The J1 trainee program sounds really interesting (as I'm currently out of education for > 12 months and therefore ineligible for the J1 intern program).

According to the j1visa.state.gov site one of the requirements for the J1 trainee program is:

"Has five years of work experience outside the United States in the occupational field in which they are seeking training"

Did you meet this criteria or manage to circumvent it?