request advice - non-traditional PE overseas to IBD, older applicant

Hi,
I request advice plz. I am older (35) and have been somewhat shut out of the industry.
I was in a great post MBA program at a mid-market i-bank which rotated us through PE and IBD.
I was given what I thought was a once-in-a-lifetime-offer to join an up-and-coming PE shop, and I jumped at it, leaving my IBD training program after 10 months in.
In the PE shop I lasted 3 years, and raised a lot of money and did some deals.
The shop became famous and I got pushed out.
Subsequently it's been really hard to get another job - because of the economy, because I'm a bit older, because I didn't stay in the program and my CV looks jumpy, etc.
I am fighting to get back into either IBD or PE but it's difficult because the banks are recruiting from the MBA programs for interns at this time, and the PE shops are hiring from the banks.
I have no network because I was working overseas. And at this point I'm actually even getting feedback that my age of 35 may work against me.
I am sincere in wanting to stay in the industry but it is difficult to find a way in off-cycle and difficult also to convince recruiters to overlook the non-traditional aspects of my background.
Advice from the group is sought. And in turn, I'm happy to offer my own opinions on PE and IBD from what I saw being inside.
Thanks,
-Monkey101