* University of Oxford: Tolkien worked as a Professor of Anglo-Saxon at the University of Oxford from 1925 until his retirement in 1959. This was his primary role for the majority of his adult life.
* Army: During World War I, Tolkien served in the Lancashire Fusiliers, though his time in the trenches was short due to illness.
* Oxford English Dictionary: Before his academic position, Tolkien worked on the Oxford English Dictionary for a few years, researching and compiling entries.
While he may not have been officially employed in the field, Tolkien also devoted significant time and effort to The Inklings, a literary discussion group he co-founded with C.S. Lewis and other writers. These meetings were an important space for Tolkien to share and develop his ideas, especially for *The Lord of the Rings*.
It's important to note that Tolkien primarily focused on his academic career and literary pursuits, which heavily influenced his life and writing.