Prior to commencing my commercial pilot training in 1999, I sought the advice of a 'Commercial Pilot Consultant', who (for a large fee) planned my training schedule, and gave his expert advice on becoming a professional pilot.
He produced numerous graphs, charts, written articles, etc. which predicted the forthcoming pilot shortage, and subsequent hiring boom. These documents all indicated that there would be one year in particular when there would be jobs galore. One year when the demand for new pilots would outstrip supply. One year when airline training captains and personnel managers would be forced to hang around bars in the vicinity of the major flying schools, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting students, plying them with copious amounts of alcohol, before feverishly pushing contracts under their noses.
The year in question was................................2002.