Ahh yes, the mistake everybody makes. It's all about the airlines, airlines, airlines. Did you know that there are jobs out there flying 9 people or less around for six figure salaries while your first year starting wage at a Company, let's say, Air Canada is close to ...
http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airl ... anada.html
That website might be outdated, but I doubt it has changed by a large figure.
As well, if you go and get hired straight into the right seat of Jazz, you're going to be what we call, First Officer for life. Does that suit you? I guess the perspective you have on the industry right now (cause of not being in it), is mainly influenced towards airlines, so perhaps being a First Officer for a very long time is what you would be happy with.
But I will tell you this, 95/100 (some average fraction) of people in this industry go through the toughest times in their lives for the first 5 to even as much as 10 years before they score anything decent as far as a job goes. And in this time frame, it involves a lot of relocating, taking jobs with not the best working conditions, and saying bye bye to what seems to be a normal, home-cooked meal life style. Unless you have a partner who can support you financially, or if you take out a huge loan and go in debt by the time you're out of flight school. You got a girl friend? Now you have another wall to get through where you need to prove to her every day that you love her, and that she's the one - so that she can trust that you're not sleeping around when you're on lay overs. All in all, a new facet will enter your life, and if you have a partner, it's your responsibility as the pilot to make sure she feels as loved and taken care of as the case was before. This will be a harder toll on you on top of all the extra stresses in life, but on the flip side, the toll on your woman will be tough in the case where she might not see you as often - at least in the beginning. It works for me, but it took a few tries to understand how to make a relationship work when you're out there trying to make it! Especially when they give you shit about not compromising for them, cause your career comes first... ahh what to say to that
But there's a way around it, different routes for each couples of course.
You know, being 24 is not old at all. I have a friend who was selling car's until he was 28 years old, had dual citizenship, was a CPL/MIFR, and was hired by Lan Chile at the age of 30 flying their 767's around, 7 years later he's now at Emirates on the 777.
I'll ask you this, do you have dual citizenship? Check out pprune forums, but the sensation I feel is that the industry in Europe is picking up. And if your idea of a finished pilot schooling is a direct entry into the airlines, then the European system is more for you. The con's are that it costs way more, and you have a big debt that I believe a majority of your First Officer pay cheque gets deducted from to pay it. But you're "living the life" if you're a person with the idea of making it to the airlines asap.
I'll tell you my experience - I started ftraining with the idea that I'd only be flying the airlines and nothing but the airlines. Now, after working in the industry, getting to know people, and talking, heck I'd love to fly around in a corporate job if the airline biz didn't work out. Imagine being on different continents flying multi millionaires around? There are some companies that do it in Canada, and when you talk to their pilot's, most of them feel that the switch over to airline would be a hard toll on their life style. But on the flip side, there are people who don't like Corporate and want airline. I'm still leaning towards airline, but would never turn down a corporate opportunity! Some people get into the industry and are happy at simply flying around in a Caravan, or a King Air. Perhaps flying as an air ambulance on a Citation or something.
What I'm saying is that, if you have that work ethic to score (number 1 in the class), then I think that if you keep working that hard in this industry, then you'll in an ironic way find a much better job and lifestyle here in Canada. But it takes a lot of dedication, and boy oh boy does this industry test your passion for it sometimes. You know when you first fall in love with your girl, and want to marry her. Then 2 years later shit comes up where you question if love is enough to marry somebody? Well apply that feeling to this industry.
It's good when you make it, and there's light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes the tunnel is 50km, sometimes it's 100. Your deck of cards will be dealt, and you'll need to stick to it.
Or there's the "easy" way of opting out and continuing with a career that's not your passion, but you'll have something called a lifestyle which you won't have in flying until you've somehow made it. Be it flying a Cessna 172 for 90 grand a year, or the 737 at WestJet on 4 day pairings.
Remember, at some point, man wants to settle down. For some it's earlier than others. So if you and your girl are in a serious relationship, then I'd like to think you want to settle down earlier than later. Therefore, always keep plugging away on your goal (what ever that means, be it airlines, corporate, etc), but don't forget your outlook on the term "lifestyle." Would you be a happy camper flying for the airlines at the cost of losing your partner, or would you be a happy camper not being at the airlines, but having a really good paying flying job, and have a home cooked meal every night? And on top of all, is she the one if she hinders you from going out there and making it? Think about that one !
I think you have lots to think about, and lots to communicate with your partner. Remember, they can change their mind anytime once the pay cheque of reality hits them.
Best of luck!
) and work during the day while earning my PPL, CPL, MIFR on evenings and weekends. 
and ha ha ha again....
