What jobs did Thomas Hardy hold before becoming a full-time writer?

Before establishing himself as a full-time writer, Thomas Hardy pursued a career in architecture. His professional journey included the following roles:

• Apprentice Architect: In 1856, he was apprenticed to a local architect named John Hicks.1
• Draftsman: In 1862, he moved to London to work as a draftsman in the office of Arthur Blomfield, a prominent ecclesiastical architect.1
• Architectural Assistant: After returning to Dorset in 1867 due to ill health, he resumed working for John Hicks and later for the Weymouth architect G.R. Crickmay.1

Hardy continued to work in architecture until the summer of 1872, when he committed to a literary career after securing a contract to supply monthly installments of his novel A Pair of Blue Eyes to Tinsley’s Magazine.1