SharkAir writes: "When you say hitting the bottom of the barrel, are you talking about the instructors or the applicants?"

-Good question!

It almost always takes years of experience to be a effective teacher/instructor, and you most definitely have to want to be doing it. Few companies I've see actually have classes for their instructors in how people learn, practicing feedback, motivation, etc. (i.e. learning psychology). I know nothing about said company but are there other companies who perhaps, in some manner, "junior man" people into instructing because it may pay more, has fewer overnights, or are just perhaps out-right Shanghighed (SP) from the line in order to get more people on the already understaffed line - sort of like a triage situation. Honestly, I don't know but having parked airplanes for lack of crews is what makes me wonder such thoughts.