in the local training organisation to me in the UK, 2 of the instructors have IR's but no north sea job, and before that another had an IR for a good couple of years before he eventually got in at Aberdeen.
the point is they all got FI's to keep flying and get some money coming in, but obviously that means paying more money out first.
my suggestion is that is what you should do and in due course it will come good with the IR (probably).