I've been around this community long enough to know that "Java" is almost a bad word, but hear me out. In my area (Western Michigan), there is an abundance of jobs that require experience doing enterprise Java development. I'm currently a web developer(PHP), and would like to branch out a bit in to Java programming as a profession.
The thing is, even entry level Java jobs are looking for at least 1 year of experience. I used Java during my academic career extensively, and consider myself proficient with it. However, since I don't have any "real" experience, nobody is willing to look my way.
So, my question is: How do you get started in enterprise Java development? What is the best way to gain experience without giving up on the current day job that pays the bills?