Be willing to relocate ANYWHERE.

Charles
Congratulations on completing your MPA and internship. You didn't say whehter or not you were flexible on traveling to a new city/state or not. That's certainly one consideration. Networking with local government folks in your area and through ICMA is your best bet. I got my first Assistant's job via an informational interview with past ICMA President Don Borut many years ago. Don knew a mananger who was looking for someone and referred me to him. The upcoming ICMA conference should be a great place to meet and network with folks in your state and around the country. If you can afford to go, it would be a great place to start. Much success to you.

I recently asked a very simmilar question which recived much responce. The responces I received could be summarized as following, obtain additional internships to develop the minimum threshold of experience, take an entry level job, or be willing to move to a very small community. Many "next-gen" managers, myself included, have effectivly been costed out by managers with 20+ years expereince. The advice which my current manager gave me and I will pass on to you is to keep searching and applying, it could take literally hundreds of applications to recive a responce, let alone a job in this economy. (FYI I live in Michigan, one of the hardest markets for anyone to find a job, I whole heartedly feel your frustrations.)

It's tough to break into the chief executive rank. The easiest and most common way is to take a management analyst position, then an Assistant to the Manager position, then maybe a directorate or assistant/deputy manager job, and finally break into the chief position. I couldn't recommend short-circuiting that path by too much, since the MPA doesn't make you a good manager any more than a JD makes you a good lawyer. At the entry-level MA job you can afford to be a little picky: do your research and find a really well-run larger community to get started in. If you're lucky (and good), you may be able to stay there for several rungs of the ladder. Alternatives include executive experience somewhere else (NPO, corporate), working for "entry-level communities" (i.e., with dysfunctional councils, limited services, small population, small salary, etc.), or coming up through a department (planning seems popular, although HR and Finance make sense too). Good luck!!

Be flexible about the type of position, the location, and the salary. I entered the profession 30 years ago in the same situation. When my official internship finished, I called the local communities and offered to work for free while I was looking for a position. That connection lead to a reference that helped me land my first position. Don't get too fixated on the perfect path because there is none in this profession. People come the profession through all types of decision processes and they get their jobs through all types of hiring processes and career paths. Learn from every experience, keep your options and your eyes open. 30 years later, I have had some jobs I loved and jobs I didn't like so much but I wouldn't trade them for any other as they have help me be the person I am today and I am okay with that.