What is a real job and how much do you have to make? A cfi isn't a real job? Last I checked I get paid to be a CFI. I didn't sell anyone out to do it and didn't sell my soul to fly something shiny with jet engines on it. If you think you have to work for a regional to know which ones have the better work environments then I'm betting you took the first offer you got and regret it. I didn't take the first one and I don't regret it. Your best advice is crap.

I might not work for a regional but that doesn't mean I haven't been looking and when I look into something I do my best to make my decision an educated one. Pay, work rules, environment, employee satisfaction, location, reserve time, benifits, 401k contribution, future outlook, stability, ect. You don't have to wait till you make a mistake to learn from it.

You work for Mesa don't you?