My view on it all has changed a bit. Offcorse the most common way is to go the small way which means you go on the small plane and slowly work your way up from a 737 or a regioanl plane.
But maybe some airlines hire pilots as relief pilots on the 747s etc? This means that they go from relief to captain on the 747 and doesn´t have to type rate again etc.
Have a look at these lads from KLM.
APP 264 Meet the Flight Crew