previously worked at

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "previously worked at" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a past employment or position held at a specific organization or company. Example: "She previously worked at a leading tech firm before joining our team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr. Nelson previously worked at "G.M.A".

The New York Times

She previously worked at Propublica.

The Washington Post

She previously worked at BBC London.

The Guardian

Previously worked at U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The New York Times

Ronnie previously worked at Sports Direct.

The Guardian - Business

She previously worked at the Liverpool Echo.

The Guardian

She previously worked at Microsoft UK.

The Guardian

He previously worked at Microsoft Research.

Princeton University

Mr. Silbermann, 36, previously worked at Google.

The New York Times - Tech

She previously worked at the Financial Times.

Harvard Business Review

He previously worked at FiveThirtyEight and Deadspin.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's professional background, use "previously worked at" to clearly state past employment at a specific organization. This phrase is suitable for resumes, biographies, and professional profiles.

Common error

Avoid using "previously worked at" when referring to someone's current employer. Use phrases like "currently works at" or "is employed by" for present employment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "previously worked at" functions as a descriptor of prior employment. It is used to indicate that an individual was employed by a specific organization in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a standard construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

23%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "previously worked at" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe someone's past employment. It is frequently used in news and media, academic, and formal business contexts to provide background information and establish credibility. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is considered standard. While alternatives like "formerly employed by" exist, "previously worked at" offers a balance of formality and clarity making it a versatile choice for various professional communications. Remember to reserve this phrase for describing past employers only and use appropriate present-tense phrases for current employment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

formerly employed by

Replaces "previously worked at" with a more formal term.

used to work at

Indicates a past work relationship in a simple way.

was an employee of

Emphasizes the employment aspect of the relationship.

held a position at

Highlights the specific role or position someone had.

prior employment at

Focuses on the employment history.

past affiliation with

Broader term covering various forms of association, not just employment.

spent time at

Less formal and implies a duration of work.

began his/her career at

Focuses on the starting point of someone's professional life.

previous experience with

Highlights the experience gained at a particular organization.

has a background at

Refers to past experiences that contributed to one's expertise.

FAQs

How to use "previously worked at" in a sentence?

You can use "previously worked at" to describe someone's past employment, as in "She "previously worked at" Google before joining our team."

What can I say instead of "previously worked at"?

Alternatives include "formerly employed by", "used to work at", or "was an employee of", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "previously worked in" instead of "previously worked at"?

While "previously worked in" isn't incorrect, "previously worked at" is generally preferred when referring to a specific organization. Use "in" for a field or industry.

What's the difference between "previously worked at" and "used to work at"?

"Previously worked at" is slightly more formal than "used to work at". Both indicate past employment, but the former is more common in professional contexts.