QuitYourPhD:)

The way to get experience in research, especially in the jobs you are looking for, is in grad school. (Then the competition just gets harder). Unfortunately, the world is flooded with PhDs that can't get into/don't want to be in academia --so they are your competition . Your research jobs with a master's, and specifically an MA (which probably made you better suited to teach), are difficult to find. As others have said, research assistant (what most people do in grad school), is something you could look at as an "entry level" position to get experience. Other positions may include program/project coordinator/manager of research projects/departments. These are probably administrative, but could get you in. If you are not able/willing to move, research jobs are not easy to find/get. So the advice? Bluntly, look elsewhere, you want to enter a very competitive field and start with some real disadvantages. It wouldn't be impossible, but you must be prepared to start outside of direct research at the very least (as in doing administrative work). I know this isn't happy advice but its realistic advice, and I wish people had given me realistic advice before going to graduate school.