when I did the ATPL exams in Gatwick, we were hundred of wanabees!class are fully loaded..., schools have a waiting list with thousand students ready to spend minimum 100'000 euro for the "dream job"
2 years after, I still don't have a job, but many requests from airlines telling me t/r +500h or nothing.
I was in an open show recently, and the recruiter was not interested by 300hours guys even with a type rating...they were looking for experimented FO.