I will say it like my boss has told me over and over again while going through more interviewing process. Experience is great, but if you can't answer or perform better than the other guy with less experience, it doesn't matter. That experience is just a resume filler and doesn't mean squat. The same with the certifications. YOu can have all fo the certifications and education int he world, but if an employer is looking for someone who CAN do the job, and you don't know how, you won't cut it either. We have had MANY applicants with 5+ years of experience, stack of certifications, and still not know as much as those certifications say they should know. Then there were some with no education or certifications who knew a lot more than some who had them. In my experience, it isn't hard at all to get a job without experience. The hard part to me is getting the interview, and then showing them you can do the job. The certs and education will get you in the door, but you have to prove you know the stuff and are better than the next guy who may have the experience, but can't perform as well as you. I've seen them, I've worked with them, and I've experienced it myself. Not rare at all...you just have to get that first interview and impress just like everyone else.