It may be a holiday Friday for many in the Reg-reading community, but that will not deter us from bringing you another engaging edition of our weekly column, On Call. In this installment, we delve into a fascinating tech support story contributed by one of our readers, whom we will refer to as "Finn." Finn's experience involves an unexpected journey of talent discovery while working for a major hosting and domain registration company.

Finn found himself in charge of a young employee who had recently joined the company, despite having no prior experience or relevant skills. This young man was hired largely due to a rather serendipitous chain of events initiated by his mother. During a routine visit to her hairdresser, she expressed her concerns that her son was struggling to find employment, largely due to his tendency to spend all day locked away in his bedroom, engrossed in his computer.

The hairdresser, sympathetic to the mothers plight, connected her to someone who worked at Finn's company. With this networking, the young man was offered a jobanything to help him step out of his comfort zone and into the working world.

Despite the initial skepticism surrounding the young mans qualifications, Finn took the leap and hired him on minimum wage. The team had their doubts about why he was even there. Questions arose: Was he meant to make tea for the office? Some even speculated that he was simply a charity case, the product of compassion rather than capability. Finn candidly recalls, "Nobody knew why he had been hired."

Curious about his background, Finn asked the new employee if he had any knowledge about hosting or domain registration. As anticipated, the young man was not well-versed in domain registration. However, what Finn did not expect was the depth of knowledge the young man possessed about hosting services. In fact, the young man had utilized his extended hours in his bedroom to become a veritable Linux guru, gaining a level of expertise that rivaled that of any seasoned member of Finn's team.

Fortuitously, Finn had an immediate need for someone with those specific skills. Two clients were scheduled for a three-hour session to learn about streamlining their hosting setup and had requested guidance on Linux. Recognizing the potential in his new hire, Finn invited him to attend the meeting. To everyones surprise, the young man demonstrated professionalism and expert knowledge, much to the delight of the clients.

"The customer left feeling happy and impressed," Finn reflected. However, after the meeting, the young employee shared his mixed feelings about the experience. He had learned the substantial fee charged for his expertise compared to his meager paycheck, leading him to lament, "It's unfair!" Finns response was a dose of reality: "Life is unfair. Welcome to the real world." Despite this initial disappointment, the young man's journey did not end there. He went on to carve out a successful career, eventually becoming a very senior IT administrator, much to the pride of his mother.

This story is a testament to the idea that talent can often be found in the most unexpected places. If you have come across a hidden gem in the tech world through unconventional means, we encourage you to share your experiences with us. Your story could inspire others!