Here's some important advice for you before you even think about applying to Piedmont; It's obvious that you're another low-time rook with "shiny-jet syndrome". If you want to build flying experience, the Dash-8 is not an airplane for you. Go to Mesa and fly an RJ that takes little to no skill to fly. Believe me, you will get in much deeper over your head on a visual approach from 2 miles out at 4000' than you will flying IMC to mins in a little jet. The top half of the Piedmont seniority list consists of 50 to 60 yr-old captains who have flown the Dash 7 & Dash 8 their whole careers-- out of choice. I know you have a lot to learn, but if your dream is to fly a fancy little RJ, start with that. Piedmont guys never make life easy for those looking to laterally move to an RJ-flying regional.