15 Execs and Cons of Being a Proofreader

If you happen to’re keen on turning into a digital nomad, getting cash whereas touring all over the world, or simply merely trying to find methods to make additional money on your subsequent trip, then turning 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 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, if you happen to’re questioning if proofreading is best for you, maintain studying; at the moment, I’ll go over the 15 largest execs and cons of working as a proofreader.

☞ SEE ALSO: The best way to Turn into a Proofreader

Execs of Being a Proofreader

First, let’s concentrate on the entire 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

Firstly, the best benefit of working as an internet proofreader is that you are able to do it from wherever on the earth. From a seaside within the Caribbean to the mountains of Nepal, all it’s essential 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 knowledgeable proofreader; I used to be in search of a strategy 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 turning into knowledgeable 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 fundamental data of grammar and punctuation, (which most individuals have already got). You don’t even must put money into any particular instruments or software program, Microsoft Phrase will do the trick, (though proofreading software program can improve your effectivity).

All I had once I first began out as a proofreader was an outdated laptop computer and a Microsoft Workplace subscription, and I used to be set.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 an internet proofreader is that you just get to be your individual boss. Wave goodbye to having to cope with choosy, micromanaging supervisors. By turning into an internet proofreader, you’re open to begin doing issues your individual manner.

That is one in all my favourite points 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 offer you extra freedom and adaptability by way of your schedule, but it surely additionally reduces stress and promotes a greater work-life stability.

4. There’s a Excessive Demand for Proofreaders

Subsequent, one of many best 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, pupil papers, dissertations, novels, brief 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 an internet proofreader is that there’s loads of flexibility within the function. You’ll be able to work when and the place you need, take breaks when it’s essential to, go to the grocery retailer in the course of the day, and skip the frenzy hour 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 contemplate one in all my favourite benefits of being a proofreader: you get to decide on your individual hours.

If you happen to’re best in the course of the night time, you possibly can work then. In case your buddy asks you to go to brunch on a Wednesday, you possibly can go. As your individual boss, you may have the liberty to decide on while you work, and the way lengthy you’re employed for.

7. You Get to Select Your Purchasers

One other among the finest components of working as a proofreader is that you just get to drop shoppers that you just don’t get pleasure from working with.

Now, this won’t be potential early on in your proofreading journey, as it may be difficult to search out constant proofreading work in the beginning. Nonetheless, as you construct up your expertise and status, it’ll grow to be 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 reason why I 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 possible be taught one thing new each time you choose up a brand new job.

9. There are Many Web sites Out there to Discover Work

Final however not least, among the finest components of being a proofreader is that there are various completely 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 various web sites out there that will help you discover work.

Cons of Working As a Proofreader

Now that we’ve gone by means of the entire benefits of working as a proofreader, let’s concentrate on 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 troublesome 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 sometimes 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, if you happen to don’t full the work by the deadline, your professionalism, credibility, and pay can undergo.

3. You May Must Cope with Difficult Purchasers

One other vital drawback of working as an internet proofreader is that you just generally should cope with difficult, choosy, and bossy shoppers. And whereas it’s true that as a contract proofreader, you possibly can drop any shoppers that you just don’t like working with, generally you must cope with these overbearing shoppers because of a scarcity of labor. And belief me, it’s not superb.

4. The Work Can Get Repetitive

Whereas I largely get pleasure from proofreading, I admit that it generally will get boring. And while you’re coping with a very repetitive or tenuous proofreading job, it could actually grow to be downright painful. Once I get these types of jobs, I merely attempt to grind by means of it, so I can get it completed and over with ASAP.

5. It Can Be Isolating

If you happen to’re nonetheless considering whether or not or not selecting to grow to be a proofreader is an efficient choice for you, then contemplate one of many largest 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 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’s No Security Web

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, if you happen to’re experiencing a dry interval with little to no work, you merely gained’t receives a commission.

The best way to Discover Proofreading Jobs

Now that we’ve gone over the entire execs and cons of being a proofreader, it’s possible you’ll be questioning methods to discover proofreading work within the first place. That can assist you out, listed below are my high 5 suggestions for methods to discover proofreading jobs on-line:

• Via a proofreading course: Among the best 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 associate firm, Proofed. This is among the finest investments you can also make as an aspiring digital nomad, as it’ll train you methods to excel as knowledgeable 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 proper web site for each new and skilled proofreaders to safe new shoppers.
• FlexJobs: FlexJobs is among the largest web sites to search out freelance work, and its job board is full of proofreading job alternatives. Though it prices $14.95 monthly to entry, the price makes the roles much less aggressive than these discovered on Upwork.
• Scribendi: An organization targeted on offering proofreading and enhancing companies, Scribendi is consistently in search of new distant editors and proofreaders. I joined Scribendi once I first began proofreading, and it was wonderful to get constant work as a newbie; I undoubtedly suggest checking it out.
• Scribbr: For a proofreading and enhancing firm targeted on pupil papers and dissertations, you must try Scribbr. Whereas it may be tenuous to complete the applying, you’ll be capable to discover constant work when you’re accepted.

☞ SEE ALSO: 10 Finest Proofreading Software program and Instruments (Free and Paid)

Execs 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 Value It?

General, solely you possibly can resolve if the pliability and talent to work remotely is definitely worth the lack of advantages and the time it takes to construct your shopper base and reap the rewards.

It additionally comes right down to how a lot you wish to proofread. If you happen to like to seek for the grammatical and spelling errors in an editorial, creating the proper product for shoppers, you then would love working as a proofreader. However, if you happen to hate nitpicking and like to have a look at the larger image, proofreading won’t be best for you.

And if you happen to’re nonetheless undecided if proofreading is best for you, I like to recommend attempting it out regardless. That’s really the easiest way to find out whether or not being a proofreader is your subsequent path.