A proofreader must be an expert in spelling, grammar, and sentence construction. With these abilities, there are many fields that offer proofreader jobs, or positions that require excellent proofreading skills. By taking a proofreader job, a person can play a major part in making written work correct and giving it a more professional appearance.
Many proofreader jobs spill into the category of editing. Magazines, books, and even screenplays need proofreaders to ensure that any published material is correct. Editors may start out as proofreaders and work their way into a mentoring position, helping writers with notes and suggestions as well as basic corrections to grammar and spelling.
Writers are paid for their ability to convey ideas, rather than their stellar spelling skills, and can often be absolutely hopeless at proofreading their own work. Before sending it to potential agents or publishers, some may wish to have the manuscript examined for errors. For this reason, there are many proofreader jobs available as writers' assistants. This can be a great job for aspiring writers who want to apprentice themselves to a master.
In Hollywood, proofreader jobs are a fixture of agencies. Tasked not only with checking scripts for errors, proofreaders in the movie world often provide coverage to scripts. This includes writing a basic summary and recommendation of the script. Writing coverage is a coveted job, as it usually allows flexible hours and is paid per script. Many aspiring screenwriters pay the rent doing coverage while learning all they can about good and bad writing.
Many administrative assistant or secretarial jobs will contain a heavy proofreading component. In order to ensure that company email and publications look professional, it often falls to assistants to catch any errors missed by busy or careless employers. Offering proofreading skills can be a good way to gain attention and value in an office setting; by making employers look more professional, assistants may be seen as team players and people interested in the welfare of the company.
For those who enjoy working from home, many proofreader jobs are available on the Internet. Websites and blogs often require good proofreader support and allow work to be done over the computer, rather than in an office setting. Many of these jobs allow workers to craft their own schedules and do work whenever they have time available. For proofreaders with families or other jobs, working online can be a great way to supplement income without a rigid schedule.
