Do you ever look back and say, "Huh, I REALLY should have done that!"
I skipped out of ATP's zero to airline pilot thing in June '07 after a visit to PHX facility when regionals were hiring like gangbusters and instead went the mom and pop route. Here I am, CFI (19 months later) EXTREMELY broke and with no students, "instructing" at said mom and pop and the kicker is unless I have a CFII and MEI and tons of dual, no one will even look at my resume. BUMMER. Anyone know of any jobs out there? I have CFI (10 dual given), multi-comm inst, 350TT 50 of that multi. Or should I go get CFII and MEI? Thanks for listening

Do you have a degree?

ok, so say you did the zero to airline pilot in june of 07. I got hired in june of 07 and am about to take a furlough. however, if you would have gone the fast route you would have been furloughed AND without a CFI

you'd be in the same place, so stop complaining about having to be a CFI and actually becoming a better pilot.

Actually, you'd be furloughed and with a CFI/CFII nobody would give you the time of day because you have the stink of 121 on you.

Get your CFII and MEI if you can swing it. If you don't have a degree, use the instructing to buy books during school and you'll be in great shape when things pick up.

Agree on the Degree, and personally I'm not a fan of the zero to hero schools in 9 months(or whatever they are falsely promising right now)

Yeah, I've got a 4 year degree in communications

Like others have said, go and get your MEI.
At least you don't have the huge debt load of all the other ATP grads without a job right now.
Maybe you are doing ok after all.

Bons, have you considered the military? Pay is pretty darn good compared to the other starting out jobs. Best bet is to try to find a guard or reserve unit to fly for. I know the AF is hurting for pilots right now.

Don't take this the wrong way but you really come across as whining. Go get the CFII and then MEI if you can afford it. Be willing to move anywhere in the country to further your career. You can get a job and hours somewhere out there.

Exactly.... at least you don't have a huge debt load. In the long run that will help. Just keep at it and work hard. You'll get there.