A pilot from my previous employer joined QF and was still in the jump seat six years later despite opportunities to bid for a window seat. Another one, ex strike so a lot older, went from J41 captain to S/O with Air New Zealand. At his age a command would be out of the question, even the right seat would have been unlikely.
The terms for those in the front seats doing the work need some major improvements to make the multi sector days and responsibilities worth while. An S/O job seems quite attractive with a decent lifestyle, reasonable wages and not being on the hook when something goes wrong.
I’d seriously consider right seat long haul with a legacy airline instead of being left seat on a narrow body if the pay was the same.