Learning From the Best: 5 Oprah Winfrey’s Jobs Before Fame

Most people are used to thinking that successful individuals are just born under a lucky star. Still, such an opinion is a delusion, no matter how much we want to believe it. Success depends on one’s purposefulness, effort, and accomplishments to a large extent. So, all those stories of famous people are not just a product of luck. Elbow grease and confidence in oneself play a great role in getting a dream job.

Of course, sometimes other important factors can influence the situation. This can mean the ability to craft a winning resume despite the lack of work experience. To increase the chances of employment, use resume writing services like Skillhub and get professional help. Everything is possible, so receiving an invitation for an interview with a recruiter from your dream company is easier than it may seem.

​To prove to you that career growth depends only on personal effort, this article reveals the story of one of the most famous show hosts in the whole world. Oprah Winfrey’s career path wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Let’s delve into it and discuss some of her preliminary occupations.

Grocery Store Assistant

It may come as a shock for many people, but Oprah’s first work was in a local grocery store. She worked there as a teenager to get some pocket money, but we can still consider her career path began in a shop.

Over the past decades, the sales profession has undergone many changes, and the requirements for recruiting in this specialization have increased significantly. Of course, no one says that you can grow to the director of a store in a couple of months. The career growth of a seller is quite long, but the prospects are significant.
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It is worth considering that even in this profession, you will constantly have to develop and grow. If you choose not to upgrade your key skills, then you should not think about career growth and an increase in salary.

Part-Time News Reporter

John Heidelberg from the local radio station WVOL noted Oprah’s abilities and hired her to read the latest news on weekends. She worked as a part-time news reporter during her high school years. In addition, she was not just a presenter but the first African-American woman to occupy such a position. She managed to do a good job and made nearly a hundred dollars a week.

However, it was not always a success. In her early days on television, Winfrey was scared and felt the news was not her field of occupation. The exceptional compassion, which, in fact, brought her later success and money, was not the best professional quality for the commentator.
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She kept repeating to herself, “I’ll just pretend I’m Barbara Walters,” and it worked. Walters became her professional leader. Oprah earned $15,000 a year while still a college student.
This story shows that despite the fear and lack of confidence, there is no use in giving up. This refers not only to the growth in a particular career field but also to the process of a job application. If no recruiters land an interview with you or you are fed up with constantly trying to land a job, this does not mean it will always be like that. Just be persistent and send as many applications as possible.

Host of the Morning Talk Show

Before graduating from college in 1976, Winfrey was offered a chance to be a reporter for “Baltimore is Talking” and the second six-hour news broadcaster on WJZ Television. Winfrey accepted the proposal and was on her way to the big times.

It is worth noting that this role was performed by her flawlessly. The ratings of the program went off the scale, and this was the very success that the girl dreamed of so much.
Two years later, she became the host of the show “People Are Talking.” Oprah’s rating began to rise sharply as the audience warmly and enthusiastically welcomed her.
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Indeed, when a person loves their job and invests all their energy and effort in the development of their career, it is appreciated by the community. Hard-working people are noticed by employers and hiring managers and have better chances to get “yes” at the interview.

Acting Experience

In 1985, Quincy Jones, a famous American film producer, was looking for someone to perform a role in his film. Winfrey had no acting experience other than a college drama club, but Jones chose her for the job. The motion picture was released in December 1985 to the delight of the audience.
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It is said that a talented person is talented in everything. Perhaps, this phrase has a grain of truth. But most importantly, to expand career opportunities, one must use any chance they are offered.

Host of a Personal Show

​Having managed to succeed on such a rich career path, Oprah came close to creating what we know her for. In 1986, the most famous “The Oprah Winfrey Show” appeared. This instant turn of events made Winfrey the highest-paid performer in show business.

Final Words

​Success never comes out of the blue. It is a constant process of self-development through significant effort and perseverance. As you can see from Oprah’s experience, to get something, one needs to put their back into it and never stop moving forward.