Get an instructor rating.
It won't keep you housed and fed on the earnings, but it will keep you current in 'handling' so that when you do get an interview you will stand a much better chance of getting through any sim assessment.
Get a ground job at an airport, preferably 'air-side' as a dispatcher, etc., or in an airline's ops, planning, admin, etc., departments.
This will supplement the low earnings from instructing and will give you a proven record in airline involvement and you will stand a much better chance of getting to hear about flying job opportunities and getting to know the people involved in employing.
Then get a job with a regional airline first. They are going to be starting to become short of pilots not too far off and will be a good start to a career. By all means if that 'big job' lands in your lap then go for it, but don't waste all your time and money aiming for it and nothing else. From a regional job you will be in a much better position to work your way up the airline 'career ladder'.
The experience (and enjoyment!) that you'll get from those early days of instructing and 'regional' flying will stick with you for the rest of your life. Learn to walk before you try to run. If you put all your efforts into that 'big job' and 'big type rating' straight off, you could very easily end up as one of those bitter and twisted old gits later on.