FAA Commercial gained on 15th December.
Home for Christmas and weather like you wouldn't believe through Jan, Feb and March.
Instrument Instructor 6th April.
Employed 22nd April.
Same State different company, Instructing.
200 hours total.
Personal opinion is get every rating out there and then bang on doors. I choose the telephone directory, spent a few days in the library researching, then calling. Just got lucky and found an empty hole.
Seven years ago with three months unemployed since.