I rec'd my CPC in March 2003.
At the time, I was working in a hospital billing office. For about a year and a half, I tried to get a coding job.
One night during a chapter meeting that was being held at the hospital I was working at, I was approached the Coding Manager of the hospital about a coding position that was going to be created. I interviewed, took her coding test and the rest is history.....
I guess what I'm trying to say is....attempt to get your foot in the door as a file clerk, biller, record assembler, etc. at a doctor's office/ hospital. Make it known to them that you are a CPC, you never know where it might lead.