ok, but was years ago...
this market has changed, what you say last year, is not valid today anymore.
they have so many applicants, they can ask what they want.
Age, money, sim, line check, opc check, check , and recheck...this job is too stressfull to a point it use you.
When I was working for an airline 10 years ago, I was flying much better than now, because there was no competition between pilots and no arrogance from managment. Now the airlines put a sim check anytime to fail you, not make you a better pilot.
You fail a sim, you are out, and good luck to find a new job!
Even a training sim is now a fail or pass (just look at their progess test, instructor have to check a F/P box, which I hate).
I don't see how pilot are safer nowadays. Just lucky maybe!
I think the entire system should be revised.
Some sim "instructors" put 10 failures in same time until you crash the sim(hydraulic, gear failure, fire smoke, 2 engine out, and 0 vis, ILS, VOR out,...). This is not a proper way of teaching as it's not real.
I am a FAA instructor as well, and 99% of my students are happy with me because I don't put any unecessary pressure on them. Just teach what must be taught.