FWIW......I worked in the MEM hub "throwing boxes" through college. After graduating, I got a job in flt ops (flight coordination to be precise) while flight instructing and contract flying locally during the day. I had to leave big purple when I got my first full time flying job, but I eventually made my way back as a direct result of my contacts made while working in flt ops. (For the record, I fly in the corporate department at FedEx) I know of at least four other guys (2 recent hires) that I fly with here that managed to come from the inside as well....

It will require patience, but it is doable. It certainly doesn't hurt to "be on the inside" if you can do it without sacrificing too much else, but you still gotta get to 1000 tpic......