On the subject of paying for type ratings: About fifteen years ago, I was a desperate, unemployed fATPL with about 1,000 hrs of light pistons. The idea of paying for ratings was only just coming in and I approached a couple of airlines and offered them a deal. The conversations went something like this:
me: How about if I pay for a type rating?
them: if you like.....
me: well, how about you interview me, and if you offer me a job, I will then go and do a type rating at the TRTO of your choice.
them: hmmmm, go and do the type rating first and then we'll see about giving you an interview.
me: BIG risk on a 'maybe' - I think not.
In the end, I didn't pay for a rating. Luckily, some years later, I managed to get into a decent company and now I'm a 737 captain, so that all worked out in the end without having to pay through the nose for the privilege.
