I previously worked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I previously worked" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a past job or position you held before your current one. Example: "I previously worked at a marketing firm where I gained valuable experience in digital advertising."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

I previously worked for the NHS and in education.

The Guardian

I previously worked for a large printing company in Scarborough.

The Guardian

SETTLEMENT HOUSE I previously worked for a company run by a genuinely bad boss.

The New York Times - Magazine

(In addition to editing his posts for Economix, I previously worked as one of his research assistants while an undergraduate at Princeton).

The New York Times

Before setting up Chemist Direct, I previously worked as a management consultant, working with Citigroup, Deutsche Investment Bank, SAP and Deloitte Consulting.

Independent

I previously worked for a medical education company where all concepts and strategies belonged to the funding sources that paid the employees' salaries.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

Nevertheless, as more people proposed the networking concept to me, I began to think of women I had previously worked with who knew I was driven and reliable.

Huffington Post

A Construction Whener Has Started a Clan of VIgilante Paedophile Hunters.

Vice

I knew these things before I took the job: I had previously worked a shift at the warehouse-sized gallery after a guard called in sick.

Vice

I was lucky: Curtis Briggs, an associate of Serra's I had previously worked with, was angling to bring Chow on as a client.

Vice

(At the time of applying I was in a short-term contract as a business analyst, and I had previously worked part-time in my father's company in market analysis).

Science Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing your professional background, use "I previously worked" to clearly and concisely indicate a past employment.

Common error

Avoid using present tense when describing past employment; ensure the verb "worked" is in the past tense and avoid mixing it with present perfect without the right auxiliary (i.e. "I have previously worked").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I previously worked" functions as an intransitive verb phrase indicating past employment. It is used to introduce or describe prior work experience, as shown in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I previously worked" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe past work experience. According to Ludwig, its use is prevalent in news and media, as well as formal and business contexts. It serves to provide context about one's professional background and is suitable for various professional communications. When using this phrase, ensure you are using the correct tense and avoid mixing it with present tenses without appropriate auxiliary verbs. By following these guidelines, you can effectively communicate your work history with clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I formerly worked

Replaces 'previously' with 'formerly', maintaining a formal tone and meaning.

Prior to this, I worked

Connects to the current situation by referencing the past.

I was formerly employed

Uses 'employed' instead of 'worked', adding a slightly more formal tone.

I used to work

Uses a more common and slightly less formal phrasing.

Before, I worked

Reorders the sentence for emphasis.

In the past, I worked

Adds a temporal phrase for clarity.

I had a previous job

Restructures the sentence to focus on the past job itself.

My previous role was

Focuses on the role instead of the act of working.

I once held a position

Emphasizes the holding of a specific position.

My employment history includes

More formal and often used in resumes or professional summaries.

FAQs

How can I use "I previously worked" in a sentence?

You can use "I previously worked" to introduce your past professional experience, for example, "I previously worked at a software company before transitioning to project management".

What can I say instead of "I previously worked"?

You can use alternatives like "I used to work", "I formerly worked", or "I was previously employed depending on the context.

What's the difference between "I previously worked" and "I have previously worked"?

"I previously worked" indicates a completed action in the past, while "I have previously worked" suggests the experience is relevant to the present situation. The present perfect form can be used to emphasize the experience's impact on current skills or qualifications.

Is it appropriate to use "I previously worked" in a cover letter?

Yes, "I previously worked" is perfectly suitable for a cover letter when detailing your work history. Be sure to follow up with specific details about your responsibilities and achievements.