Hey Tommy:

Nope, don't think that you have to be employed by an employer to say you have experience with the product. Become your own employer and develop some things for yourself ... for example ... write a robust user login applet using .NET technology that connects to SQL Server that works using both Windows Forms and IE. Then, expand on that. Analyze, Design and write and project/time management application that allows you to track your time like you are a consultant. Then, write a module, using .NET that injects this information into QBooks for easy billing. Once you have a "simple" project like this under your belt you then have a tangible thing you can present to an employer to say ... here bud, this works and is well designed and implemented by yours truly. Then ask him or her why you need two years of experience when you can already accomplsh the tasks required. Many times companies put up these insane requirements just to keep rookies from the door ... bust down that door with a working, robust app and I bet the time requirement BS goes out the door. In essesnce these companies are looking for people who can get the job done ... the time requirement simply tries to prequalify ... I wouldn't take it to heart. Plus, there are some VFP programmers out there that have 10 years of experience that I wouldn't let within 50 feet of a keyboard.

Don't let that time thing get you down ... beat the hell out of it with your demonstratable capabilities.

CT