Everybody who visits this forum has their own opinion on typeratings. Most people talk about the 737 or 320. But what about the 757 with 100 HRS through Bond/Astraeus?!
The discussion about ratings is a long one which I'm not looking to start again. Though one thing seems certain: You do need that rating, preferrably with some hours on it!!!
With regard to the FI rating: All the FI's at my school spent 3-4 years instructing hoping they would be hired after that - realising that was not going to happen. Then they all went out and paid their own typerating and were all hired instantly. Ofcourse they all had in excess of 1000 HRS. All the piston HRS got them nowhere eventhough they were all very talented!!!