Just before you depart with your cash. I would recomemend you checking out the CAA list for issuing CPL and ATPL licences to get an idea of the back log of pilots at the moment otherwise your be paying for renewals very quickly.
I am not saying anything to do with the fact of getting a flying job, but make sure you have money to continue flying at the end of the course.
I have renewed my IR rating for the past 4 years and fly a minimum of 1 hour a month. I fly 20-30 hours a year, which is what I have been able afford at the moment. I do know other pilots who have kept up there renewals for 6-7 years without a flying job.
Don't pay for the rating without flying after flinishing the ratings otherwise your miss flying experience.
