Many people regard proofreading as a job that offers a great deal of flexibility, as it can be done in the comfort of your own home, from your laptop and provides the opportunity to freelance. This is partly because the role has become increasingly more in demand in recent years as it is a key part of the digital economy and ensures that online content is ready for publication. With the speed at which content is produced online many companies now have professional proofreaders, either through agencies or on a freelance basic checking their content.
However, how do I become a proofreader? You may be asking yourself. Unlike many jobs there are no set requirements or standard qualifications or even a standard route to becoming a professional proofreader. However, it is generally expected that proofreaders should be degree educated and have relevant qualifications in the area in which they wish to practice.
Options to work as a proofreader
In essence there are two ways to be employed as a proofreader. You can pursue a physical office based job as a proofreader, many large companies will have large teams of proofreaders alongside their writers to review their content. There is also the option to consider freelancing, this may involve applying to a specialist proofreading service to work with them, or seeking your own work through advertisements.
If you are considering applying to a proofreading service to be added as a freelance editor, your first step should be to make a shortlist of potential companies that you could work with, do your research and find out as much information about them as possible. Once you have a list of proofreading services that you like the look of, write to the relevant contact, attaching your CV, highlighting your achievements and qualifications.
The salary of proofreaders
Salaries can vary and would depend on the exact nature of the role. However, on the whole proofreading is a specialist profession which requires a high degree of skills and relevant qualifications. Therefore, typically it is advised that proofreaders should charge £22.75 per hour of work.
Applying as a freelance proofreader
If you are considering applying to become a freelance proofreader, we would suggest considering Proof Right they offer specialist proofreading services for academics and businesses and are always actively looking to add experienced freelancers to their team.