I fully understand
When I signed up for my Health Claims Specialist degree I was told that there would be so many job offers because the coding and billing field is growing faster than any other career. I tried "getting my feet wet" and applied for data entry, billing, medical records, even as a medical secretary. Every place told me I had no experience to even answer the phone! I applied at countless places ( well over 150 to date) throughout my 2 year program and nothing. (I do have a great resume with good experience and my CPC-A license, but no medical office experience)
For my internship I went to a pretty well known office. I got the run around just like others with the whole we will hire you and blah blah blah. Then I discovered and highly vocalized the intentional errors in the billing system. I was immediatly pulled off of all paper work and was resorted to putting address labels on envelopes (well for one day...my last) I left because I discovered fraudulent acts that are not right and I can't take part of that.
I landed a internship at a hospital, but all they had was medical records. The people loved me, but unfortunately, there were no jobs just yet. I could take a per diem but I can't quit a job to go to my medical record job a few hours a week after driving 1 hour there and 1 hour back. A few coding jobs have opened up since then, but they want someone with experience.
Other hospitals that called me back wanted to see where I was in my coding career. Of course, they need more experience. I offered to take their coding test and I guarentee that I can pass it. I am not a cocky person, but I have the utmost faith in my coding abilities. I am still, after a month, waiting on replies on if I am experienced enough to take a test.
I ended up taking a job in data entry because I still am told I don't have to experience doing coding and billing even though I did that in school and on my internships. I am not pleased with the job, it feels degrating, but I can build experience for $10 an hour. I am starting to get into the billing aspect, with no raise, but my passion lies in coding. In all honestly, I can bill, understand all of the aspects that go into it, but I am bored as can be. I will take whatever job comes right now, but my future lies in coding.
This is my story. There is much more if you feel like sending me a message. I like talking to people that share my same experience in this "flourishing money making" (ha ha) career. I do understand what it is like out there and I live in the middle of 2 big cities that have millions of jobs and hospitals.