Well you can take your CPL/SEP, and, as they advised, do the FI.
But I see two or three problems there...
- a lot of professional FTOs want at least a CPL + IMC/IR before they can hire you. Basically they want you to give instuctional hours also when the WX is marginal as VFR; when you can for example go into clouds or on top to do instuments training and you don't need full VFR; and whatever happens you can anyway come back flying down to 250ft before going around (generally speaking). If you are limited in that sense without an IMC/IR you might be grounded more often, therefore making less money for the company.
- CAA, about CPL/MEP, states: 15 hrs SEP, 5 hrs INS (including Simulator time), 8 hrs MEP. At the end of the day the difference is 8 hours only. And with paying that extra money for these 8 hours you'll be ready to start the MEIR and to search a job as a pilot immediatly after your MCC. A lot of companies don't want a lot of experience (if you visit their web-site they will ask for 200-250 hrs as a Junior F/O) unless you want to go to BA.
- Btw the experience you get as a FI will be on a SEP a/c; that will help you at an interview maybe, but you'll start as Junior F/O anyway, unless you have tubo-jet experience exceding 1.000 hrs for a direct entry into a F/O position. And your ATPL needs at least 500 hrs on jet a/c before it can be issued.
There are good and bad points of course. Hopefully when you'll be done the recession will have picked up.
If it was me I would do everything to be ready to find a job as an airline pilot; if something will go wrong you can always do your FI afterwards.
Regards
amcapt89