I agree with all the others. Go for the ATPL exams.
In the (good) old days you were not allowed to sit the ATPL exams until you had flown the required hours and sent your log books to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, later Dept of Trade, to be scrutinised.
I found it VERY hard work returning to college, fortunately on paid leave, for two months to pass exams which were not too advanced from the CPL exams completed five years earlier.
Good luck with your job hunting
MP