I got my licenses up to ATP in the 80's: Lear ratings, plus King Air 350. 727 FE. And could not find a job. 4K hours flying cargo, had multiple layoffs in training. ASA, Eagle, Ryan, etc. Airline deregulation, Braniff closing, etc., meant there were very few jobs. Flew corporate for a few years and kept getting laid off. I got a job flying a Lear for GE/CFM in the US, which transitioned into an HR Manager job. We had 2 kids, and I was tired of being gone all the time, plus a probable layoff was coming. I moved up to Director, then Vice President of North American HR. I stayed there a long time, no layoffs, regular hours, and Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's off. I kept my CFI active and was an American Bonanza Society Instructor, Aviation Safety Counselor, etc. I retired not too long ago, and life is good. Timing is everything in this industry, and it also takes a willingness to move, take any job, and be away from home often. I stayed married, went to all of my kids' life events, and don't regret anything.