Hi Jim.
I am pretty much in the same position as you, no positive responses from the airlines, IR renewal getting closer etc etc.
Dilema is FI rating, or Type Rating.
I have several friends who have their FI, and none of them found dificulty in finding a job, most with the school that taught them. Another friend who had to search for a job last year says many of the schools he contacted last year, have contacted him this year.
The word is that many senior instructors have found "real jobs" this year, but don't hang about, most schools will want to have sourced their instructors by mid March, early April.
Most of the guys have said that they have learned a lot from instructing, and are better pilots for it, but after 1000 Hrs, there is little point in flying around in a 152/140, when air taxi and airlines want to see multi night IR, and turbine experiance.
Good luck in your enterprise.