In the midst of the talent crisis, tech executives need to look to new markets for skilled workers - and perhaps they should consider their own first roles when doing so.
Intriguingly, most of the members of the IT Leaders 100 began their careers pulling pints, jumping in skips or selling shoes, rather than coding and calculating.
While some were lucky enough to head straight into tech, they were the exception to the rule. The majority began where most teenagers start: Saturday paper rounds and - maybe, if they were lucky - making tea.
Clearly even today's top CIOs and CTOs weren't always destined for a career in tech, despite being fascinated by it from a young age. Your next hire, and future CIO, might well come from your local garden centre.
Here we've collected some of the most outstanding, funniest and interesting jobs cited by the people leading modern tech.
Find out more about Computing's IT Leaders 100 list here.
Richard Corbridge, CIO, Boots UK & Ireland
Working in a video shop (Video Magic), becoming the advisor on all things Sci-Fi to the good people of a Nottingham suburb.
Find Richard's full profile on the IT Leaders 100 list here.
