have you worked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have you worked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when inquiring about someone's past employment or experience in a particular job or task. Example: "Have you worked in customer service before applying for this position?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Have you worked on other perspectives?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Have you worked in London or elsewhere?

The Guardian

How long have you worked in dentistry?

Nature

"How long have you worked here?" "A few years".

The New York Times

What kind of organizations have you worked for?

The New York Times

How long have you worked at UC Berkeley?

University of California, Berkeley

How many years total have you worked in education?

Harvard University

Have you worked with youth or training youth before?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Where have you worked in your career so far?

Nature

How have you worked to bring them on board?

Harvard Business Review

Have you worked for a balanced leader?

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have you worked" in a formal setting, consider pairing it with phrases that specify the duration or scope of the work. For example, "How long have you worked in this field?".

Common error

Avoid using "worked at" when the context calls for "worked in". Use "worked at" for specific companies or locations (e.g., "Have you worked at Google?") and "worked in" for industries or fields (e.g., "Have you worked in finance?").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have you worked" functions as an interrogative construction used to inquire whether an individual possesses prior experience or has been previously employed in a specific field, role, or with particular tools. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically sound and suitable for diverse communicative contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Academia

18%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have you worked" is a grammatically correct and very common way to inquire about someone's prior experience, as supported by numerous examples. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across various contexts. It is frequently used in News & Media, Academia, and Science. When using this phrase, it's important to consider the specific context to ensure clarity and relevance. Remember to use "worked at" for specific locations or companies and "worked in" for industries or fields. Alternatives such as "have you been employed", "do you have experience", and "what is your work history" offer nuanced ways to ask about someone's professional background.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have you been employed

Focuses specifically on whether someone has held a job.

have you held a position

Emphasizes the act of occupying a role or job.

what is your work history

Asks for a summary of previous jobs and roles.

what is your employment background

Similar to work history, but slightly more formal.

have you previously undertaken

A more formal way to ask about past projects or tasks.

have you any prior experience

General inquiry about previous relevant experience.

do you have experience

Direct question about whether someone has relevant experience.

have you ever been involved in

Focuses on past involvement in a specific type of activity.

what projects have you completed

Specifically asks about completed projects.

where have you been employed

Focuses on the location of past employment.

FAQs

How can I use "have you worked" in a sentence?

You can use "have you worked" to inquire about someone's past experience. For example, "Have you worked with this software before?" or "Have you worked on similar projects?".

What can I say instead of "have you worked"?

Alternatives include "have you been employed", "do you have experience", or "what is your work history" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "have you worked" or "did you work"?

"Have you worked" implies an ongoing relevance to the present, while "did you work" refers to a completed action in the past. Use "have you worked" when asking about experience relevant to the current situation. For example "Have you worked in sales before applying for this position?"

What's the difference between "have you worked" and "were you working"?

"Have you worked" asks about past experience, while "were you working" asks about an activity in progress at a specific time in the past. For example, "Have you worked as a consultant before?" versus "Were you working on that project last week?"