I was fortunate. I had been doing database development for about a decade in dBase/Foxbase/Wang Pace/DataFlex (don't THOSE bring back memories!) when we bought SQL Server: I think version 4.21a was the first we had. So I sort of came in at the ground floor. I think we'd already transitioned from 3Com servers to Microsoft LanManager.

Since then I have run into the problem of being overqualified and finding positions that are grossly underpaid or people wanting me to be a DBA for Oracle or DB2 systems or a VB programmer. I think the most amusing recruiter approach that I've received was for a DB2 admin position that the recruiter didn't understand was for a mainframe.