Just to dispell this myth about 500 hours on type, and no, I'm not trying to sell 'line training'.
Perhaps on 12 September 2001 airlines could insist upon 500+ hours on type but more recently, market conditions have dictated that if airlines, or CAA's, are going to stipulate this then they're going to be disappointed.
Current market conditions are slightly more favourable for the A320 pilot than the B737 pilot, this past summer A320 pilots with 150+ hours or B737 pilots with 200+ hours on type were very eligible for employment and to try to find an A320 pilot with 150+ hours on type was seemingly impossible, such B737 pilots were scarse but not impossible.
Whilst one cannot guarantee what the market will do in the future I can only suggest that next year will remain similar to this year, 150 or 200 hours on type should get you a job, how you achieve those hours, well that's up to you!
P.S. The hours figures quoted are hours in the aeroplane, not in the simulator.