them solely on their background. Look at their experiences, see where they’ve been, where they want to go, and what they could bring to the table. You might come to find out that an ex retail manager, a stay at home mom, or a McDonald’s cashier could be a great addition to your team. Newbies, don’t ever lose sight of the fact that we have all worked hard to train and earn our certifications. Keep going!