experience is what counts. Someone with 10 years experience will have an advantage over someone with 10 years worth of study.
I have a HND but it did not help me get a job it wasn't until I got some experience that I got hired. It took me 8 years to get into IT firstly because I was applying for jobs beyond my experience level because I thought the HND set me up for those types of positions and secondly because I had no experience.
I was building PCs for people and sorting out problems and I also helped at a charity doing a bit of tech support whilst studying for my A+ and N+ all that helped me get a job.