Hope for the best but expect the worst. Play the long game and start planning from day one. If you're planning to go modular and know you need 3 years to be financially stable and you need a job, then get a job with your target airline doing anything, preferably in the office close to management or flight ops etc and absolutely ******* shine. Then talk to the CP and tell him/her/it what you're up to in your spare time. The rest should fall into place.