Odds of Getting In
Let's play a game called "Finding a Machinist Job in the Post-2008 Economy." Ready?
Here we go. The number one question to ask yourself is this: "Do you have a credential?" If no, go get one. If yes, join the other hundreds of recently graduated, underemployed or unemployed machinists looking for jobs.
Number two: "Do you have a family member who owns a machine shop?" If no, back to the drawing board. You could go door to door, shoving your résumé into the hands of managers who have no real job to offer you. If yes, proceed to the next step.
Number three: "Does your uncle/grandmother/father/brother's wife's brother-in-law like you enough to hire you?" If yes, you may actually have a shot.
Otherwise, bolster your certifications as much as possible and network as hard as you can. This field has a slower than usual 7% projected growth rate (source). There just aren't too many new jobs out there.