suggestions needed - 4 yrs jsp/j2ee experience with 3yrs gap- looking for jobs

Hi All,

I need suggestions on my situation in searching a job in US.

I have 4 yrs of exp in teaching (java, c++, etc) I cannot go teaching side, I should write some exams for that.
4 yrs j2ee/jsp experiecne in well known company
my work was mostly in SDLC and less in development since the project on which I have worked was in maintenance stage,
I hardly wrote any code from initiation,
now with 3 yrs gap without any job, now I am seriously looking for job in US.

I am breaking my head with the questions I am getting, and thought here
I can get suggestions with great minds.

1. what are the chances that companies considers me with my experience.
2. where to start the search, I have posted resume in job sites and applying for jobs, what is the next step? .
3. I feel, I should brush up my knowledge, but not understanding where to start.
4. How the people switching the technologies from java to sap or to some other, I feel, the first company gives job in sap will look for some experienced candidates, why do they take someonce experienced in some technology?

Please help with your views.

Thanks

From what I see, you do have quite an experience behind, so your CV should look cute. Now, the only thing left to do, si to fill that gap you have (writing code from scratch), so I guess, you should buy coffee, snacks and start coding. Normally I would recommend Thinking in Java, but that is too basic for you, so try Sun's Java Certification book (SCJP) for example, which will help you.