The culture unfortunately is that instruction is seen as the lowest of the low and a way to build hours to a " better paid job"that needs to change where the best people are teaching the newest guys, that way the accident rate will come down here in Europe, although I think it is pretty good here in UK. I have no idea of instruction in the USA or else where come to that.
In the States....as a civilian trained zero time helicopter pilot....the next step up the ladder is getting your CFI and build hours until you can move up to Sightseeing flying....then get your Instrument Rating.....then perhaps a SIC Job on an IFR Twin.....then to Offshore on singles VFR.....or on a VFR only EMS job.
Minor variations as in all things depending upon opportunity, skill, who you know.......and a lot of luck of being in the right place at the right time.