Keep your spirits up.

I spent several years in the US Army as a truck driver. I drove all different types of trucks from pick ups to semis. I drove in Vietnam, Europe, Korea, and the US. I drove during monsoon season in axle deep mud, during the winter in snow up to the doors on a semi, and during the summer when the non air conditioned cabs roasted you alive. In Europe I drove across national borders and had to deal with all the customs stuff involved. Not to mention driving through an ambush while being shot at by the enemy.

When I left the military and looked for civilian work I was told over and over by the bigger companies that I had no experience! It took 6 years of driving anything that I could find before I got hired by a really good company.

I also left that career much as you have done and went to college in my late 30's. After 4 years of hard work to earn the degree I was back at square one being told I had no experience. Once again it took 5 years of doing anything that the head hunters and leasing companies could find for me before I landed a good job in IT.

The morale is... if you want it bad enough, and you are willing to do anything and everything it takes to get in, the door will open.

My approach was to send my resume to all the ads in the paper, and to all the staffing companies. You'd be surprised... sometimes those lousey looking 6 month contracts turn into the job of your dreams.