Being optimistic is fine, but you have to be realistic, especially about your career. Dewey is right on imo, and basically speaks the facts. Bottom line, I personally wouldn't recommend a friend to goto XJT, and I wouldn't recommend any of you to either. Unless your career expectations for the next decade is to be an FO on an EMB-145. Even with a "good" contract you won't be happy unless a quality retirement savings, supporting a family etc is not of importance to you. I'd be really suprised if the first person hired is a CA in 5 years. Honestly, I'd be suprised if they were a CA within 10 years.
If you're just chompin at the bit to be a jet airline pilot, like most of you probably are if you aren't already, try not to let the emotion rule your decision. The novelty of it wears off very quickly then you're stuck with the reality of being a EWR FO and having to commute simply because you can't even afford housing in your own base. And let me tell you, commuting sucks and basically subtracts about $3,000 off of your already measly take home salary.
The key to this career is a fast upgrade at a "Regional", and step out of the regionals as fast as you can. Look for a company with large realitive growth coming in the next few years. Same would apply to a "Major" but since their FO payscales are livable it's not as crucial. But hey, if you apply at XJT and they hire you, you can go there until you find something better (read: upgrade in the forseeable future).
I'm young, and enjoying life, if I don't like xjt, I'll leave, the industry is cyclical, I'm honestly not worried about it in the least, it can be any worse than what I've gone through over the past 3 years.
