[jnem]

Agreed, networking is important, and Ive done a bit of that, which is how I got my foot in for the initial interview. Once there though, it was scary how little the interviewer knew about the position they were supposed to be recruiting for. They did have me sign a right to represent form for the job (which was a 9 month contract position at a company that starts with an I and ends with L) but i never did receive any follow up from them.

My concern is in situations like the above, the ONLY way such a recruiter can qualify you is based on value of your degree parameter. Which means if the company you are applying for goes the traditional big-bizz HR approach, go get a degree in CS from a Brand-name institution. Otherwise, focus your efforts on getting interviews with whomever your direct supervisor will be. That however, is easier said than done.