Its a long hard slog I'm afraid to get a break. You just need to keep applying and applying. The big Bluechips like IBM, Accenture, HP etc have huge server estates. They have teams of people who still do manual hands and eyes monitoring, asset taggging, auditing etc, always a good way in.
Or short term contracts, pc support or whatever skills you currently have, and start building up your skill set. Get exposure to different companies and be a sponge, learn as much as you can. Go above and beyond and get noticed. Always keep an eye out for new opportunities.
In the evenings keep studying, if you are going down the techie route, buy cheap old kit and set up a test rig. Recereate issues you've come across during the day, and resolve them more effectively. Its a highly competitive market, but shine and you will stand out.
Dont expect instant huge IT salaries, mundane monkey work pays peanuts, but experience and a good grounding are priceless, and will be worth it in years to come. Seasoned Security consultants and ethical hackers are a highly prized resource if you make it.
