Ok, my 2nd lead. Not Java tho...

Well, I've been looking for the proverbial "junior-level Java programming job" for a couple of months now but it's looking mostly futile. I don't have any professional Java experience and only about a year of c/c++ prof. exp.
Here's the lead I just got: entry-level unix sysadmin work. Looks like mostly FreeBSD and Solaris and also some contact with customers. I've got a phone interview with the boss tomorrow.
Looks like a 50-minute commute. :/
The only alternative so far is to take up full-time substitute (high school) teaching ($70-90/day gross) and keep the eyes open for a $35k/yr physics teaching job (which very well could pop up even though school has already started).
Any opinions?
Also, what happened to Alex A.? He was looking in the NY area... Did you find anything yet Alex?

Well, it turned out that they actually needed a c/c++ programmer rather than a junior-level sysadmin. It also turned out that I wasn't qualified (they needed a senior guy to design a whole big c/c++ distributed thing from scratch) and that the commute was really too long.
Just thought I'd share how the job search was going...
As an aside, and many of you may relate to this, I really don't want to go back to c/c++. Many people give the argument that, "oh, it's just a language -- a professional should be able to use any language that applies to the job at hand." They are of course missing the distinction that, Java is a platform and not just a language. It's a modern platform at that.
Others have advised, go ahead and take the c/c++ work and weasel Java in as the opportunities arise. If you're a software engineer and that's all you choose do (for a living), that sounds like great advice. This particular company was a actually somewhat hostile toward Java -- the boss (over the phone interview) went on for a few minutes on how it's an "unreliable technology" and they don't use it at all. Funny, but they use M$ OS's on their computers in their front offices...
Somebody let me know if this is just useless typing and I'm clogging up the message board, or if people like this kind of "job search experiences" post. Or not.

John, thank you for sharing job search experience with us. You have the freedom to speak up and this freedom is protected by the Bill of Rights.

Thanks JiaPei. What I meant was whether or not these particular sort of posts were actually useful to anyone.

Yes. I think that you have a lovely character.
I personally had interest mismatch job interviews. Two weeks ago, I was told by a recruiter that an employer had serious interest in my credentials. With doubts in my mind if it was a right job for me, I went ahead and took the technical exam over telephone. The employer was confused about what kind of skill mix they really wanted. The recruiter made lots of mistakes (lost his notes about what he was working on and where he was at, for example). And it was an unpleasant experience.
I have worked in another field (not computer related) for a long time. People tended to "pigeon hole" me after I had worked in a certain area for several years. It took nearly a revolutionary effort to switch to work in other areas (even in the same field). At that time, I often thought that I had the flexibility to adapt to new knowledge and other skills, but people did not have the flexibility to accept my adaptibility.
I believe lots of people are facing difficulties in getting Java jobs in the present tough market and feel disoriented. Many are thinking to accept other types of job for a while. But very few come forward to talk about it. Sharing experience could be constructive. It is humanity to share our thoughts and feelings.

Somebody let me know if this is just useless typing and I'm clogging up the message board, or if people like this kind of "job search experiences" post. Or not.

Please, continue

Definitely keep posting your job search results.
Johnny