I have had a number of low time/no time pilots ask my advise, in the past and very recently. I'm sure this happens to many people on this board and perhaps what I do could help with the problem of the "Gulfstream International" syndrome, as I like to call it.

Simply tell the would be aviator that you will help them as much as possible (I'm pretty good at this part) in getting theri first job as well as progressing from there. But, if they decide to buy a type rating with 250hrs total and go fly for free, or pay to fly a jet for some Indonesian carrier, or a Metro for some freight op, then they will get just the opposite. In my world, not helping is not good.

Sitting down for beers one night in Shanghai with a couple of contractors we came to the conclusion that if each of us sent out five emails, and made five phone calls, we could probably get the story on just about any pilot who was involved in ex-pat/contract flying. It's a small world, a very small world, and a good, quick, friendly discussion with any would be aviators regarding how easily they can be helped, as well as the opposite, should be enough to keep them from making a mistake.

I always also include reasons why working ones way up also makes a person a better aviator. It's very simple, but it's very effective as well.