Find a Job You Really Want In
For many individuals, their first job rarely aligns with their career aspirations. These initial roles often entail monotonous tasks and challenges, such as customer service or manual labor. As entry-level workers lacking experience, they frequently have to settle for less desirable positions to gain a foothold in the job market.
Interestingly, many U.S. Presidents also began their careers in remarkably humble positions. We explored the first jobs of each President, but let’s first take a look at some of the most surprising early gigs:
10 Most Surprising First Jobs of U.S. Presidents
- James A. Garfield – Mule tender
- Benjamin Harrison – Court crier
- William H. Taft – Courthouse reporter
- Lyndon B. Johnson – Shoe shiner
- Richard M. Nixon – Chicken plucker
- James Earl Carter – Peanut farmer
- Ronald Reagan – Circus worker
- Barack H. Obama – Ice cream scooper
- Donald J. Trump – Collecting soda bottles
- Joseph R. Biden, Jr. – Lifeguard
One might wonder if these future leaders had any inkling that their early occupations would lead them to the highest office in the land. Did Nixon reflect on his chicken-plucking days? Or LBJ on his shoe-shining experiences? Perhaps Garfield pondered his days tending mules?
Want to Be President? Consider Law School
While several U.S. Presidents started from modest beginnings, others launched their careers from prestigious positions. Historically, many early Presidents transitioned from everyday occupations to lawyers or political figures. However, it’s refreshing to see that even if your first job entails scooping ice cream or working on a family farm, significant achievements are still within reach.
Each President’s First Job
| President | First Job |
|---|---|
| George Washington | Land surveyor |
| John Adams | Schoolmaster |
| Thomas Jefferson | Lawyer |
| James Madison | Military |
| James Monroe | Virginia infantry |
| John Quincy Adams | Presidential apprenticeship |
| Andrew Jackson | Courier |
| Martin Van Buren | Law clerk |
| William Henry Harrison | Aide-de-camp |
| John Tyler | Virginia Legislature |
| James K. Polk | U.S. House of Representative |
| Zachary Taylor | Military |
| Millard Fillmore | Wool carder |
| Franklin Pierce | Speaker of the House in the New Hampshire State Legislature |
| James Buchanan | Lawyer |
| Abraham Lincoln | Store clerk |
| Andrew Johnson | Apprentice tailor |
| Ulysses S. Grant | Horse handler |
| Rutherford B. Hayes | Lawyer |
| James A. Garfield | Mule tender |
| Chester A. Arthur | Teacher |
| Grover Cleveland | Teacher |
| Benjamin Harrison | Court crier |
| Grover Cleveland | Lawyer |
| William McKinley | Lawyer |
| Theodore Roosevelt | New York Assemblyman |
| William H. Taft | Courthouse reporter |
| Woodrow Wilson | Teacher |
| Warren G. Harding | Journalism |
| Calvin Coolidge | Teacher at deaf school |
| Herbert C. Hoover | Geologist and mining engineer |
| Franklin D. Roosevelt | Apprentice lawyer |
| Harry S. Truman | Timekeeper for a railroad company |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower | Creamery worker |
| John F. Kennedy | Navy |
| Lyndon B. Johnson | Shoe shiner |
| Richard M. Nixon | Chicken plucker |
| Gerald R. Ford | Painter |
| James Earl Carter | Peanut farmer |
| Ronald Reagan | Circus worker |
| George Bush | Navy |
| William J. Clinton | Grocer |
| George W. Bush | National Guard |
| Barack H. Obama | Ice cream scooper |
| Donald J. Trump | Collecting soda bottles |
| Joseph R. Biden, Jr. | Lifeguard |
In conclusion, the early jobs of U.S. Presidents remind us that great achievements often begin from the most unexpected places. Whether through legal careers or other vocational paths, the journey from these humble beginnings can lead to extraordinary leadership roles. So, as you navigate your own career, remember: every great leader started somewhere.
Author
Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.
