I have to agree with that. It doesn't work
(in general).
I tried it in UK and it....well, its hard to put your finger on. It debases your value in the eyes of others. It removes respect for all the hard work you did.
Sure, all people that run schools are not the same or think in the same way, like any other cross section of society, but in general it is the norm.
I'm trying to think of an analogy....Well, if you stand in the high street and try to give a 5 pound note away, many (most)will not accept it (Best I could think of in a short time!)
It isn't a money thing with the people that hire. They actually feel better when they PAY you, as they have absolved any obligation to you. Money quantifies obligations and once its paid the obligation is forgotten.
By far the biggest and most important things in getting a job are; (ignoring experience as there are others with the same or more)
Whether your 'face fits'
Their peception of your value to YOU (linked to self esteem).
Your ability
Whether you are easy to have around
Whether you are enough of a 'survivor' to work yourself to the front. It's almost a Darwinist process, 'survival of the fittest' and if you try to make an agrrement with the jungle that you won't shoot to kill it will not think 'He's OK then'. It will think 'He's soft' and ignore you.
Don't misunderstand, I thought just like you do now and probably used a similar train of thought, logic. BUT people are NOT logical.
Stick it out Helimutt!
Keep current because I can't see many going through the new JAA requirments (and the huge cost) of CPL and then instructor rating (maybe 75,000 pounds) to get 35/hr to start?
UK will be short of low time instructors when the current glut has shrunk. Others will
drop out. You won't.