They say timing is everything... In this business it's more true than ever!!! When you get hired and how many colleagues you stack below you on the seniroity list determines pretty much your entire life, commute, pay, advancement and above all: Quality of Life!

Start over somewhere else regardless of reason (furlough, own decision etc.) and you're back at the bottom working your way up from the lowest pay, the crappiest schedule, reserve (again) and QoL. The same holds true for upgrades. Your schedule almost certainly degrades, fewer days off, and worse QoL - but better pay. Reason why is because you will likely not be as senior as a fresh CA as you were as a FO just before upgrading.

There's the saying: "Life will never be as good again as when you were a senior FO" (aside from pay of course), and that explains why many pilots, especially at the majors hold out on upgrading aside from the company not running classes...

Good luck. Think long and hard about where you want to go and pray that your timing is right!!!