"And if they were career pilots, they are probably instructing somewhere else because they couldn't pass the checkride with the chief pilot"
Yeah right.....that's not what I've been hearing.
The ATP guy I know did his IFR through CFIME with ATP and would rather work at a nice FBO. He's at Galvin's at BFI. They usually don't hire off the street (especially from ATP, according to his interviewer) but he had someone pulling for him and had good timing. $1000/mo is pretty low pay. No need to get defensive. I know guys are just doing it for the multi time to get on with the regionals.
ATP is a pilot mill. Not everyone is interested in instructing in a place like that just to get on at a regional ASAP.
Some places have higher standards than hiring guys who went from zero time to CFI in three months. It can be done but it doesn't sound like a very good idea to me.
That ATP koolaid must be really good....