I was employed at

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was employed at" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a past job or position held at a specific organization or company. Example: "I was employed at XYZ Corporation for five years before moving on to my current role."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

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

The New York Times - Health

When I was employed at a large and famous investment bank, there was a joke that companies indulged in massive Mergers and Acquisitions when their underlying results were turning bad.

The Guardian

Edwards, who later became a long-serving crime reporter for the Daily Mirror, told BBC Newsnight: "Between 1980 and 1985 I was employed at the News of the World as their crime correspondent and I was actually removed from my post because of my complete reluctance and refusal to pay police officers".

The Guardian

In 1986, when I was employed at an ad agency, an accomplished and admired senior colleague with whom I went out for a late-night drink after a grueling day in the studio implored me to leave the business before I got used to or dependent on the financial rewards (which, of course, I wasn't getting yet, but which were in the offing).

The New Yorker

I was employed at the former samizdat newspaper Lidove Noviny, which tried to support this independent agency.

Huffington Post

— Judie Whitney, Northridge, CA On Thursday, November 22, 1963 I was employed at General Electric Company's Defense Program Operation in Washington D.C. My boss told me to go to the Pentagon and bid on a contract for G.E.I got on a bus that goes over the l4th Street Bride to the Pentagon.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

When I was employed as a coach at the David Beckham Academy, I used to get up at 4.30am to train before work and I had to use all my holidays to play at the 2007 World Cup for England.

BBC

From 1996 to April 2002, I was employed as a research scientist at the Department of Biogeography in Bayreuth.

Science Magazine

In 1984 I was employed as the head gardener at a leadership development center for corporate executives.

Huffington Post

Before that I was employed as a ____ at ____ and prior to that I did ____ for ____.

TechCrunch

Throughout the school year I am employed at a popular nature museum where I care for animals, primarily insects.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past work experience in a resume or cover letter, use "I was employed at" to clearly state your former employer.

Common error

Avoid using "I am employed at" when referring to a past job. Use "I was employed at" for past positions and "I am employed at" for your current role.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was employed at" functions as a statement of past employment. It specifies that the speaker held a job or position at a particular organization or company in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that this is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I was employed at" is a grammatically sound and generally acceptable way to describe past employment. While similar to phrases like "I worked at", it carries a slightly more formal tone. As Ludwig AI points out, it's important to maintain correct tense usage, using "was" for past employment and "am" for current roles. The phrase is commonly found in news media and scientific contexts, making it suitable for professional settings and discussions about one's work history.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I worked at

Replaces "employed" with the more common and slightly less formal "worked".

I used to work at

Indicates a past employment at a place.

I held a position at

Emphasizes the role or position held at a specific location.

I was on staff at

Indicates a formal association with an organization.

I was affiliated with

Highlights a connection or association, potentially less formal than employment.

I was associated with

Similar to affiliated, but can also imply a looser relationship.

I did work for

Highlights performing work for an entity, with a broader scope than just direct employment.

My employer was

Focuses on the employer rather than the act of being employed.

I served at

Implies a more dedicated or service-oriented role within an organization.

I was a member of

Suggests being part of a team, group or organization, but it does not necessary means that it was a paid employment

FAQs

What is the difference between "I was employed at" and "I worked at"?

While both phrases are similar, "I was employed at" is slightly more formal than "I worked at". You can use either phrase depending on the context, but /s/I+was+employed+at is preferred in professional settings.

What can I say instead of "I was employed at" to sound more specific?

Instead of "I was employed at", you could use phrases like "I held a position at", "I served as a [job title] at", or "I was a [job title] at" to provide more detail about your role.

Is it correct to say "I am employed at" when referring to a past job?

No, it is not correct. Use "I was employed at" for past jobs and "I am employed at" only for your current job.

How to use "I was employed at" in a sentence?

You can use "I was employed at" followed by the name of the organization and, optionally, the duration or specific role. For example, "I was employed at Acme Corp from 2010 to 2015" or "I was employed at General Electric Company's Defense Program Operation".