At Great Lakes Airlines you weren't really hired, and definitely not paid, until you passed your checkride. They did buy us pizza once though... and the ground school instructor said "enjoy it guys, Great Lakes will never buy you another meal."

I felt really bad for the half of my class that washed out of training. Spend more than 2 months sharing a sh*tty hotel room, study your ass off and then wash out, and not make a penny. Ahhh... the good ol' days. Sorry if I went off topic there