The company can break the lock-ins if they want. So if you want the job put it on your 3P list. They have, and will, release people from a lock-in. No clue why but they do.

You can also break a lock-in after six months if you're upgrading to CA. A way to try and game the system is bid CA *AFTER* finishing your recurrent training. If they're short staffed, or tight on training slots, they might 'withhold' (get the pay rate of the new job) you until you're due for recurrent training. Typically at that point they'll just send you to your new job. It's a way to get 5-6 months of CA's pay while awaiting your upgrade. Or get 767 or 777 FO pay while still flying your n/b trips.

It's not guaranteed but it does work at times.

Do not put down a job you don't want. Or forget that you put a job in your 3P list. The company reminds us to review our 3* before every job run. Put down for a job 8 years ago and forgot about it? Too bad, it's yours now.

Also, be careful of your ex-wife, or ex-girlfriend, putting 3P's in your list. It's happened. A guy was only able to get out of the ****ty 3P entry by proving that he was in the air when the revenge bid was entered. Change your DECS password after your relationship status changes on FB. ;-)