Work survival in the era of automation - FT.com

Roy Harold Scherer Jr worked as a truck driver on the long haul to the top of his chosen profession. He later found film stardom under the name of Rock Hudson. Michael Dell, founder of US company Dell Computers, washed plates and was a waiter in Chinese and Mexican restaurants before he landed on a career in technology. Such humdrum tasks once allowed ambitious people to earn cash en route to the top. For others, they were full-time jobs.