Take a look around you. How many words do you see? There is text on book covers, posters, T-shirts, product packaging, and, of course, your phone, laptop, and TV screens. Words are all around us, and wherever there are words, there was a proofreader. Today, people read more than ever before! While many people no longer read novels, they likely still read eBooks, blog posts, webpages, app interfaces, and even LinkedIn posts—all of which need to be proofread! Even TikTok captions have to be proofread! If you’re passionate about language and words, proofreading may be the perfect career for you. But what is proofreading? Proofreading is when you read written content and fix any spelling, punctuation, grammar, and formatting mistakes. Interested in learning how to become a proofreader yourself? If so, keep reading for tips and tricks to starting your proofreading career and landing your first client.
What Do Professional Proofreaders Do Anyways?
To be certain that this career is right for you, you first have to know what proofreaders really do. What is proofreading? Proofreading is when you read written content and correct its mistakes. Everything from books and commercial scripts to billboards and advertisement campaigns must follow a particular set of language rules dictating spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, and formatting. So, what does a proofreader do? Proofreaders need to be experts in these language rules. They prepare text for publication by checking that the text follows all the proper language rules. If it doesn’t, they correct the mistakes. Proofreaders can specialize in a genre or type of content. For instance, some proofreaders focus on academic content and student writing. Many students “pay someone to do my homework,” and often ask for proofreading help, too. Meanwhile, professors and academics may hire proofreaders to review presentations or journal articles. Some proofreaders focus on animal content and primarily work with veterinarians and dog bloggers. So, you can choose what type of content to proofread and work with clients accordingly. Whatever you end up proofreading, your job is the same: perfect the language of the text and prepare it for publishing.
How to Become a Proofreader—Expert Advice
Becoming a successful proofreader takes effort, practice, and a lot of time! So, don’t expect to get clients and projects right away. Many new proofreaders give up before they even get their first client. Don’t be like that! Predict that you’ll need at least a few months before you get your big break. Like any self-sustaining career, being successful means overcoming a lot of trial and error. On the bright side, it also means having freedom over your work and getting to choose the specific path you want to go down, whether that be the path of getting a degree and working for a publishing company or just jumping right in and freelancing. As a proofreader, you can also pick your niche and area of interest. What kinds of things do you like to read? You’ll enjoy your work much more if you proofread content you actually enjoy. Whatever path you choose to take, ultimately, there are a few tips and tricks that every proofreader should know.
Master the Rules of Language
Language rules are the foundation of proofreading. If you don’t know them, you won’t be able to correct mistakes when they come up. This results in messy and ineffective work. That’s why the first step to becoming a professional proofreader is building up your expertise. So, read! Good proofreaders are prolific readers. Read the type of content you hope to proofread in the future. Also, search online for study guides, quizzes, and helpful videos. There are also countless workbooks and textbooks you can use as guides. Build up your knowledge before getting your first proofreading job, but don’t stop there. Proofreaders should always be learning.
Gain Experience and Build Your Portfolio
The best proofreaders have the most experience. But, when you’re just starting out, you most likely don’t have any! That can make getting your first client very hard. But don’t worry! You can gain experience by proofreading for friends, family, or colleagues. You can also volunteer to proofread for local businesses, online communities, nonprofits, or students looking for literature homework help. With your client’s consent, take photos of the content before and after your work to showcase the changes you made. Ask your clients for reviews, too. Then, use these small projects to build up your resume and portfolio.
Get Proofreading Certifications and Endorsements
Proofreaders can find good-paying work without having a formal education. However, a degree in a related field, certifications, and endorsements can give you an edge over the thousands of other proofreaders looking for work. A quick search online can reveal numerous proofreading certification and training courses you can take. Most of these courses charge a small fee, but when you think about the big picture, this kind of investment will be more than worth it. These courses not only give your resume a boost but can make you feel more confident on the job. Only look for courses from reputable institutions.
Advertise Your Services Online or In Person
Getting your first real client means getting yourself out there. There are a few ways a new proofreader can get their first client. You can put up flyers in your neighborhood, apply to proofreading positions on job boards, make a website or LinkedIn page and advertise your services with online ads, or make an account on a freelance proofreader website and apply to proofreading jobs through that third-party platform. You may want to try two or even three of these techniques to get started. The key is to build up your clientele however you can and go from there.
Stay Up to Date with New Technologies
Proofreading once meant putting a red pen to paper and physically marking up someone’s manuscript. Today, proofreading takes many other forms. The way you’ll be proofreading will likely depend on your client. Most clients use Google Docs and Microsoft Word. So, you should know these programs well. Some clients prefer proofreaders to use additional editing tools, such as Grammarly and Hemingway, to double-check that every issue is resolved. Therefore, prepare in advance and make sure you have these tools downloaded and know how to use them! Simply put, proofreading involves continuous learning, whether that be for language rules or how to use new technologies.
How to Get Your First Client as a New Proofreader
Proofreaders are often contract workers or freelancers, which means they move from job to job very often and have to regularly find new clients themselves. In that way, being a proofreader is a lot like being self-employed. Unless you find steady work with a publishing company, you’ll need to be well-versed in the rules of grammar and punctuation and also techniques for finding and securing regular proofreading work and stable clients. This thought can be daunting for some, but there are ways even the most inexperienced proofreader can land their first client. Let’s look at three of the best tips for new proofreaders.
Make Professional Proofreader Profiles on Freelance Marketplaces
Many proofreaders choose to freelance rather than work full-time for one company. To go down the freelancing route, try using online freelance marketplaces. These platforms allow freelancers to find and connect with potential clients. With a good profile, clients may also choose to contact you directly. As you complete projects, ask your clients to leave you ratings and reviews. This will flesh out your profile and make it easier for you to find more work in the future. When getting started, make profiles on multiple freelance sites to see which one sticks. Every platform is different; one may work for you while another one may not.
Network, Network, Network, and Repeat!
When wondering how to become a proofreader from home, many people ignore the power of networking. But just because you aim to work alone doesn’t mean you can find jobs alone. Networking is a major aspect of all freelancing careers. So, attend job fairs and talk to businesses who may benefit from your services. Network on LinkedIn, too. Contact other proofreaders and post content related to your services. You can even cold call potential clients. Most of the people you talk to won’t be in the market for a proofreader right now but just keep putting yourself out there!
Polish Your Resume and Cover Letter
The key to getting past the “just starting” phase of proofreading is to have a polished resume and cover letter that clients won’t want to turn down. You can compensate for a lack of experience with enthusiasm, personality, and smart negotiation. Additionally, newbies like you should craft a unique resume for each individual position. The proper wording can make anything sound impressive, even if you only have two or three previous work experiences on your resume. And let’s not forget the cover letter. Write unique cover letters and fill them with personality! Make them lighthearted and be willing to negotiate prices.
Becoming a Successful, Professional Proofreader
Starting your career as a professional proofreader may seem daunting right now, but with the right approach, anything is possible. Study hard to learn the ins and outs of language rules, build up your resume and cover letter, network and advertise yourself online and in your neighborhood, and remain consistent to get your first proofreading job. Joining the large community of freelance proofreaders can be extremely difficult, as the field is highly competitive and hard to break into. That’s why most new proofreaders give up before they find success. Don’t be like them! Whether you choose to help students who ask, “Can someone do my homework online for me?” or online businesses publishing virtual content, there is an endless stream of proofreading work for you to take on—if you know where (and how) to look. With practice, dedication, and consistency, you can turn your passion for the written word into a successful proofreading career.