don’t feel bad, in 2012-ish I traveled long and far to a Job Fair where Us Airways was only to be told the day of they wouldn’t be meeting with anyone or taking Resumes. It somehow became an “info session”. Then I was told by a nice young Delta Pilot that I should upgrade and become a Checkairmen” . She had no clue that I wasn’t an 8 year XJT F/O by choice. Was a wonderful experience (at the time I had 6,000hrs and like 4500-ish SIC 121 time. )

I hope you are in upgrade class or taking first available, even if it makes you a commuter. Otherwise getting to a Legacy is not your first priority, which is perfectly fine. But that is what I did pre-COVID because back then that is what it took took and it was a high priority for me. At my base I would have had to wait more then a year or two before you could hold CA there. So I became a commuter because you needed that sexy 1000 TPIC before you even got a wiff by a Legacy.

UA and AA seem to hire a cadidate with no tpic thesedays ONLY IF he or she has at least +5000 total, bachelors degree, and plenty of exceptional international widebody turbine jet experiences.

In addition to that, have internal recs, do a meet the chief, and attend job fair expos to be more competitive and to accelerate the selection process.

and Yes, I had also heard from a captain who does interviews saying that 1600 tpic is now a realistical number thesedays to get a shot.

But were there other companies that would have upgraded you sooner? At 1000 hours? Heck, even given you CA pay as a "near DEC"? Given you a new type rating and you'd already be collecting TPIC - both of which woukd have made you more attractive to a major? And at a higher salary to boot. OK, I understand some people may have had some checkride issues in the past and warned you to avoid "hazard" training events, but the only way to put those behind you quickly is to put successful events after them.

Then sell yourself!!! What do you do on a checkride if you don’t know the answer to the question? Do you shut down and sulk go through the motions and resign yourself to failing? What are you gonna do if you get an interview and they ask about a previous mistake?

”Wow that’s a lot of hours. My flight hours may not be competitive, but I believe in a whole person concept, here’s why I think the rest of my resume makes up for it...” Throw in a bit about overcoming adversity. Ask what else you’re maybe missing that can make up for some of the hours. They aren’t telling you no, they’re saying on the face of it you aren’t competitive, and that’s maybe poor form on their part, but they’ve not telling you to F off and apply again in 10 years. There’s more to getting hired than just flight hours. I would look at upgrading asap, union or safety or training opportunities, hell even some volunteer work or whatever because I guarantee you some folks are getting hired with less than that several thousand hours competitive mark.

Yep, it wasn’t too long ago when people were forgoing upgrade because they thought they would get picked up by a Legacy from the right seat and were afraid of a failing event. Now what? You are months to years behind your peers on the TPIC chase which for the foreseeable future is going to be needed to move on. If you are one of those people and I am on a hiring board I am going to ask why you have so much Part 121 SIC time and didn't upgrade?