109 credits in 10 months

[Jenniferinfl]

Congratulations on finishing!!

I agree with others, and would underscore that an email blast approach is futile.  Instead of 300 online applications, you need 4-5 meaningful conversations.  

Also, I hate to say this, but I can't think of many careers that don't expect you to work your way up into roles with more responsibility (more income).  I realize you don't want to take a lower-paying job at your age, but look at it as an investment.  I don't know this specific industry, but if you don't get something soon, perhaps you can do an unpaid internship at least part-time. It doesn't even have to be advertised as an internship, you can create an opportunity for yourself by offering your services (as a bookkeeper maybe?) free of charge to a cause or organization that you're passionate about.  Finding purpose and meaning in your work will do wonders for your self-esteem and confidence. (and, you'll network, and you'll get experience, and you'll have something to put on your resume for this time frame)  
As an example, 4 years ago, I was asked to do a presentation (free) for our library that has turned into a wonderful relationship with many branches and though I do this only 8 times per year, it's a wonderful entry on my resume. It keeps me doing public speaking during dry spells and allows me to serve a part of my community in a different way.  That experience has generated dozens of opportunities for giving that same type of presentation to an audience that pays.  I didn't know that when I started, it built over time.

Good luck!

You've misunderstood me- I would literally take ANY job even accounting contingent. I wasn't selected for the $9 an hour job, that went to someone with experience and a masters degree. I've applied to unpaid internships and wasn't selected. 

The biggest problem with my resume is that my name is Jennifer. When I put my husband's name, I get calls. When I put an initial, I get calls. Sorry, I'm feeling particularly bitter today. Just got rejected from another $9 an hour job as a materials handler. I know I only got called for an interview because I put J. as my name instead of Jennifer. When they called for the phone screening, they had no questions for me as soon as they heard my voice. The job had some light accounts payable, but, I was an inventory manager when I lived up north, so I'd done this stuff before. I wasn't selected for a $9 an hour job that required no experience because there was a 'better qualified candidate'.

As far as public speaking goes- I worked at the local library and have taught tech programs like how to use a green screen and craft programs like beginning sewing on a pretty much weekly basis for 4 years. I used powerpoint for my presentations- also did some presentations for seniors on how to use their Kindle and Nook and so on. I'm an active volunteer with a couple local organizations. I'm an active book reviewer and get sent Advanced Reader Copies of books from publishers to review before their release. I'm out there- it's just one of those things where anyone connected to me assumes that everyone wants to hire me. Nobody can believe that I don't have a job yet- they assume the same thing, that I'm being too picky.

It's just that where I live none of that stuff is valued at all.

Ok, now I have to ask - where in the heck do you live?  I've never even heard of women not being able to get jobs at this point, that's just crazy.  You must live in Timbuktu to have that be the case - it certainly isn't in any of the cities I've heard of in FL (and I have relatives that live there, and yes, the women have jobs).

With Accounting especially, way more women than men work in accounting.  I worked in it for years, the women outnumbered the men 20:1 - men were only in the highest level roles, and even then, women were managers and directors and VP's.

I find it VERY hard to believe there are NO jobs for women in FL.

I wish I could just be bold enough to blurt out my city online and then you could have fun looking up the individual firms. lol 

Hopefully it won't matter much longer anyways. I just need to get a job offer anywhere else and we'll just list the house and be done with this area for good. It's a wonderful place to vacation- but not a good place to live. The job I'm interviewing for tomorrow doesn't even offer health insurance, neither does my spouse's employer.