What's Taking So Long?

I get really frustrated in my current job search. I've been unemployed since July 2009 and I'm STILL on the lookout. I've never had this tough of a time finding employment and I'm beginning to wonder is it me. Seven months is a long time being unemployed. I really want to jump into another industry because every since I graduated from USC in 2007, I've had a job around some type of Sales. I'm tired of Sales and to be honest, it doesn't make me happy. Everyone is always talking about the income potential in sales but I've come to learn that money isn't everything. I've never had a job where I was completely happy.

My last job was as an Investment Executive at Trilogy Financial Services. To be honest, that was just a fancy title for the Entry-Level Financial Advisors. That was the second Financial Advisor position I had and they made A LOT of unfulfilled promises. They told me about how fun and easy it would be and made the job look like Candy Land and you know, I should have known better but I was really looking forward to having a career I enjoyed so, I fell for the "okie doke."

After the countless headaches and breakdowns from not being able to produce the level of sales required, I found myself becoming counterproductive. In the end, my manager let me go because I simply could not handle it. Now let me back up, we were required to solicit business from our family & friends and eventually do business on a referral basis but what my colleagues failed to realize is, my family and friends are not from privileged backgrounds and most can't afford or were unwilling to make the financial changes that I would present. But I made that clear even before we started and they promised they would help me overcome this dilemma. Maybe they didn't believe me or maybe they thought they could change the minds of my family and friends. They soon learned that what I confessed in the beginning was the complete and utter truth and I was penalized for not being able to perform. How awesome is that? It's not like they gave me the freedom to generate my own leads! They had one way of doing it and I was told to stick to it. So unfair!

So now, I'm on unemployment, my second round as a matter of fact, and I'm still searching. I've looked high and low and submitted my resume to countless companies but to no avail. And this whole process baffles me because I thought by going to college, I would have some advantage. I graduated from USC for crying out loud. It's one of the top universities! And I know my potential. I know I could be a great addition to someone's company! I am surely as good as it gets with numbers...I'm not saying I know everything but I learn very quickly. I've always been good with numbers! I went to Calculus Camp for crying out loud. Yes, Calculus Camp and I had a ball! I know one thing, I was one of few in my high school to get a 5 on the AP Calculus AB Exam so there! As a kid, I could teach myself from a math book with no problem and I'm sure I am still capable. I just want a job working in either the Accounting or Finance industry but something unrelated to sales. I've had too many bad experiences with sales and it will take a WHOLE LOT to get me to go back there!

Another thing I'm working on is getting my CPA certification. I was a business major at USC but I didn't take enough Accounting courses in order to be eligible to sit for the CPA exam. So I enrolled into a special program designed for people like me (with a college degree and want to take the CPA exam) at Santa Monica College. I'm going to school online so that when I do get a job, I won't have to worry about scheduling. All I need now, is the Accounting experience and I'll be good to go with the CPA exam. Pray for me!