I once saw a young pilot advertise in the aviation trader saying he was a professional CPL with 250 hours and he was available. He would pick up bibs and bobs by flying at small airports outside the CBD doing basic joy flights and ferries or wound fly private pilots aircraft for them when needed.
Next thing all of a sudden he’s right seat in a Lear doing urgent organ relocations, flying warbirds, joined the RAAF and is now flying international mainline.