It's almost a right of passage Sparkyt. You'll need to pay for your own Basic / Twr or Basic / Radar but with radar you'll be limiting your employment options. I know those whom have paid for Basic / Twr and Radar to gain employment at the aerodrome of their choice.
As for the NATs option. . . . . it's so chaotic it's like playing the employment lottery and the time from training to entering employment as valid can be extremely flexible. PM me if you want some more advice but there is a lot of movement at the moment so plenty of gaps to fill.