having worked for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "having worked for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate something that happened in the past, usually before the event stated in the main clause. For example: "Having worked for years in the hospitality industry, she was well suited to become a hotel manager."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

In 1959 he went to work for John Kennedy after having worked for William Proxmire.

The New Yorker

Mr. Stone comes to "Fooling Houdini" as a scientist manqué, having worked for Discover magazine.

The New York Times - Books

He was a career prosecutor, having worked for the Justice Department for 24 years.

The New York Times

I think he could survive having worked "for" Obama, i.e., serving his country.

The New Yorker

Having worked for the UN in the camp, I wanted to work with refugees in Britain.

Independent

Having worked for 24 years towards this particular goal, I felt a complete failure".

The Guardian

Having worked for the service for 14 years, this is why I will be striking.

The Guardian - Business

"He understands, having worked for many years as an investor, that sustainability is fundamentally important.

The Guardian

Having worked for the Stasi is not in itself a crime in Germany.

The Guardian

"But I don't have much respect for Bill, having worked for him during that time.

The Guardian

Having worked for the N.Y.P.D. for nearly a decade, Faber has acquired a weary proficiency in the department's eccentricities.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "having worked for" to clearly establish a chronological sequence, indicating that the work experience preceded the main action or state described in the sentence. For instance, "Having worked for several years in customer service, she possesses excellent communication skills."

Common error

Avoid using "having worked for" in a way that doesn't logically connect to the rest of the sentence. Ensure that the experience gained is relevant to the subject. For example, avoid a sentence like "Having worked for a restaurant, the car broke down", since the two clauses aren't properly related.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having worked for" functions as a present perfect participle phrase, providing background information or context about a past experience that is relevant to the main clause. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "having worked for" is a grammatically correct and very common participial phrase used to provide context about someone's past work experience. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and its usage spans a range of contexts from news and media to formal business and scientific writing. To ensure clarity, it's essential to use this phrase when there's a clear connection between the past employment and the main clause. Remember that alternative phrases like "previously employed by" or "formerly with" can be used depending on the level of formality required. With a high expert rating and consistent usage across authoritative sources, "having worked for" is a reliable choice for expressing past affiliations and setting the stage for subsequent actions or states.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

having been employed by

A more formal and passive construction, emphasizing the state of being employed in the past.

once employed at

Suggests a previous state of employment, implying a change in current status.

previously employed by

Emphasizes prior employment status more directly, replacing the gerund form with a more formal structure.

earlier employment at

Emphasizes the temporal aspect of past employment, indicating that it occurred at an earlier time.

formerly with

A concise way to indicate past association or employment, suitable for professional contexts.

after working at

Focuses on the sequence of events, indicating that the work experience preceded a subsequent action or state.

used to work at

An informal way to describe past employment, focusing on the action of working at a specific place.

prior association with

A broader term that encompasses various forms of past involvement, including employment and affiliation.

past experience with

Highlights the experience gained from working for a particular entity, shifting the focus to the acquired skills.

with a background in

Highlights the professional background gained through past employment, suitable for introductions and resumes.

FAQs

How can I use "having worked for" in a sentence?

Use "having worked for" to introduce a reason or context based on past employment, connecting it to the main clause. For example: "Having worked for a tech company, he understood the importance of cybersecurity."

What are some alternatives to "having worked for"?

Alternatives include phrases such as "previously employed by", "formerly with", or "used to work at", depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "having worked for" or should I use a different tense?

"Having worked for" is grammatically correct as a participial phrase to indicate a completed action before the main verb. The choice depends on the specific nuance and chronological relationship you want to express.

What's the difference between "having worked for" and "worked for"?

"Having worked for" implies a completed action that provides context or a reason for something else. "Worked for" is a simple past tense statement, without the implication of direct influence on a subsequent action or situation.