She Strengthens

The Power of First Jobs: Unlikely Lessons from Famous Faces

Getting started in the workforce can be a daunting experience, but it’s a crucial step in shaping our careers and lives. Even the most successful individuals had to begin somewhere, and their first jobs often taught them valuable lessons that stayed with them throughout their lives.

A Humble Beginning

Former President Barack Obama’s story about scooping ice cream at a Baskin-Robbins in Honolulu is a great reminder that everyone starts somewhere. My own first job, working in the kitchen of a nursing home, may not have been glamorous, but it taught me the importance of hard work, humility, and responsibility.

Famous First Jobs

From Oprah Winfrey to Brad Pitt, many successful individuals have had humble beginnings. Here are 15 fascinating first jobs that might surprise you:

• Oprah Winfrey: Worked at a local grocery store, where she was forbidden from chatting with customers.
• Lady Gaga: Took on three jobs, including a stint as a go-go dancer, while honing her performance-art act.
• Whoopi Goldberg: Worked as a beautician for dead people.
• Richard Branson: Bred budgerigars at the age of 11, but soon realized they were multiplying faster than he could sell them.
• Madeline Albright: Sold bras at Jocelyn’s Department Store in Denver during her summer break.
• Farnoosh Tarabi: Worked as a hostess at Ruby’s Diner in Pennsylvania, earning $8 or $9 an hour.
• Warren Buffett: Started at his grandfather’s grocery store before moving on to J.C. Penney.
• Walt Disney: Was fired from his cartoonist job for lacking imagination, but eventually found success.
• Kat Cole: Worked at Hooters for 15 years, rising from hostess to vice president.
• Indra Nooryi: Took a graveyard shift as a receptionist in her dorm at Yale University.
• Reed Hastings: Sold vacuum cleaners door-to-door, which he surprisingly enjoyed.
• Beyoncé: Swept up hair at her mom’s salon.
• Rachel McAdams: Spent three years taking orders at McDonald’s.
• Evangeline Lilly: Worked as a flight attendant and had a memorable experience with a disgruntled flyer.
• Brad Pitt: Dressed up as a chicken to hand out flyers for El Pollo Loco restaurant.

Lessons Learned

These stories serve as a reminder that everyone has to start somewhere, and it’s the lessons we learn from our first jobs that can shape our futures. Whether it’s the importance of hard work, humility, or responsibility, our first jobs can teach us valuable skills that stay with us throughout our lives.

Exploring More

If you’re interested in learning more about how people got started in their industries, check out the How I Launched My Career series on LinkedIn, which features critical lessons from successful individuals.