Firstly, you certainly do have some balls asking something involving MS on slashdot that doesn't involve shitting on them in some way...
But really, you should find a local SQL Server user group and attend the meetings, they usually have some decent presentations and a good chance to network and likely find people looking to fill positions from Jr-Sr level, also attend any local SQL Saturdays. It's a full day of training for free or 10 bucks(for lunch) and usually has really useful sessions from 100-400 level. You can pick up a Developer edition of SQL Server, it's relatively cheap (50$) and has all the features of Enterprise, to mess with. Set it up and start using the features.. Alternatively you can check out several blogs about SQL that walk you through setting up a lab, complete with AD, DCs, SQL Servers etc all for free. That will let you try all features you could ask for in almost any configuration
You may want to pursue one or more of the certs available just to get through the HR filters as well..