It is simply not enough to have knowledge of a particular area in IT, but should also have a certificate for presenting your skills. Many students with intention to take up CCNA or MCSE stop halfway trying to earn their certification, due to lack of experience.
These days' websites do help in networking but are also working as negative features for sensitive people wanting to make a career in IT. There are also plenty of popular websites where people post their forums. Here we also find people de-motivating a fresher for taking up a certificate. They stated having no experience, but just a certificate is of no use.
In order to have experience you have to start from somewhere. We weren't born with the knowledge that we possess today, similarly we should not expect the same from entry level IT professionals and shatter their goals.
Today many IT professionals who have achieved a certain level know how hard it was for them to establish themselves and gaining experience.
Professional certification is important for an entry-level. The pursuit of certification is the pursuit of knowledge and working in the IT field, any knowledge is not complete knowledge. All those who are involved in Local Area Network need to have a CCNA.
If you work exclusively on the WAN, then go for MCSE. If you're just breaking into Information Technology, you have several options open as: A+, Network+, or even your MCSE or CCNA.
If you possess knowledge, you will be able to grab right opportunity at right time irrespective of experience that you possess.
A day will come when you will possess both experience and certification leading you to success.