Like jrutkowski, I've had some formal training in GIS over the past 5 years, but in my case not much real world experience. I also see in the local government organization where I work, a very few analyst staff will get the limited license/package of GIS software and expected to be able to use it right away. I've never seen any maps being produced here using the ArcGIS app and I think these analysts and management don't understand the training that is needed to use these GIS apps. I'm trying to add GIS map production as another skill I have to offer as an IT technician (with hope to cross over to analyst), but am having a difficult time borrowing the copy of the expensive software from other staff and getting the uninterrupted time to work on it. There are not many GIS jobs in my area (Silicon Valley, California) nor do I see much listed on LinkedIn. The goverment certification list I have been on this year for a GIS tech has about 85 prospective job applicants and we are all sitting waiting for the next opening to come up. I think its good to know this before you invest a lot of time and money in the GIS training as I have.