How to become a professional proofreader and work at home

To offer users high-quality and interesting content, specialists of a certain level are needed. This work is done by editors and professional proofreaders.

 Most specialists work with texts, but this profession is much more diverse than it might seem. It includes many areas and responsibilities. 

The profession of a proofreader is gaining popularity. The amount of printed content is constantly growing.

Its quality is monitored by professional workers providing services on proofreading and editing and work at home. Translated from Latin, the word “redactus” means “put in order.”

This term best describes this work. Before publication, the text goes a long way. And at the final stage, the editor deals with it. He brings the text to a perfect state, making the last edits, mostly stylistic.

But in some cases, it is necessary to correct both punctuation and spelling. It all depends on whether the text has been previously corrected.

The editor may disagree with the author on fundamental issues, for example, the topic may not be covered.

And in this case, the editor can return the text for revision or correct it at his own and sole discretion. These are just some of the editor’s responsibilities.

A modern specialist combines several specialties: proofreader, reporter, copywriter, designer, and manager. He often has to interact with authors, customers, publishers, and other people.

The main thing in the work of the proofreader

If you decide to become literary proofreaders, and you have no experience in working for any proofreading essay services, before any company hires you,

You might work for cheap providing your service as a proofreader. But then again, the main qualities that you will need are an interest in reading and good writing skills.

If these two activities do not bring you much joy, then the work of a freelance text proofreader is unlikely to fit you. Everything is very simple.

If you don’t write yourself, then text editing is likely to be difficult. On the other hand, without paying enough attention to reading, knowledge of grammar and writing style will also be rather imperfect.

Personality traits

But all this knowledge and skills are just the beginning. To master the work of a proofreader, you need to be patient and attentive to the little things.

 Proofreading texts requires a huge amount of patience. You can’t go through the text in a hurry and then claim that you’ve edited it. 

This approach can be called quick proofreading. Learn to carefully consider each word and punctuation mark, making corrections to the text at least three times. Only then can it be called professional editing.

Attention to detail means developing an expert gaze. You may like what you are reading, but it is important to keep a critical eye on the text you are editing.

Handy-man

The work of an editor/proofreader implies that it is important to be aware of current events, as well as to have a sufficient level of knowledge in the field of history and other subjects.

Having chosen the profession of a text proofreader, you on duty will have to work with documents and texts from various fields.

Study this or that question in order to edit the text properly. Take an interest in international news every day, read history books, and show a genuine interest in a new research subject.

You don’t need to become an expert in all areas at once, but basic knowledge in such disciplines as mathematics, literature, history and art will definitely come in handy.

Education

So, if a proofreader in a publishing house is a position that you want to get, first of all, read a lot, develop your writing skills, and deepen your knowledge in various fields.

In addition, a bachelor’s degree in journalism, publishing, linguistics, and literary studies will be a significant advantage when considering your candidacy.

Diplomas in other fields can also come in handy, but the aforementioned disciplines are a win-win.

Resume

This profession is chosen due to a number of advantages.

A specialist will always find a job. The labor market offers many vacancies in this area. Employers are looking for both novice professionals and experienced employees.

The editor can choose the format of the work. It is possible to work in the office or at home remotely.

With the development in the profession, career growth will be noticeable in a few years. In the future, become a chief or executive editor and manage projects.

Constant communication with new and interesting people will help you make useful contacts and learn a lot of new things.

Many were attracted by the opportunity for self-development. The specialist works with large amounts of information. The knowledge gained will help you become better in your chosen profession.

Such factors are distinguished as disadvantages.

Do not forget about great responsibility. If the work is done poorly, the publisher or site may lose popularity with readers. The editor works with the final product, and it is he who is responsible for what the final result will be.

Given the relevance and popularity of the profession, more and more people are paying attention to it.

High competition makes it difficult for newcomers to find work in a large company or attract the attention of new clients.

Many employers refuse to hire someone without experience. This is due to the high responsibility and complexity of the work performed. To get a job, you need to build your own portfolio.

To become a sought-after specialist, you need to constantly develop and work on yourself.

An editor with extensive experience will always be able to attract the attention of the employer and reach a decent level of salary.