I was employed

USAGE SUMMARY

"I was employed" is a correct and usable sentence in written English.
You can use it to explain your recent employment history. For example: "I was employed as a software engineer from 2017-2020, before I decided to pursue self-employment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Before that, I was employed by New York City.

The New York Times

While I was employed by the dance music magazine Mixmag she was working at Westminster.

The Guardian - Opinion

Actually, for this guy, I said, "I didn't realize I was employed by you".

The New York Times - Magazine

The barbarians were at the gate, which was lamentable because I was employed as a gatekeeper.

The Guardian

"I was employed at a time I couldn't do much about it," he said.

The New York Times - Health

Many years ago I was employed as the BBC's community affairs correspondent in the south-east.

The Guardian

When I went to sleep last night, I was employed by a small start-up called @Last Software.

The New York Times

"The next thing I knew I was talking to the mayor and the next thing, I was employed again.

The New York Times

"I was employed by the bank after finishing my degree in 2012 and have since been promoted.

The Guardian

I was employed because Mr Schecter's son – I'll call him Sam – had seriously underestimated his father's condition.

The Guardian

"I was employed on an annual contract, which I was told could only be renewed five times," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing your work history, follow "I was employed" with specific details about your role, responsibilities, and the duration of your employment for clarity.

Common error

Don't just say "I was employed". Provide context by specifying the company, your position, and the relevant dates. For example, instead of "I was employed", say "I was employed as a project manager at Acme Corp from 2018 to 2022."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was employed" functions as a statement of past employment. It indicates that the speaker or subject was previously engaged in a job or occupation. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I was employed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe past work experience. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's most commonly found in news, science, and professional contexts. When using this phrase, ensure you provide specific details about your role and the company for clarity. Consider alternatives like "I worked as" or "I held a position" for variety. Avoid vagueness by adding specific details such as job title, company, and duration of employment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I worked as

Directly states the type of work performed.

I held a position

Emphasizes the act of holding a specific job or role.

I used to work at

Indicates a past employment at a specific company.

My former employer was

Highlights the previous employer.

I was a staff member at

Specifies being part of the staff.

I had a job at

Informal way of stating past employment.

I was on the payroll at

Focuses on being officially employed and paid.

I was in the service of

Implies a formal or dedicated commitment to a particular entity.

I gained experience at

Highlights the experience gained during past employment.

I was affiliated with

Suggests a connection or association through employment.

FAQs

How can I use "I was employed" in a sentence?

Use "I was employed" to describe a previous job or role you held. For example, "I was employed as a teacher at that school for five years."

What are some alternatives to "I was employed"?

You can use alternatives like "I worked as", "I held a position", or "I used to work at" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I was employee" instead of "I was employed"?

No, "I was employee" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "I was employed", where "employed" is used as an adjective to describe your state of being hired.

What's the difference between "I was employed" and "I am employed"?

"I was employed" refers to a past job, while "I am employed" indicates your current employment status. For example, "I was employed at Google last year, but now I am employed at Amazon".