I know several people who have gotten jobs off of climbto350 in the last year or so. Two of the individuals it was their first jet aircraft and one had no previous turbine and the other had very little (less than 50 hours). There are several reasons that these companies advertise for current and typed pilots with ATPs and a bunch of time. One of them is because of the WYVERN/ARGUS auditing houses that require crews to have a specific amount of time. For instance, to get an ARGUS Platinum rating, even the FO has to be simulator trained within the past 12 months, have an ATP, 2500TT, 500 PIC, 150 actual instrument, and 500 MEL. One of the people I know hired on to an ARGUS Platinum rated company. This person did not have a type rating, ATP, or current school on the aircraft. That was all taken care of with an 18 day trip to Simuflite. Initial on this aircraft was somewhere around $21K. So I am sure this company would rather have found somebody that was either current or at least had prior school on the aircraft and just needed recurrent for about 60% the cost of initial. However, with the pilot market that is out there today, they decided to make an investment in a very good pilot. So the point being, just because they advertise they want such and such qualifications....doesn't mean that is what they are going to find out there.
As far as 98% of the jobs out there that are advertised having the requirements stated above, well I don't think that is correct. I would argue about even 75%. Then take away the Captain positions that you would not be looking for, then you are probably less than 50% of them. One job that comes up a lot is a position with Airnet. Of course you need 1200TT to fly PIC 135. You would need that with any company that you are looking to fly PIC 135 with...even in a C210. Now if you are looking to get out of instructing as soon as possible, then yes the regionals are the way to go. Hell, these days you get your commercial MEL and you don't even have to instruct as you are already qualified for at least 3 or 4 regionals. Certainly a few months instructing has you qualified for even more regional airlines. The question about all of this is whether or not you air missing an important building block in becoming a professional aviator. I know I learned more hour per hour while instructing than at any other point in my aviation career.
Now for some career advice while you are instructing, if you aren't making ends meat right now....then go somewhere else. Flight schools are hurting for instructors and some are offering ridiculous salaries. I have seen more than one on climbto350 that is offering $50K+ a year. In fact, there was a very interesting article in Flying Magazine within the past few months addressing this trend and some of the things flight schools are going to have to do in the future to lure instructors. It has gotten so bad, that just yesterday I was talking with an FAA POI and he said he ramp checked a flight school aircraft and the instructor's medical was also a student pilot certificate. Apparently he had only started flying about 8 months ago. That is one motivated individual, but it also shows how badly places are looking for instructors. So kudos to you guys that are still giving back and instructing. With out you, in a few years we won't even be able to find 250 hour pilots to fill the right seat.