Totally been here. I spent 11 years in mainframe operations, went and got a degree (losing my job in the process), and then nobody touched me for a year after that. OK, not totally true, I did get an interview or two during that year (Data Entry for $8 an hour), but nobody would hire me. Then I spent a year in vocational training, STILL nobody would hire me, until I went out of my way to get a certification.
Just started on Monday. It's so nerve wracking now, though, I'm so afraid I'm going to lose this job after having been out for so long.