It's also simple for me. Like Max I too just want to fly aeroplanes. I have made a clear decision to change career. I have gone into every stage of my training over the last two and a bit years with my eyes open, with an alternative plan in my back pocket and due consideration of the worst case scenario.
Now I have my licence but the airline industry is in a crisis of some proportions. That's not going to stop me, though, I'm going to do what it takes to get me to a level where airlines will be interested in me. Whether that's by waiting for things to pick up, building hours, building multi-hours or whatever. hey I might even consider a type rating as a last resort, but I'm not feeling that desperate or rich yet.
That means the most sensible route is going to be instructing (I'm a week into an instructors rating). If, as looks likely, opportunities here are more limited than before, well, I'll look at part-time instructing and a return to my old day job. Failing that I just return to my old job for a while and re-fill the bank account. Hell, with my old job it will be easier to keep that expensive multi-IR current.
Now I'm by no means the youngest wannabe on this board, but I'm also definitely not the oldest. Two and a half years ago I set myself a target of an airline job age 30. I'm 28.5 now, if I have to change that target who cares, I don't care what barriers I have to cross I will get there eventually because I have invested too much money, time, effort and emotional energy in my dreams to give up.
I hope that all wannabes make it to their dream, but, cyncially, the more that fall by the wayside, the less competition there is for me. Harsh, but realistic.
cheers!
Defiant foggy.