Introduction:
Almost every one of us wants a flexible but well-paying job. If you are also in search of a comfortable job that you can do from the comfort of home and earn great pay, proofreading is a great career. This career is even suitable for a beginner who can earn good pay with some effort. So, in this article, we will tell you various aspects of proofreading jobs for beginners and how you can take up a career in proofreading even if you are a fresher.
What is proofreading and what exactly a person needs to do?
Before delving into the proofreading jobs for beginners, first, let’s understand the meaning of proofreading. We all know that the content writing industry is on boom today. But can you expect content to be free of mistakes in one go? The answer is no. Therefore, we need to edit the content and proofreading is also a part of this content editing.
Proofreading refers to the process of reading the article or a piece of writing very carefully and finding out the mistakes. Then you will correct those grammatical mistakes and spelling errors if any. The basic responsibility for the proofreading job is to check the spellings, punctuation, capitalization, and use of grammar. You must note that you don’t need to rewrite the article but improve the article to make it mistake-free.
Benefits of proofreading job
Proofreading job is an exciting career because:
- They are in high demand. So you can choose from multiple companies and clients according to the pay and requirements.
- Earnings of a proofreader: The salary insights are also great. For instance, salary.com reveals that a proofreader can earn an annual pay ranging from $50k to $66k. A beginner in this field can earn almost 20 USD per hour. This figure can increase to 30 USD per hour as experience increases.
- If you are a fast proofreader and get a good number of clients, you can earn thousands at the comfort of your home.
- This career gives you autonomy to determine how much work you want to do. So, you are in charge of your success in this job.
- You don’t even need a professional degree to excel in this job.
What are the requirements for becoming a proofreader or getting a proofreading job?
- The first and the Best thing about Proofreading is that there are no essential requirements for any particular degree.
- The basic requirement for getting a proofreading job is a strong command of the English language. Unless you are familiar with grammatical aspects, you will not be able to proofread the writing pieces.
- You can get a preference if you have done some popular proofreading courses.
- Your spelling and grammatical skills should be excellent if you don’t have any professional degree.
- The ability to spot mistakes is much required in this field.
How can a beginner make a career in proofreading
You will require at least basic knowledge of cohesion, sentence structure, and other English grammatical aspects. But to find out the errors, you can use grammatical errors software. One of the most popular and useful tools is Grammarly. You can install it on your laptop or PC and it will start finding errors and suggesting changes as you type or upload any document.
But still, you cannot rely on Grammarly alone because the sentence structure can be corrected only manually.
What are the tools that you need to be familiar with for proofreading jobs
- Google Docs:
Google docs allow multiple people to edit a document. Therefore it is being widely used by companies for proofreading work. Therefore you should know the use of google docs. It is easy to use. You just require your Gmail id which will give access to a Google drive on which you can easily edit the docs sent by the client.
- Microsoft word:
No proofreader can be ignorant about the use of Microsoft word. Almost every client is sure to send you a word file to proofread. So, if you haven’t used this software for a long time, then you need to check out the new features and get well versed with various aspects.
- Thesaurus:
Thesaurus is a golden tool for proofreading. No one likes to read one word again and again. So by using thesaurus you can check if you have used a word multiple times and replace it with an ideal synonym.
- Dropbox:
Dropbox is similar to Google Docs and allows editing by various users. Some clients use this platform rather than google docs. So you should also be proficient with the use of this platform. You can take the help of various tutorials available on youtube for getting insights into the working of Dropbox.
- Grammarly:
Grammarly is another great tool that you can’t avoid in proofreading. It is very helpful for the correction of very minute mistakes that are often missed by our eyes. The premium version of Grammarly even suggests in a long sentence. It’s good for making initial corrections. The rest of the work is to be done by you.
Some of the best platforms to get proofreading jobs
Once you have gained enough command of proofreading and the English language, the next task is to know some good online platforms for finding proofreading jobs. Following are some of the great platforms that you can use:
- Freelancer:
Freelancer, as the name suggests is an online dedicated platform for freelancing proofreaders. It brings a freelancer proofreader in contact with a prospective client (people looking for proofreaders for editing various articles and writing work). It’s an easy-to-use platform but you do need to build your profile and work on it for getting good pay.
- Kirkus Media:
Kirkus media also provides several opportunities for proofreaders and book reviewers. The tasks can include both long and short writing pieces. The due date for submitting the edited piece is often two weeks. You get an opportunity to work directly with the client and he will guide you on content strategy. The best part about this website is that it offers some full-time proofreading job offers that don’t only give handsome pay but also medical and other benefits.
- Scribe Writing:
Scribe writing is another good platform to look for proofreading work. Since its beginning, it has worked with more than 1000 authors and offers various part-time and full-time jobs.
- Cactus Communication:
Cactus communication.com is a great proofreading job platform if you have a degree in the field whose writing pieces you would like to proofread. The company has various categories for freelancer jobs like specialist editor, pharma editor, scientific proofreaders, etc. So, even if you are a beginner, but possess a relevant degree, you can look for good opportunities on this site. The platform is an ocean of opportunities because it hosts almost two lakh clients. They also provide some kind of training and flexibility in working hours to help you ace in your career.
- Craigslist:
Craiglist is another great platform for newcomers to get proofreading jobs. They keep on updating the list of available jobs and you can get ample opportunities. The site will help you to develop your proofreading experience, as you work with various clients. It’s always advised to check the details of the clients and ask in advance how he will pay you. Make sure that the client is not exploiting you by taking much work and paying less.
- Proofreading Pal:
For a beginner or a student with a good GPA (say 3.5 or higher) Proofreading pal is a great platform to get high-paying proofreading jobs. You can earn almost 500 USD a month with this platform. The work is to proofread various business, academic, and personal documents and manuscripts. The best part is that a student with a 3.5 and higher GPA is given preference. So, you can effectively earn while studying.
For those who did not score that well in academics, the website asks for a Bachelor’s degree and good experience in this field.
- Mediabistro:
You can also check out some good proofreading jobs on Mediabistro. It offers both writing and editing jobs. The best part is you don’t need to check again and again. Just set an alarm and you will be notified about new proofreading opportunities available on the platform. You can even delve into other kinds of editing jobs on this platform.
- Gramlee:
Gramlee is always open to proofreading job finders. You are given articles of almost 3000 words to proofread and make changes. But you must note that it is not free and they will charge some kind of commission when you get the job.
- Edit Fast:
Edit fast is another platform where clients look for good proofreaders. Although it is a good platform the negative point is that it charges almost 40% of the commission.
- Upwork:
One of the great websites for freelancing proofreaders, Upwork can come in handy for choosing your clients and projects from a range of options. You will see several relevant jobs and can get good freelancing work if your profile is impressive.
- Domainite:
Domainite is considered a good site for beginners because it gives an ample opportunity for beginners to start their professional proofreading services. If you are a newcomer in this job or looking for work only for few hours, Domainite can help you. The negative point is that you don’t get much pay for the work.
- Wordvice:
For a beginner looking for a part-time proofreading job, Wordvice is another great platform to sign in. It provides you various online proofreading opportunities based upon your application. When you sign in on this platform, they will seek information on expected pay per hour. Choose wisely and complete the application after uploading your resume. Wordvice would seek additional information on your educational qualifications. After that, you will receive a mail that will tell your result.
- Polished paper:
Polished paper, completely justifies its name and gives an amazing opportunity to beginners to polish the writing pieces with their proofreading. The process for starting your career on this website is a bit hectic because you have to first sign up and upload your resume. Then they ask you to give a 35 question test based on which you get further job offers.
- Proofreadingservices.com
Another website to check out for building your proofreading career is proofreading services.com. The platform gives job suggestions for both full-time proofreaders and part-time job seekers. The pay range that you can expect on this platform is often between 19USD to 46 USD per hour. To start using this platform, first sign up and fill in your credentials. Then they will take a twenty-question test and then you are good to go.
- Guru:
If you want to avail good proofreading opportunities both for beginners and experienced persons, Guru.com is the right place. The work is similar to various other job search platforms listed above.
- Academia-Research:
Academia-Research offers ample proofreading opportunities to beginners. Although it is named as if high qualifications are required, beginners can get good proofreading jobs on this platform. You must note that some jobs might ask you to show your experience and qualifications in a particular field, but others will hire you even if you are a beginner. You can apply on their website to get insights into various proofreading jobs.
- Fiverr:
Often named as one of the top-rated companies for freelancing work, Fiverr is a great platform to find proofreading jobs. If you are successful in building an impressive profile, you can surely get great job offers. Its credibility can be ascertained from the fact that the users of this platform recommend it to everyone. The lowest pay that you can expect is usually 5USD which increases as you start gaining experience.
- Writer’s job shop:
To search for various new online proofreading jobs, you can always take the help of a writer’s job shop website. You will find several proofreading and copy editing jobs and works on this site. Good knowledge of English grammar and its application will give you an edge.
- Lionbridge:
Lionbridge is an awesome platform for finding proofreading jobs if you hold a high school diploma. The beginner proofreaders can get various assignments to proofread and enhance their experience. The specialty of this website is that you will see various assignments on this portal all the time.
- Babbletype:
Another worth visiting website that a beginner proofreader must check out is Babbletype. The company does not even ask for any special degree to work as a proofreader. But you must show good English skills and command of grammar to get the job. You can apply for proofreading jobs on their website.
- Editorlive:
Considered as one of the most useful sites for beginner proofreaders, Editorlive helps you to find good clients. To register as a proofreader for this site, you have to first fill an application. Next, you have to give a multiple-choice test wherein they ask different multiple-choice questions to assess your experience. To see whether you will be able to do the proofreading work, it conducts a written test for two paragraphs. The special requirement for making a profile with editor live is that you must be a resident of certain specified states like Georgia, Texas, Colorado, Massachusetts, Nevada, etc.
- The mom project:
If you are looking for some high-paying proofreading jobs, the mom project is a very useful platform. The specialty of the mom Project is that it is dedicated to providing proofreading jobs to moms so that they can work from home. The platform has various jobs including full-time paying proofreading jobs, remote work, or a combination of both. The website does not leave scope for ambiguity in pay because the pay for each hour is specified in front of every available opportunity.
- Writing jobs:
Writing jobs work as a connection point between the clients looking for proofreaders, editors, and content writers and those looking for flexible jobs. First, you will create a profile on this website after which you will get options to apply for a suitable proofreading job.
- Flexjobs:
Dedicated to providing flexible proofreading jobs, Flexjobs is worth visiting for a beginner. The platform gives you an amazing chance to create your schedule for proofreading the written articles. But you will be asked to pay USD 15 per month to avail the services of Flexjobs. But one thing that’s for sure on this website is that you won’t be scammed or trapped in fraud.
- Scribbr:
Scribbr, a Netherland-based company, also offers various proofreading jobs. It specifically offers its services to students. It pays a good salary of $22 to 28 USD per hour. Also, you are required to contribute only ten hours a week. But the site requires a bachelor’s degree and English-speaking candidates for proofreading work.
- Scribendi:
Established in 1997, Scribendi is one of the fastest-growing online platforms for proofreaders and editors. In this platform, the articles to be proofread are based on different topics like science, medicine, technology, etc. At least a Bachelor’s degree is required to do proofreading work. You can apply by sending in your resume and cover letter.
- Indeed:
Indeed is one of the most popular platforms for getting part-time and full-time jobs not only for proofreaders but also for other professions. It helps you in filling various parameters and getting the desired proofreading job.
- American Journals Expert:
Recognized as a very helpful team for beginner proofreaders, American journals expert helps various academicians and students in developing their proofreading skills and get good jobs. Their freelance job board allows you to earn while learning. You can learn about the necessary qualifications on their website.
Other things that you can do to find good proofreading jobs for beginners
- Search for relevant Facebook groups where you can get proofreading clients
- Client referrals to show the quality of work will help in getting future clients.
- Social media sites like Instagram and Twitter
- You can give an advertisement in the newspaper.
- Create a good LinkedIn Id and use the LinkedIn app to get good proofreading jobs.
Final words
Proofreading is a great freelancing job through which you can earn handsome pay. So, what are you waiting for? Kickstart your proofreading career with these online platforms and companies and enjoy good pay with little effort, at the comfort of your house. Don’t forget to optimize your profile by presenting yourself in an ideal manner.
FAQs
Q1: What is the difference between copy-editing work and a proofreading job?
Ans: Copy editing is a stage before proofreading. Although both are concerned with editing the article or writing piece there is a subtle difference. Copy editing would consume more time because every aspect has to be looked into and big changes are to be made. On the other hand, a proofreader who comes into the picture after the copy editor makes small grammatical and spelling edits thereby adding the final touch to the writing piece.
Ques 2: What are the ideal keywords to use when finding for an online proofreading job?
Ans: Before you start your google search for proofreading clients, you have to be clear about the type of proofreading you are willing to do. It can be a short article proofreading or a complete book. After that you can search the following keywords to get the desired job:
- Freelance proofreading jobs
- Beginner Editing jobs
- Proofreading positions online
- Online proofreading jobs
Besides searching on google, you can even take the help of Facebook and LinkedIn besides the websites and companies mentioned above.
Ques 3: what are the benefits of starting your proofreading startup?
Ans: Once you have gained some experience in this field, you can work on starting your proofreading service. The benefits of starting a proofreading business are:
- You get autonomy to charge from the client rather than the client specifying a pay for your work. You can set the right demand according to the words, duration, and other factors
- You get an opportunity to eventually expand your service to a point where you can hire other proofreaders rather than putting in your efforts.
Ques 4: Is proofreading a reliable career?
Ans: Yes, Proofreading is a great career to venture into. As the demand for quality content is growing up, the demand for proofreaders is also growing. If you are ready to put in some effort and work on your English grammatical skills, then surely it’s a viable career.