AA WOs have a partnership program with flight schools/instructors to build hours and you get some sort of benefits along the way, including $10k toward flight training or so I remember.
It doesn't affect me, so I never really bothered to understand any of the details. Maybe someone else on here can clarify what the program entails.
A tentative offer from a company at the private level seems a little farfetched, there's still A LOT to learn and many opportunities to fail. Maybe the pilot shortage is really here?