Without an IR you will never get a job. A point to remember if you are taking the JAA ATPL exams is that you only have 36 months in which to get your IR from passing the last exam. If you delay, and they expire, you will have to sit them again.
You do not need an IMC rating to be a FI. However, if you have a JAA CPL you only have to pass the IMC test to get an IMC rating.
Best advice is to get your CPL/IR then if there are no jobs get a FI rating that will keep you flying but maybe not fed.
The concept of MCC is that it should be included in the Type Rating course, it was only meant to be stand alone for integrated course students. So long as pilots keep paying for it the employers won't.