An online proofreading job can seem like a charming option if you’ve got good skills in the English language, enjoy reading, and need a stay-at-home job. The conditions are ideal for a lot of people.
Insignificant monetary
speculation is required, capabilities aren't really needed, and the work is
adaptable. Internet editing is something you can do at whatever point and any
place you need.
Regardless of whether you're
a stay-at-home parent or carrying on with the advanced migrant way of life,
working distantly from your PC can be an incredible choice. Internet editing
occupations for the most part rotate around activities and cutoff times as
opposed to set hours, so it's not difficult to structure the work around your
everyday practice.
Even better, logic dictates
that there should be more proofreading work available now than at any other
time in history. As the internet continues to expand, more new content is being
created every day. As more and more authors begin to favor self-publishing, the
eBook market is also expanding rapidly.
All this content needs to be
proofread – there’s never been a better time to become a proofreader. you can earn money online as a proofreader. Yet
making a start on something new can be daunting. Where can you find a job? Is
it competitive? Is it really possible to make $100 per hour?
This guide will answer these questions and more to ensure you learn everything you need to know about online proofreading jobs for beginners. Spoiler: yes, you really could make $100 per hour.
THE BEST ONLINE PROOFREADING
JOBS
Here are the 4 best ways to
find online proofreading jobs in 2021:
- FlexJobs
- Indeed
- Monster
WHAT IS PROOFREADING?
Before we go further, it's useful to characterize what editing is and isn't. Editing is the last phase of the altering system, which happens once the principal draft has been composed by the essayist and went through by a supervisor.
This means that proofreaders
are the last port of call before a piece of work is published.
Proofreader vs. Editor
Proofreaders focus on
spelling and grammar mistakes. They don’t suggest large changes such as
rephrasing sentences or restructuring entire sections this is the job of
editors.
When searching for online
proofreading jobs, you’ll find there’s a lot of overlap between editors and
proofreaders when it comes to job adverts. It’s important to be aware of the
differences.
Editors cover a wide
assortment of content. The typical suspects are the sorts previously suggested
– eBooks and web content – yet it doesn't end there. More under-the-radar
archives additionally should be edited: white papers; understudy proposals, and
client manuals. Indeed, even menus.
It’s also important to
differentiate between being a remote employee and a freelancer. Both involve
very similar job tasks, but the structure couldn’t be more difficult.
Freelancers are responsible for managing their own freelance business and
finding clients, whereas employees work for one company. Both options offer the
flexibility of working from home.
HOW TO BECOME A PROOFREADER
It goes without saying that
proofreaders need to have excellent spelling and grammar skills.
In any case, regardless of
whether your order of the English language is great and your tender loving care
is best in class, this is probably not going to promise you a top-paying gig
except if you can uphold your abilities with experience or capabilities.
Do I Need A Degree To Become
A Proofreader?
Having a degree in English,
but it’s undoubtedly an advantage. This is especially true for anybody hoping to
go down the route of being a remote employee rather than freelancer companies who will expect a more traditional candidate.
If you don’t have a degree
in a relevant discipline or no degree at all then there’s no need to panic. Freelancing jobs tend to rely more
heavily on experience and testimonials than on conventional qualifications.
Most clients won’t even ask
you about your academic background.
Is Proofreading Difficult?
You might be concerned that,
since internet editing occupations being a particularly appealing choice for
some individuals, the market would be oversaturated and requests would battle to
meet stockpile. Fortunately, this doesn't appear to be the situation.
Actually not every person
has the right stuff important to be a decent editor. It's troublesome and
exceptionally specialized work, which is the reason such countless
organizations request up-and-comers who have a four-year college education or
even a Ph.D. in English.
Due to online proofreading
being such a flexible role, there are also many people who drift in and out of
the profession, meaning that companies are always seeking new people.
You may also be worried
about the threat of automation, especially as the use of tools such as
Grammarly is growing. However, anybody who uses these tools on a regular basis
knows that they’re an imperfect replacement for real human beings.
Robots may do a good job of
learning grammar rules and spellings, but they've yet to be able to understand
context and tone.
BEST ONLINE PROOFREADING
COURSE
If you want to brush up your
skills or stand out from your competitors, one option is to take an online
course. This is a lot cheaper and quicker than completing an entire
undergraduate degree.
Professional Proofreader
Certification
The Proofread Anywhere
course is excellent for those who want to get serious about proofreading, and
you can take part in a free workshop before you decide whether to complete the
whole course.
Proofread Anywhere hands
down the best proofreading course anywhere online. Hundreds of Millennial Money
readers have taken this course and are now making money proofreading.
FINDING A PROOFREADING JOB
Okay, so now you know your
stuff and you’re ready to get started. Where should you look to find an online
proofreading job?
There are a few different
routes you could go down; the one you will choose depends on whether you want
to be a remote employee or a freelancer. The main options are:
- Apply to positions on conventional job websites (the only option for those wanting a remote position).
- Approach companies directly and market yourself.
- Use third-party websites for freelancers which provide protection and security but take a cut.
- Use job boards specifically for proofreading jobs.
You may be asked to do an
editing test before you’re given a job, especially if you’re applying for a
remote employee role, so it’s important to make sure you’re up to a good
standard. Not sure whether your skills are good enough?
There are various free tests
you can try, such as the Ultimate Editing Test from ProEdit or the proofreading test on Web Done Right. The Society for Editors and Proofreaders in the UK also
has a test but beware of the differences between American English and British
English.
How To Search For
Proofreader Jobs Online
Before you start looking for
work, it’s also important to not restrict yourself to jobs with the title proofreader. It may be worth searching for all the following key terms.
- Proofreader
- Proofreading
- Proofreader
- Proofreading
- Editor
- Editing
- Reviser
- Editorial assistant
- Content developer
Are Proofreaders in Demand?
We’re living in a world of
content, and the content level we’re currently experiencing probably is yet to
reach its peak. As independent authors and the self-publishing industry boom,
many writers are looking for freelance proofreaders they can work with.
There is also more web
content than ever before as more blogs are created and more businesses go
digital. Now is a great time to be a proofreader.
According to Data USA, around 11,000 people in the US workforce were employed as proofreaders in 2017 – a
16% increase from 2016.
Assuming that the number of
proofreaders continued to increase at a similar rate, the amount may currently
be around 15,000. It is likely there are even more US citizens working as
proofreaders due to the high numbers of freelancers under the radar.
If they are all earning a
salary of about $45,000 (a strong assumption) this means the market size is
$675 million. Clearly, there’s a high demand for proofreaders.
The demand is also reflected
by the number of jobs available. On Indeed, there are 375 ‘proofreader’ jobs
posted currently. This may be less than other professions, but it’s still a
considerable number.
On Upwork, there are over
3,000 jobs posted most days, which reflects that there’s a greater demand for
freelancers than remote employees.
HOW TO FIND A PROOFREADING
JOB AS A REMOTE EMPLOYEE
If you want to find a
proofreading job as a remote employee, standard job-seeking websites are the
best option.
FlexJobs specializes in
remote job opportunities; seriously, that’s all they do.
You can find both part-time and full-time jobs that allow you to work from home, or anywhere in the world for that matter.
FlexJobs
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'FLEXLIFE'
The biggest site for finding
remote, work-from-home jobs, both full-time and part-time for your skillset.
The trained researchers at FlexJobs hand-screen job listings to eliminate ads
and scams found on other sites. Find everything from entry-level to executive
positions at FlexJobs Find Click Here
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a well-respected
place to search for reputable jobs. You can input ‘remote’ into the location
option to ensure that you narrow your search down to online proofreading jobs.
It’s also possible to create
alerts for jobs that match your search terms and have new jobs sent straight to
your inbox on a daily basis. Just remember to create multiple alerts including
all the key terms.
Indeed
You’ve probably used Indeed
before, but not everybody realizes the number of remote jobs on there.
Competition can be high
since Indeed is one of the most well-known job websites in the world and it’s
extremely convenient to use – but for the same reasons, you can’t afford to
ignore it.
Monster
Another great option is
Monster.com, which works in almost exactly the same way as Indeed. Regularly
applying for relevant jobs posted on this triad – LinkedIn, Indeed, and Monster
– will certainly keep you occupied.
Hopefully, success will come
your way eventually.
