What Was Barack Obama’s First Job? Discover Interesting Facts Here!

As a multicultural child growing up in Hawaii and Indonesia, Barack Obama, the 44th president of the US, shares a beautiful journey to become the leader of our country. The son of a Kenyan father and an American mother, Obama's multicultural background means he has an understanding of many cultures throughout the world. He is also influenced by the cultures where he was raised and has developed a value of empathy, equality, and the responsibility to give back to the community. After graduating from Columbia University and Harvard Law School, Obama became the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review. 

In building his career, Obama created a path that is focused on public service, beginning with his work in community organizing in Chicago and then moving on to becoming a U.S. Senator. The combination of early life experiences, education, and the determination shown by Obama laid the groundwork for his extraordinary achievement of becoming the leader of the United States.

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What Was the First Job of Barack Obama?

Obama’s first formal job was at Baskin-Robbins where he was employed to scoop ice cream, serve customers, mop floors, and clean freezers and counters. As a teenager, he was given all the regular duties of an employee in a traditional ice cream shop. 

Over the course of his time at Baskin-Robbins, he discovered how exhausting it could be. He also noted that he developed wrist pain to the extent that he was no longer able to enjoy eating ice cream.

While this job caused him physical discomfort as well as some frustration, Obama has expressed gratitude for it. He said that it provided him with much more than just a paycheck.

Barack Obama’s Jobs Before Becoming President

Community Organizer in Chicago 

Through his role as a community organizer at the Developing Communities Project in Chicago, Obama learned about the importance of community empowerment and how to help people advocate for themselves. This job had a major impact on Obama's understanding of social issues and the role of public service in addressing them.

Writer and Researcher 

 Another important experience early in Obama's career was working as a writer and researcher on various community projects and reports. His ability to write well was instrumental in helping him publish his first book, Dreams from My Father.

Summer Associate at Law Firms 

While attending Harvard Law School, Obama gained experience through summer associate positions at law firms. He learned about how to practice law, civil rights issues, policy making and networking with other attorneys during these internships, including a summer with a firm where he met his future wife Michelle Robinson.

Lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School

Obama taught constitutional law for more than ten years while he was employed as a lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School. Teaching was an important part of his life, allowing him to communicate and clarify difficult legal concepts to many young people interested in pursuing public policy careers.

U.S. Senator

While running for president, Obama was also a member of the U.S. Senate for Illinois from 2005 until the end of 2008. He worked on a variety of issues during this time including foreign policy, government transparency, healthcare, and veterans’ issues. His speeches and his willingness to engage and work with members of both parties led to his national fame.