Please Help me find an Accounting Position (student loan, insurance, small business)

[fsualumizzy]

First I just want to say long time reader first time poster. I just made a username today.

The last two years I have had so much trouble getting a job as an Accountant. I have been looking for anything in accounting even though I prefer to be an Auditor. And this is why I am having trouble...

1. My undergrad degree is in Criminal Justice
2. My only real world experience is with a firm that went under in less then 3 months aka I don't have enough real world experience.
3. I have not finished my Masters in Accounting yet (4 classes from being done.)
4. I don't have my CPA license yet but I am starting to study for one of the sections of the exam. I just now qualified to sit.
5. I live in Charlotte and my school is located in South Florida so that doesn't help me as far as jobs and internships go.

I have

1. Done all the websites
2. Applied to firms
3. Emailed firms that I can't apply to.
4. Called firms that I can't email.
5. I have worked with headhunters and all have the same excuse no experience no degree no job.
6. I have posted on forums before, but not city-data until now.

I have just ran out of ideas and time is running out before I finish my degree and need to pay back loans. So city-data what should I do? Is there any help out there? I do have my resume if anyone wants to look at it just message me. I would like to stay in Charlotte but I willing to move to the Northeast.

[RiverBird]

Try for a paid internship with a firm if you can't find a job right away.

If you absolutely cannot find a job or internship (and you probably will ), look into working for AmeriCorps, a program that doesn't pay a lot but gives great experience and defers your student loans. I think you can work for AC anywhere in the states (it's a one year commitment and I think also covers health insurance during that time).

[evilnewbie]

Unfortunately, the best jobs are the word of mouth kind... If you didn't get a job at "one" company, asked that company if it knows any other company that may be interested...

[HappyTexan]

Try local companies and charities. Offer to work for "free" to get experience for that resume.
Try small businesses and offer to do their books..really small businesses like the one man shops where they have to do all their own work. Many don't like to do it but can't afford full time accountants/bookkeepers.

[cruitr]

Your best source of a first accounting job will be the university where you received your degree. Since that university is in Florida, maybe you should work in Florida for a few years. Get your CPA and you'll be a lot more mobile in the future.