Experience before type rating is not an issue, many airlines have been doing this for decades
On the other hand many airlines do see it as an issue and require candidates to have considerable previous experience before being hired. Which is the main reason why the FAA recently mandated a minimum of 1500 hours total time before crewing an airliner. Former military pilots are accepted with less total hours because of the high standard of their military experience.
The current situation where line flying in jet transports is biased towards almost total automation - apart from the take off and short final approach to landing - and manual flying actively discouraged to a ridiculous degree, good quality handling experience is a most desirable aim for recruiters. And that doesn't mean in a simulator; but hands on in command instrument flying skills in IMC.