A Proofreader bears an important role in any project to do with written content, like social media copy, novels, essays, or even films. This role may differ from one job to another, as different content needs different treatment. Still, it generally requires a person to examine the document for any signs of grammatical or formatting errors.
More often, though, the Proofreader will be asked to make sure that the document's style is consistent and to see whether it lines up with the company's style guide. They may also be asked to check the work of other proofreaders. In terms of creative works, the Proofreader may even act a bit like an editor, noting what could and should be changed to make the work easier and more enjoyable to read.
A good grasp of the English language and an eye for details are important for this position, though there is no one set of requirements that a candidate must have. Some employers may ask for a college degree, while others will not. Either way, to begin one's career as a Proofreader, there's really no right way.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a proofreader. For example, did you know that they make an average of $21.23 an hour? That's $44,168 a year!
There are certain skills that many proofreaders have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed creativity, good judgment and detail oriented.
When it comes to the most important skills required to be a proofreader, we found that a lot of resumes listed 9.3% of proofreaders included legal documents, while 9.2% of resumes included powerpoint, and 6.8% of resumes included style guides. Hard skills like these are helpful to have when it comes to performing essential job responsibilities.
When it comes to searching for a job, many search for a key term or phrase. Instead, it might be more helpful to search by industry, as you might be missing jobs that you never thought about in industries that you didn't even think offered positions related to the proofreader job title. But what industry to start with? Most proofreaders actually find jobs in the professional and media industries.
If you're interested in becoming a proofreader, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 55.3% of proofreaders have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 20.5% of proofreaders have master's degrees. Even though most proofreaders have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a proofreader. When we researched the most common majors for a proofreader, we found that they most commonly earn bachelor's degree degrees or master's degree degrees. Other degrees that we often see on proofreader resumes include associate degree degrees or high school diploma degrees.
You may find that experience in other jobs will help you become a proofreader. In fact, many proofreader jobs require experience in a role such as editor. Meanwhile, many proofreaders also have previous career experience in roles such as copy editor or administrative assistant.