How to get a job as a software engineer with only general IT Experience

I want to get a job in software development
but I only have the programming knowledge from my BS Studies and I have been coding in my free time.
I only have general IT Experience with my last job (which I was there for 6 years) and I had written two small applications for them was laid off and wanted to get into a full time development position.

Should I bother in these times and just get a job and go back to school?