previous workplace

USAGE SUMMARY

"previous workplace" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a place/location where a person used to work, as in "John was a manager at his previous workplace."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

There was a quasi-macho culture at my previous workplace, certainly not as bad as at other offices.

The Guardian - Opinion

Women seem to depict themselves as nice, over and beyond the previous workplace experiences they have had.

Harvard Business Review

In a previous workplace, for instance, I once overheard my co-workers perform a cruel parody of a Mexican accent.

The Washington Post

Continued contacts with the founder's previous employer appear to limit the firm's innovative performance, but firms do benefit from being established near the previous workplace.

Research Policy

Using an original dataset, we examine the effect of founder's experiences, the relationship with the founder's previous employer and spatial proximity to the previous workplace on the innovative performance of small software firms in the Netherlands.

Research Policy

"There is no 'Biden Rule.' It doesn't exist," the vice president told more than 200 students, professors and staff at the Georgetown University Law Center, half a mile from Biden's previous workplace of 36 years, the U.S. Senate.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Have coffee with someone at work and tell them you "just need 15 minutes of not thinking about your project". Spend more time with people in your neighborhood, friends from previous workplaces, or old college friends.

Harvard Business Review

It means she's had colleagues in previous workplaces make pointed glances at the clock when she's had to come in later because of her health, as well as derogatory comments about her commitment to the job.

The Guardian

Ms. Denihan has been an assistant since 1976 and can remember, in one of her previous workplaces, when someone threw a box of tissues at her because the type she had bought would irritate his nose.

The New York Times

Yaser Masoudnia: My co-founder and I had our own share of struggles with passwords, similar to other consumers and employees at our previous workplaces.

Forbes

Hence, this research design cannot consider exposure duration or exposure in previous workplaces.

BMJ Open

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing career history, clearly distinguish between "previous workplace" and current roles to avoid confusion.

Common error

Avoid using overly vague terms like "the old place" when referring to your "previous workplace". Instead, specify the name of the company or organization for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previous workplace" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as an adjective modifying another noun or as the object of a preposition. It identifies a specific location or environment where someone was employed in the past, as illustrated by the examples in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "previous workplace" is a grammatically sound and neutrally-registered noun phrase used to refer to a former place of employment. As Ludwig AI highlights, the phrase appears most frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts. While appropriate for most professional discussions, more formal alternatives like "former place of employment" may be preferable for resumes or formal documents. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the name of the organization, and avoid vague language. Although "previous workplace" is a correct and usable phrase, it is advisable to specify if you are referring to a single workplace or more than one, in which case the plural "previous workplaces" would be the appropriate term to use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

former place of employment

Uses more formal vocabulary.

past work environment

Focuses on the environment rather than the place.

previous job location

Highlights the geographical aspect.

prior work setting

Uses "prior" instead of "previous" and "setting" instead of "place".

old job

A more casual and concise alternative.

past employer

Focuses on the employer, not the place.

previous company

Emphasizes the organizational aspect.

historical workplace

Emphasizes the time aspect.

preceding work location

Uses 'preceding' which is a more formal term for 'previous'.

earlier employment

Focuses on the state of being employed rather than the place.

FAQs

What's the difference between "previous workplace" and "former workplace"?

Both "previous workplace" and "former workplace" are similar, but "former" often implies a more official or definitive separation, whereas "previous" is a more general term for what came before.

Can I use "previous workplace" when referring to multiple jobs?

No, "previous workplace" refers to a single, specific place of employment. If you're talking about multiple past jobs, you should use "previous workplaces" or "past jobs".

Is "previous workplace" too informal for a resume?

While "previous workplace" is acceptable, using more formal alternatives like "former place of employment" might be preferable in a resume to project a professional image.

How do I describe my "previous workplace" in a job interview?

When describing your "previous workplace", focus on the skills you gained, the responsibilities you held, and the achievements you made, rather than dwelling on negative aspects. Be prepared to explain why you left and how that experience has prepared you for the current role.