15 Professionals and Cons of Being a Proofreader

When you’re focused on becoming a digital nomad, creating wealth whereas touring around the globe, or simply merely trying to find methods to make further money to your subsequent trip, then changing into a contract, on-line proofreader is the way in which to go. Nonetheless, as with all job, there are each execs and cons of being a proofreader.

I first began proofreading professionally whereas dwelling overseas in Japan, and the additional earnings allowed me to spend many months backpacking across the whole 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, in case you’re questioning if proofreading is best for you, maintain studying; right now, I’ll go over the 15 largest execs and cons of working as a proofreader.

☞ SEE ALSO: How to Become a Proofreader

Professionals of Being a Proofreader

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

1. You Can Work from Anyplace

Initially, the best benefit of working as a web based proofreader is that you are able to do it from anyplace on the planet. From a seashore within the Caribbean to the mountains of Nepal, all that you must generate profits as a proofreader is an web connection and a laptop.

This was the best attract for me after I first began out as an expert proofreader; I used to be searching for a method to make good cash with out being tied right down to a particular location. Proofreading has allowed me to work whereas visiting nations together with Japan, Scotland, Greece, Germany, and extra!

2. It’s Simple to Get Began

One other nice good thing about changing into an expert 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 spend money on any particular instruments or software program, Microsoft Phrase will do the trick, (though proofreading software 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 take care of choosy, micromanaging supervisors. By changing into a web based proofreader, you’re open to start out doing issues your individual approach.

That is considered one of my favourite elements 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 provide you with 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 planet (from emails, scholar 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 quite a lot of flexibility within the position. You’ll be able to work when and the place you need, take breaks when that you must, go to the grocery retailer in the course of the day, and skip the frenzy hour site visitors.

6. You Get to Select Your Personal Hours

When you’re nonetheless asking your self “Is being a proofreader price it?”, then contemplate considered one of my favourite benefits of being a proofreader: you get to decide on your individual hours.

When you’re most effective in the course of the night time, you may work then. In case your buddy 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 Shoppers

One other probably the greatest components of working as a proofreader is that you just get to drop purchasers that you just don’t get pleasure from working with.

Now, this may not be doable early on in your proofreading journey, as it may be difficult to seek out constant proofreading work at the beginning. Nonetheless, as you construct up your expertise and repute, it’ll turn out to be simpler and simpler to drop the purchasers that you just discover difficult to work with.

8. There’s a Lot of Selection

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

With such all kinds of labor out there for proofreaders, it’s thrilling to know you’ll possible study one thing new each time you choose up a brand new job.

9. There are Many Web sites Accessible to Discover Work

Final however not least, probably the greatest components of being a proofreader is that there are lots of completely different web sites out there to supply and safe new jobs. From build up a consumer base on freelancing platforms corresponding to Upwork and FlexJobs to becoming a member of a proofreading firm like Scribendi and Scribbr, there are lots of web sites out there that will help 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 Consumer Base

It may be tough for newbie proofreaders to get regular work, because it takes a bit of time and endurance to construct a consumer base. And sadly, sourcing new purchasers and making use of to new jobs doesn’t pay the payments. Consequently, it may 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 often be inundated by strict deadlines. Whether or not you unintentionally confirmed too many roles without delay otherwise you procrastinated, approaching deadlines could be tremendous traumatic. Furthermore, in case you don’t full the work by the deadline, your professionalism, credibility, and pay can undergo.

3. You May Should Cope with Difficult Shoppers

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

4. The Work Can Get Repetitive

Whereas I principally get pleasure from proofreading, I admit that it generally will get boring. And whenever you’re coping with a very repetitive or tenuous proofreading job, it may turn out to be 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

When you’re nonetheless considering whether or not or not selecting to become a proofreader is an efficient choice for you, then contemplate one of many largest downsides of being a proofreader; you principally work independently, with no co-workers or supervisors. Whereas this may be an upside, it may additionally really feel isolating.

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

6. There may be No Security Internet

Lastly, one of many largest 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, in case you’re experiencing a dry interval with little to no work, you merely received’t receives a commission.

Tips on how to Discover Proofreading Jobs

Now that we’ve gone over all the execs and cons of being a proofreader, you might be questioning the right way to discover proofreading work within the first place. That will help you out, listed here are my high 5 suggestions for the right way to discover proofreading jobs online:

• Via a proofreading course: The most effective methods to seek out work as a newbie proofreader is to take the Knowadays Becoming a Proofreader course (use promo code GOATS10 for 10% off), which comes with assured work with their associate firm, Proofed. This is without doubt one of the finest investments you may make as an aspiring digital nomad, as it’ll educate you the right way to excel as an expert proofreader whereas offering constant proofreading work thereafter.
• Upwork: As the biggest freelance job platform on the market, Upwork is full of an abundance of proofreading work. This makes it the right web site for each new and skilled proofreaders to safe new purchasers.
• FlexJobs: FlexJobs is without doubt one of the largest web sites to seek out freelance work, and its job board is crammed with proofreading job alternatives. Though it prices $14.95 per thirty days to entry, the price makes the roles much less aggressive than these discovered on Upwork.
• Scribendi: An organization centered on offering proofreading and modifying companies, Scribendi is consistently searching for new distant editors and proofreaders. I joined Scribendi after I first began proofreading, and it was superb to get constant work as a newbie; I positively suggest checking it out.
• Scribbr: For a proofreading and modifying firm centered on scholar papers and dissertations, it’s important to try Scribbr. Whereas it may be tenuous to complete the appliance, you’ll be capable of discover constant work when you’re accepted.

☞ SEE ALSO: 10 Best Proofreading Software and Tools (Free and Paid)

Professionals and Cons of Working as a Proofreader: FAQs

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

Is Being a Proofreader Price It?

General, solely you may determine if the pliability and skill to work remotely is definitely worth the lack of advantages and the time it takes to construct your consumer base and reap the rewards.

It additionally comes right down to how a lot you prefer to proofread. When you like to seek for the grammatical and spelling errors in an article, creating the right product for purchasers, you then would love working as a proofreader. However, in case you hate nitpicking and like to take a look at the larger image, proofreading may not be best for you.

And in case you’re nonetheless undecided if proofreading is best for you, I like to recommend attempting it out regardless. That’s actually one of the simplest ways to find out whether or not being a proofreader is your subsequent path.