Different Services=different experiences, different platforms=different experiences, different squadrons=different experiences. I for one have had some great readyroom experiences, sometimes flying an aircraft or mission that I didn't like at all, what made it awesome was the people and their dedication and loyalty to each other and the mission. Many of my friends at different squadrons had very negative experiences. Even in a training squadron on shore duty, training our next generation of warriors, I had a sense of great loyalty to my brothers....we infused loyalty and dedication by stressing the importance of our mission (e.g. supporting troops in contact and saving lives). I am proud to have served.
Now to steer this conversation back to its original intent....best way to get a CFI gig anyone?!?! :)

Yes - skip instructing with your CFI and find another way to get/stay current if possible. I, like you, have over 7 years instructing and for many of the reasons already postulated in the responses - I'm pretty sure that you'd find CFI'ing at a large school or mom&pop places quite the different experience. It seems to me that you need two things to ensure your place line. Currency/recency of experience is most important because you won't even be considered for some jobs, and among different jobs that you might have while waiting for one of your choices to call, -121 experience would not hurt - not required - but certainly wouldn't hurt.

T45, your original idea of walking around your resume to various places is a good way to start. Another idea is to pick the ideal airport and school you would like to teach at, go there and get checked out to rent one of their planes, and feel out the instructors and/or chief instructor to see whether they need any new warm bodies to teach some students.

Worst case: you just got some currency for the price of an instructor. Best case: you make a good impression and get hired without an interview. At least, that's what I did.

Yep. Corporate has ZERO loyalty. But the DOD is getting less.

I got out in late 2011, (VAW-121), after a 2XFOS when they were purging the ranks via selection boards. I went too far off the beaten path, and paid for it.

I got hired by a major oil company as a pilot. I hadn't even made it to FSI for my initial hire training, and they sold all of our planes and I came back to my office in a hangar, with no plane to fly. Managed to get a job the next day due to a friend who worked for another division of the company that needed engineers. Since then I've been laid off twice during buyouts/mergers/reorganizations, and had to reapply for my job with the new owners.

Corporate America has no loyalty. Maybe your immediate superiors have some to you, but the second they get promoted or terminated, you are back to no loyalty.

Don't **** nobody over, but you have to look out for number 1.

I do my job, work my ass off, but the day I get a class date at a major or a good paying flying contract job, is the day I drop my notice. How much notice depends on how fast the next job needs me.

If Delta called and said I'm hired and I need to be in ATL for New Hire training on Monday, I would call my boss tonight, let him know where my work truck is (CVG), and drop my laptop/blackberry/credit card off at the office on my way out of town.

Find a large flying club that will let you be an independent contractor, charge what you want and keep it all (other than monthly dues). Yes resumes, business cards etc. You'll need to actually learn to fly and teach some techniques in the planes you'll fly. Plan on maybe 6 to 9 hours of dual for that. Use the fact that you're going to spend some money there as another reason to hire you.

Get some mentors (life long CFI's, guys that are in other professions and instruct on the side, and yes, even young time builders).

The best students are successful professionals or aspiring airline pilots with well off parents to pay. The reality is that you initially won't be as good as an instructor as a kid who's been flying just Cessna's for the last few years, but you'll improve rapidly and it doesn't matter. Market your extensive military experience to your prospective students and thy wont even know that you're actually quite new at instructing GA. Many will be willing to pay a premium.

Charge from handshake to handshake (ie ground time too) I don't know the going rates but I'd guess at least $45 per hour.

You mean 'at most'....:rolleyes:

I did too. Coming from the military, we were mission-oriented, loyal to our superiors and our peers, and leery as hell about unions.

When I was hired, the company threw a big "Welcome aboard" steak dinner for pilots and spouses. It made me think "They truly value me. I'm going to work my ass off for them. The union is antagonistic, and does not have the mission in mind."

It didn't take long for me to learn that "There IS NO mission, and in fact, mission hacking in the airline world is both counterproductive AND potentially dangerous."

And it took not much longer for me to learn what the union is about, and to be strongly on board with them.

It's a difficult mental transition for military pilots, but one that must be made.

I'm a recent USAF retiree & Pt 121 new hire. I'm on the cusp of understanding your point here--your final sentence above certainly summarizes my initial impression of things, and yet, I'm starting to think there's more to the picture than I realize....

Would you elaborate on this, please? As I say, I feel like I'm this close to understanding, but I'm sorry to say I'm falling short....

Our loyalty is to the nation, the people, and each other not necessarily the political hacks in power this week. Least it should be.

I think when T-45Heinous mentioned not wanting to work for a regional (because of loyalty), it is a more polite/upbeat/tactful way of saying: the pay is insulting, and there are better opportunities. If he has the experience, and all he has to do is maintain 100 hours of currency/year, and flight instructing in a 172 pays more than flying for a regional, it is a no-brainer. Also, he mentioned he is currently on active duty staff tour, making it intuitive he is looking for a weekend job where someone else is footing the bill for his currency.
Here are some steps for finding a job:
1. Pilot Jobs, Aviation Jobs, Aviation Employment, Job Fairs, Career Fairs
2. Use the search function on this site, there are some other job boards out there, and people on this website have already written reviews on them.
3. Yes, probably Googling the local flight schools, where you might want to work, and giving them a phone call.
4. After you get going, you might meet some of these doctors and lawyers, skip the flight school, and teach them in their own plane