There is no doubt that Monarch is probably one of the better jobs in the industry. Unfortunately the number of positions available there is fairly limited, so very few of the bunch pilots being trained or looking for better improved jobs will get the chance of a job with Monarch.
It's a bit like winning the lottery, clearly a bit better odds than the lottery, but it's one of those jobs unless you have the right connections / friends or gone trough an integrated school that works with them, you probably have little or no chance.
Nothing wrong with this, this is like all walks of life, it's not so much what you know, more important who you know!
The Orange outfit also have a pretty good career progression, as long as you can get over the initial hurdle with the hard years in the start, after the TC's that are to come are not bad.
But these companies also have a strong union presence, which has worked hard to preserve these TC's.
Unfortunately I would say for the majority, at least in the start, very few will have the chance to get a good start in their career as they would with Monarch.
I would see Monarch as the ultimate company to work for in the UK, however I am not very positive to ever get the chance!