Are you passionate about language, naturally detail-oriented, and interested in a variety of subjects? Do you find yourself spotting typos on road signs and restaurant menus? If the answer is yes – and you want flexible, remote work that fits your schedule – then a freelance proofreading role at Proofed could be just what you’re looking for.Â
At Proofed, skilled proofreaders have the chance to sharpen their editing expertise while working with a diverse, global client base. If you want to learn more about proofreading and editing jobs, keep reading to explore how you can get guaranteed work as a proofreader and join Proofed’s growing team of talented editors.Â
At Proofed, we offer fast, high-quality proofreading and editing services to our customers across the globe, who include academics, businesses, creative writers, and more. What sets us apart from other content editing services is our team of expert editors based all over the world. Though our team consists of editors with a wide range of subject matter expertise, we share a common passion for language and a commitment to perfecting the written word.
If this sounds like a good fit for you, read on to discover the skills you need to be successful. We’ll discuss the day-to-day tasks of proofreaders and share how you can join our team of freelance professionals and get access to a variety of online proofreading jobs.Â
To thrive as a proofreader, you need a keen eye for detail and a solid command of grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Strong reading comprehension skills are also essential for understanding context and ensuring clarity and consistency within a text. Besides exceptional language skills, you’ll need good time management and the ability to meet tight deadlines, which is especially important when juggling multiple clients or projects.Â
You must also be comfortable using style guides, be open to feedback, and have excellent communication skills. And in today’s market, familiarity with word processing software such as Microsoft Word is also a key asset.
As a proofreader, your core job is to review written documents for clarity and consistency and remove errors. This includes:
Your work can vary from day to day – you might work on anything from academic essays to business reports, blog posts, resumes, or even poetry. No two days are ever quite the same, which is part of what makes proofreading such a rewarding and challenging experience.
There are several reasons why proofreading at Proofed appeals to freelancers all over the world, especially those who are changing careers or just starting out. Proofed jobs offer:
If you want to expand your skillset, Proofed offers opportunities to grow beyond basic proofreading. Some experienced editors can move into fact-checking, in-depth editing, or quality assurance roles.Â
At Proofed, we partner with Knowadays to ensure we hire the most talented and dedicated proofreaders and editors for our team. Knowadays offers a selection of courses with a focus on career development, all designed to equip you with valuable professional skills. The Knowadays courses are accredited by the Continuing Professional Development Certification Service, an independent organization that evaluates and certifies courses that meet the high standards set for continuous learning.
If you’re interested in joining the team at Proofed, here’s what the learning process with Knowadays looks like:
All of Proofed’s freelance editors are distinguished graduates of the Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses offered by our partner, Knowadays. These self-paced courses teach you everything you need to know about the world of professional editing, including:Â
There is no time limit or expected deadline for completing the courses, although each course contains approximately 40–50 hours worth of material. This self-directed design makes it ideal for those working around a busy schedule, such as job or family commitments.Â
Knowadays also offers access to live tutor support throughout the learning journey and lifetime access to the course material, including any future updates. (Note that you will need access to a full version of Microsoft Word to successfully complete the course, but no prior experience is required.)Â
At the end of Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor, you’ll complete a comprehensive final assignment for each course. This is your opportunity to put your skills to the test and demonstrate that you’re ready to take on real-world editing tasks. After you submit your final assignment, a Knowadays tutor will review and score it, providing detailed and personalized feedback on your work.Â
Don’t worry if you don’t pass on the first try. If you don’t receive a distinction score the first time, you can retake the test, with the opportunity to first review your feedback with a tutor on a one-to-one video call.
Distinction graduates who receive a score of at least 80% on the final assignments for both courses can enter into a 10-document guaranteed paid work trial with Proofed (with the option to become a fully fledged freelancer after successful completion of your trial period).
Once you pass both final assessments with distinction, you’ll be invited to join the Proofed editing team as a freelance proofreader. At this stage, you’ll be onboarded and can begin working on a range of client documents. You’ll also receive guidance on your early work from a review team, which helps you professionally develop and refine your skills.
Proofed jobs include both business and individual clients, and as a new freelancer, you’ll have access to both streams of work, with plenty of training along the way.Â
Even after becoming a freelance proofreader, you can continue to grow and thrive in your new career through professional development. As a new freelancer, take advantage of the multiple peer support opportunities and editor training Proofed offers, and stay up to date on language trends within the industry. The feedback on your work that you receive from the team at Proofed will also help you identify areas for improvement and establish your confidence as a professional editor.Â
Ready to begin your freelance proofreading career with Proofed? To start down an exciting new career path in a growing industry, sign up with Knowadays and gain the skills you need to succeed.Â
No, you don’t need a degree to work at Proofed. What matters most is your grasp of grammar, punctuation, and editing principles. Proofed partners with Knowadays to provide training, and successful completion of the Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses qualifies you to join our freelance team. No degree or prior experience is required.
The course is entirely self-paced and takes around 40–50 hours to complete. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to complete a course, depending on your schedule and the amount of time you dedicate to the material.Â
Earnings vary depending on the number and complexity of documents you edit and your speed and availability. New editors typically start by working on smaller documents and scale up, with more established editors increasing their income as they gain experience.
Yes – if you pass the final assignments of the Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses with a score of 80% or above, you are guaranteed freelance work with Proofed. Passing both courses with distinction means you can enter a 10-document trial period with Proofed (with the opportunity to become a fully fledged freelancer upon successful completion of your trial).Â
To get started with Knowadays, visit the page for the course you’re interested in and click the Try For Free button. This will guide through the process of signing up for two free lessons, with no strings attached.
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