+1 on working line service. I started out working line for an FBO that also had a charter department. I built my ratings while working that job and built a good working relationship with the pilots and the chief pilot. When an opportunity came up for a low-time piston twin co-pilot (to satisfy a couple of their contracts that required two pilots), I got the nod. Over the next several years I built my time, worked my way up through piston twin captain, turbo-prop co-pilot, turbo-prop captain, jet co-pilot, jet captain. After 8 years flying 135 charter with them, I left for the corporate job I've been at now for 9 years.

Word of advice, though, if you go this route: Do the job you were hired to do without making any noise about it just being a "stepping stone" to a flying job. We ran a lot of guys like that right back out the door becausing they just weren't cutting it. You've got to prove you have a good work ethic from the very beginning before you'll be considered for anything else down the road.