Up the Aviation Ladder
There are many routes to that coveted airline job.
The MPL is obviously the quickest way to become a professional jet jockey.
Ab initio training at an airline's own pilot school is the next quickest way. But I don't know of any airline that guarantees employment even if you ace their training course. They will all guarantee you an interview and usually give you some sort of preference over other pilots with equal experience but not always.
The traditional route is somewhat more arduous:
1. Get your CPL/IR/FI
2. Teach
3. Fly charters
4. Get a corporate job
5. Fly for the big boys
The present hiring situation is bleak but that is no reason not to start or continue training. Airline hiring has always followed a high/low pattern with the peaks about 8 years apart. If you get any sort of flying work during the lull, you will have an advantage over those who didn't.