I can only echo what ADM says - there is a huge element of luck involved with career progression. From my first flight with paying pax in the back of a turbo-prop and a total of 270 hours, 4 years and 11.5 months later that I was in the LHS of an Airbus. So 5 yr RHS, 11 yr LHS (so far) with 10-15 yr to go....... (hopefully).
Obviously you have to "cut the mustard" to succeed BUT it was only because I was LUCKY enough to choose the correct airline which provided the opportunity. The last few years have seen similar opportunities in some carriers but I think things are going to slow for a while until the € and world economy settle down - the it'll all go nuts again q
A4