Proofreader

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• specialist courses run by professional bodies and private training organisations

University

You may find it useful to have a degree in:

• English
• publishing
• journalism
• digital media

Entry requirements:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Entry requirements:

Apprenticeship

You can apply to do an apprenticeship to get into this role, such as:

• Publishing Assistant Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Publishing Professional Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship

These typically take up to 2 years to complete.

Entry requirements:

Work

You could start as an editorial assistant then move into proofreading.

If you have a degree or expertise in a particular subject, you could use it to develop a proofreading specialism. For example, if you have a technical or scientific degree you could proofread scientific textbooks or journals.

Volunteering

Volunteering will help you get a better understanding of the job and is a good way to make contacts in the publishing industry.

You could volunteer to:

• proofread documents for family or people you work or study with
• write or proofread for student magazines or publications
• proofread for small businesses
• work on charity publications, websites or social media

OtherRoutes

Doing professional courses can improve your skills and your chances of finding work. You can find short courses through the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading and The Publishing Training Centre .

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Skills:

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• knowledge of English language
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• the ability to work well with others
• excellent written communication skills
• persistence and determination
• to be flexible and open to change
• ambition and a desire to succeed
• knowledge of media production and communication
• thinking and reasoning skills
• concentration skills
• the ability to read English
• active listening skills
• knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
• administration skills
• business management skills
• a good memory

What you'll do:

Proofreaders check text before it's printed or published to make sure it's correct and complete.

You'll read documents to make sure they are ready to be published. You'll check the text to see that it follows the agreed style. You may find and correct:

• spelling mistakes
• inconsistencies in spellings where more than one way to spell the same word is possible
• punctuation errors like full stops, commas and capital letters
• bad word breaks to make sure the text reads easily
• text that is not in the right order (including page numbers)
• errors in chapter titles or headers, for example, those that do not match the list of contents
• confusing words

Location : You could work in an office or from home.

Salary:

Starter : £20,000
Experienced : £30,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

38 - 40 hours a week

Working Pattern is freelance / self-employed managing your own hours

Career Path:

As an experienced proofreader, you could build up your reputation as a specialist in a particular field or approach publishing companies for work.