15 Professionals and Cons of Being a Proofreader

In case you’re concerned about turning into a digital nomad, earning profits whereas touring all over the world, or simply merely looking for methods to make further money to your subsequent trip, then turning into a contract, on-line proofreader is the best way to go. Nonetheless, as with all job, there are each execs and cons of being a proofreader.

I first began proofreading professionally whereas residing overseas in Japan, and the additional revenue allowed me to spend many months backpacking across the complete nation, from Okinawa to Hakone, Tokyo, and Kyoto.

Whereas I completely love proofreading (and the cash and freedom that it affords me), I’ve a good bit of expertise coping with the downsides to working as a proofreader. So, should you’re questioning if proofreading is best for you, maintain studying; at present, I’ll go over the 15 greatest execs and cons of working as a proofreader.

☞ SEE ALSO: How you can Develop into a Proofreader

Professionals of Being a Proofreader

First, let’s give attention to all the unbelievable advantages of being a proofreader. Right here is my checklist of the highest 9 benefits of working as a contract, on-line proofreader:

1. You Can Work from Anyplace

In the beginning, the best benefit of working as a web based proofreader is that you are able to do it from wherever on the earth. From a seaside within the Caribbean to the mountains of Nepal, all you have to generate income as a proofreader is an web connection and a laptop computer.

This was the best attract for me after I first began out as knowledgeable proofreader; I used to be in search of a approach to make good cash with out being tied right down to a selected location. Proofreading has allowed me to work whereas visiting international locations together with Japan, Scotland, Greece, Germany, and extra!

2. It’s Simple to Get Began

One other nice good thing about turning into knowledgeable proofreader is that it’s surprisingly simple to get began. All you want is an web connection, entry to a laptop computer, and a few fundamental information of grammar and punctuation, (which most individuals have already got). You don’t even have to put money into any particular instruments or software program, Microsoft Phrase will do the trick, (though proofreading software program can enhance your effectivity).

All I had after I first began out as a proofreader was an previous laptop computer and a Microsoft Workplace subscription, and I used to be set.

3. You Get to Be Your Personal Boss

One other good thing about working as a web based proofreader is that you just get to be your individual boss. Wave goodbye to having to cope with choosy, micromanaging supervisors. By turning into a web based proofreader, you’re open to start out doing issues your individual approach.

That is one in every of my favourite facets of being a freelancer; you get to set your individual hours and workload, which lets you work when it’s most handy for you. Not solely does this offer you extra freedom and suppleness when it comes to your schedule, nevertheless it additionally reduces stress and promotes a greater work-life steadiness.

4. There’s a Excessive Demand for Proofreaders

Subsequent, one of many biggest upsides of working as a proofreader is that there’s a excessive demand for them. With a lot written content material on the market on the earth (from emails, pupil papers, dissertations, novels, quick tales, weblog posts, information articles, and extra), there’s at all times a necessity for proofreaders to make sure that written supplies are free from grammar and punctuation errors.

5. There’s a Lot of Flexibility

One other good thing about being a web based proofreader is that there’s loads of flexibility within the function. You possibly can work when and the place you need, take breaks when you have to, go to the grocery retailer in the course of the day, and skip the push hour site visitors.

6. You Get to Select Your Personal Hours

In case you’re nonetheless asking your self “Is being a proofreader value it?”, then take into account one in every of my favourite benefits of being a proofreader: you get to decide on your individual hours.

In case you’re most effective in the course of the evening, you may work then. In case your good friend asks you to go to brunch on a Wednesday, you may go. As your individual boss, you’ve got the liberty to decide on whenever you work, and the way lengthy you’re employed for.

7. You Get to Select Your Purchasers

One other the most effective components of working as a proofreader is that you just get to drop shoppers that you just don’t take pleasure in working with.

Now, this won’t be doable early on in your proofreading journey, as it may be difficult to seek out constant proofreading work firstly. Nonetheless, as you construct up your expertise and repute, it’ll change into simpler and simpler to drop the shoppers that you just discover difficult to work with.

8. There’s a Lot of Selection

One of many the reason why I like working as a proofreader is that there’s a variety of job alternatives obtainable. Generally, I’ll proofread a sociology paper on cultural appropriation, and different instances, I’ll go over a PowerPoint presentation on the life cycle of roundworms!

With such all kinds of labor obtainable for proofreaders, it’s thrilling to know you’ll seemingly be taught one thing new each time you decide up a brand new job.

9. There are Many Web sites Out there to Discover Work

Final however not least, the most effective components of being a proofreader is that there are various totally different web sites obtainable to supply and safe new jobs. From increase a shopper base on freelancing platforms similar to Upwork and FlexJobs to becoming a member of a proofreading firm like Scribendi and Scribbr, there are various web sites obtainable that can assist you discover work.

Cons of Working As a Proofreader

Now that we’ve gone by all the benefits of working as a proofreader, let’s give attention to the disadvantages. These are the highest six cons of being a proofreader:

1. It Takes Time to Construct a Constant Shopper Base

It may be tough for newbie proofreaders to get regular work, because it takes a bit time and persistence to construct a shopper base. And sadly, sourcing new shoppers and making use of to new jobs doesn’t pay the payments. Consequently, it could take some time earlier than you begin making good cash from proofreading.

2. Deadlines Can Be Tight

One other draw back to working as a proofreader is that you could be sometimes be inundated by strict deadlines. Whether or not you unintentionally confirmed too many roles without delay otherwise you procrastinated, approaching deadlines will be tremendous traumatic. Furthermore, should you don’t full the work by the deadline, your professionalism, credibility, and pay can endure.

3. You Would possibly Must Take care of Difficult Purchasers

One other important drawback of working as a web based proofreader is that you just generally need to cope with tough, choosy, and bossy shoppers. And whereas it’s true that as a contract proofreader, you may drop any shoppers that you just don’t like working with, generally it’s important to cope with these overbearing shoppers attributable to a scarcity of labor. And belief me, it isn’t preferrred.

4. The Work Can Get Repetitive

Whereas I principally take pleasure in proofreading, I admit that it generally will get boring. And whenever you’re coping with a very repetitive or tenuous proofreading job, it could change into downright painful. After I get these types of jobs, I merely attempt to grind by it, so I can get it carried out and over with ASAP.

5. It Can Be Isolating

In case you’re nonetheless considering whether or not or not selecting to change into a proofreader is an effective possibility for you, then take into account one of many greatest downsides of being a proofreader; you principally work independently, with no co-workers or supervisors. Whereas this may be an upside, it could additionally really feel isolating.

To assist curb these emotions of seclusion, I like to affix Fb teams and boards for on-line proofreaders. It’s a good way to hunt recommendation and join with fellow freelance proofreaders.

6. There’s No Security Web

Lastly, one of many greatest downsides to proofreading is that it doesn’t present a security web. As a self-employed freelancer, your pay cheque is totally depending on the quantity of labor you accomplish. So, should you’re experiencing a dry interval with little to no work, you merely received’t receives a commission.

How you can Discover Proofreading Jobs

Now that we’ve gone over all the execs and cons of being a proofreader, it’s possible you’ll be questioning the best way to discover proofreading work within the first place. That can assist you out, listed here are my prime 5 suggestions for the best way to discover proofreading jobs on-line:

• By way of a proofreading course: Top-of-the-line methods to seek out work as a newbie proofreader is to take the Knowadays Changing into a Proofreader course (use promo code GOATS10 for 10% off), which comes with assured work with their accomplice firm, Proofed. This is without doubt one of the greatest investments you can also make as an aspiring digital nomad, as it’ll educate you the best way to excel as knowledgeable proofreader whereas offering constant proofreading work thereafter.
• Upwork: As the biggest freelance job platform on the market, Upwork is filled with an abundance of proofreading work. This makes it the proper web site for each new and skilled proofreaders to safe new shoppers.
• FlexJobs: FlexJobs is without doubt one of the greatest web sites to seek out freelance work, and its job board is stuffed with proofreading job alternatives. Though it prices $14.95 monthly to entry, the price makes the roles much less aggressive than these discovered on Upwork.
• Scribendi: An organization targeted on offering proofreading and modifying providers, Scribendi is continually in search of new distant editors and proofreaders. I joined Scribendi after I first began proofreading, and it was wonderful to get constant work as a newbie; I positively advocate checking it out.
• Scribbr: For a proofreading and modifying firm targeted on pupil papers and dissertations, it’s important to try Scribbr. Whereas it may be tenuous to complete the applying, you’ll have the ability to discover constant work when you’re accepted.

☞ SEE ALSO: 10 Greatest Proofreading Software program and Instruments (Free and Paid)

Professionals and Cons of Working as a Proofreader: FAQs

Listed here are some solutions to generally requested questions on working as a proofreader:

Is Being a Proofreader Price It?

Total, solely you may resolve if the pliability and talent to work remotely is well worth the lack of advantages and the time it takes to construct your shopper base and reap the rewards.

It additionally comes right down to how a lot you wish to proofread. In case you like to seek for the grammatical and spelling errors in an article, creating the proper product for shoppers, you then would love working as a proofreader. However, should you hate nitpicking and like to take a look at the larger image, proofreading won’t be best for you.

And should you’re nonetheless undecided if proofreading is best for you, I like to recommend making an attempt it out regardless. That’s really one of the best ways to find out whether or not being a proofreader is your subsequent path.