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If you happen to’re serious about changing into a digital nomad, being profitable whereas touring all over the world, or simply merely looking for methods to make further money on your subsequent trip, then changing into a contract, on-line proofreader is the best way to go. Nonetheless, as with every job, there are each professionals 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 total 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, when you’re questioning if proofreading is best for you, maintain studying; at present, I’ll go over the 15 greatest professionals and cons of working as a proofreader.
☞ SEE ALSO: Find out how to Grow to be a Proofreader
Execs 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 Wherever
Before everything, the best benefit of working as a web-based proofreader is that you are able to do it from anyplace on the earth. From a seashore within the Caribbean to the mountains of Nepal, all you’ll want to make cash as a proofreader is an web connection and a laptop computer.
This was the best attract for me once I first began out as an expert proofreader; I used to be in search of a approach to make good cash with out being tied all the way 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 Straightforward to Get Began
One other nice good thing about changing into an expert proofreader is that it’s surprisingly straightforward to get began. All you want is an web connection, entry to a laptop computer, and a few primary data 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 program can enhance your effectivity).
All I had once 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 personal 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 personal means.
That is certainly one of my favourite elements of being a freelancer; you get to set your personal hours and workload, which lets you work when it’s most handy for you. Not solely does this provide you with extra freedom and adaptability when it comes to your schedule, however 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, scholar papers, dissertations, novels, quick tales, weblog posts, information articles, and extra), there’s all the time 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 plenty of flexibility within the position. You possibly can work when and the place you need, take breaks when you’ll want to, go to the grocery retailer in the midst of the day, and skip the push hour site visitors.
6. You Get to Select Your Personal Hours
If you happen to’re nonetheless asking your self “Is being a proofreader value it?”, then think about certainly one of my favourite benefits of being a proofreader: you get to decide on your personal hours.
If you happen to’re most effective in the midst 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 personal boss, you’ve got the liberty to decide on once you work, and the way lengthy you’re employed for.
7. You Get to Select Your Purchasers
One other probably the greatest elements 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 may not be potential early on in your proofreading journey, as it may be difficult to search out constant proofreading work at first. Nonetheless, as you construct up your expertise and status, 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 explanation why I really like working as a proofreader is that there’s a variety of job alternatives out there. Typically, 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 out there for proofreaders, it’s thrilling to know you’ll probably study one thing new each time you decide up a brand new job.
9. There are Many Web sites Accessible to Discover Work
Final however not least, probably the greatest elements of being a proofreader is that there are a lot of totally different web sites out there to supply and safe new jobs. From increase a shopper base on freelancing platforms comparable to Upwork and FlexJobs to becoming a member of a proofreading firm like Scribendi and Scribbr, there are a lot 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 Shopper Base
It may be tough for newbie proofreaders to get regular work, because it takes a little 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 actually 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 nerve-racking. Furthermore, when you don’t full the work by the deadline, your professionalism, credibility, and pay can endure.
3. You Would possibly Need to Take care of Tough Purchasers
One other vital drawback of working as a web-based proofreader is that you just typically need to take care of 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, typically you need to take care of these overbearing shoppers as a consequence of a scarcity of labor. And belief me, it’s not ultimate.
4. The Work Can Get Repetitive
Whereas I largely take pleasure in proofreading, I admit that it typically will get boring. And once you’re coping with a very repetitive or tenuous proofreading job, it could actually change into downright painful. Once I get these kinds of jobs, I merely attempt to grind by it, so I can get it achieved and over with ASAP.
5. It Can Be Isolating
If you happen to’re nonetheless considering whether or not or not selecting to change into a proofreader is an effective choice for you, then think about one of many greatest downsides of being a proofreader; you largely work independently, with no co-workers or supervisors. Whereas this may be an upside, it could actually 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 an effective way to hunt recommendation and join with fellow freelance proofreaders.
6. There’s No Security Internet
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, when you’re experiencing a dry interval with little to no work, you merely received’t receives a commission.
Find out how to Discover Proofreading Jobs
Now that we’ve gone over all the professionals and cons of being a proofreader, you could be questioning how you can discover proofreading work within the first place. That will help you out, listed here are my prime 5 suggestions for how you can discover proofreading jobs on-line:
- Via a proofreading course: Top-of-the-line methods to search out work as a newbie proofreader is to take the Knowadays Turning 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 finest investments you may make as an aspiring digital nomad, as it’ll educate you how you can excel as an expert proofreader whereas offering constant proofreading work thereafter.
- Upwork: As the most important 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 shoppers.
- FlexJobs: FlexJobs is without doubt one of the greatest web sites to search 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 providers, Scribendi is consistently in search of new distant editors and proofreaders. I joined Scribendi once 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, you need to try Scribbr. Whereas it may be tenuous to complete the appliance, you’ll be capable to discover constant work when you’re accepted.
☞ SEE ALSO: 10 Greatest Proofreading Software program and Instruments (Free and Paid)
Execs and Cons of Working as a Proofreader: FAQs
Listed here are some solutions to generally requested questions on working as a proofreader:
There are lots of unimaginable advantages to working as a proofreader. You get to work from anyplace on the earth, you’ve got the pliability to decide on your personal hours and be your personal boss, and there’s a excessive demand for thorough and environment friendly proofreaders.
Proofreading can often be nerve-racking, particularly when you procrastinate on some upcoming, strict deadlines. One of the simplest ways to keep away from stress is to complete your work early and to solely settle for jobs that you understand you may deal with given your present workload.
Sure, you may positively make a residing as a proofreader. Nonetheless, it could actually take a while to construct up a constant shopper base and to maximise your velocity and effectivity at proofreading. As a newbie proofreader, you may count on to make $12 to $15 per hour.
Among the disadvantages of being a proofreader embody having to take care of choosy shoppers, being overwhelmed with strict deadlines, and sometimes engaged on repetitive, tedious jobs.
Sure, proofreaders positively receives a commission properly; on common, proofreaders make $25 to $45 USD per hour, relying on their expertise, {qualifications}, effectivity, and topic space.
Proofreading could be an incredible profession, particularly when you’re detail-oriented, serious about studying all kinds of papers and written work, and have a ardour for grammar and punctuation.
Is Being a Proofreader Value It?
Total, solely you may determine if the pliability and skill 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 all the way down to how a lot you prefer to proofread. If you happen to like to seek for the grammatical and spelling errors in an article, creating the right product for shoppers, then you definately would love working as a proofreader. However, when you hate nitpicking and like to take a look at the larger image, proofreading may not be best for you.
And when 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 simplest ways to find out whether or not being a proofreader is your subsequent path.
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