The certification debate is a hot one. Everyone has a different take on certs. If you're looking to get certs to get into the field, that's one thing. Getting certs when you've been in the field for X amount of years is different.
For instance, i'm a network admin, and i've been working in IT for over 3 years. My company wants me to get my MS certs, and is paying for the tests and any studying time. They will then give me more cash when the certs are acquired...as they'll be making more money off of me.
So, it all depends on where you're at in your career...and possibly what company you work for.

Also: Networking is the BEST thing you can do. I'm not talking about servers & such folks, i'm talking about getting to know more people. Get your name out there, meet people in the area that are in the industry. It's no secret that the best jobs always go un-advertised.

Good luck bro.