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Many proofreaders will find that they will work at a desk all day long, generally making the life of a proofreader one where the outdoor life is very limited.
Proofreaders must be able to concentrate on their task at hand and not become easily distracted. The life of most proofreaders are full of deadlines, meetings, communicating with many different people and constantly editing...
You will expect to find proofreaders spending hours in their day reading, editing, staring at the computer and taking many phone calls. Some proofreaders will find that they will end up getting chronic headaches, dealing with eyestrain as well as aches and pains throughout their bodies due to sitting at a desk all day long. It is important to work in a well lit area, with a comfortable chair to help with reducing neck and back pains.
The need for online proofreaders is huge, but their supply is on the decline. So as a result, proofreading is an excellent choice for a work-at-home job. In a nutshell, what a proofreader does is check content prior to publication for spelling and grammatical errors and then correct any mistakes. In order to be a successful proofreader, you need to have a solid command of the English language and grammatical rules as well as a strong attention to detail. The pay for online proofreaders is very good, so once you establish yourself, you can start bringing in real money.
Proofreaders Working Conditions
Proofreaders generally work alone under the direction of a supervisor. They may have contact with editors, typists, and compositors.
Some proofreaders work in comfortable offices of editorial departments. Proofreaders in printing production establishments usually work in an area near the composing room, which may be noisy and have unpleasant chemical odors. Proofreaders may be subject to eyestrain because of excessive reading of detailed work.
Proofreaders generally work from 35 and 37.5 hours per week. They may work one of three shifts and rotate weekend and holiday work. Some proofreaders may be required to work overtime to meet publishers' deadlines.
Proofreaders may belong to unions or other organizations such as The Printing, Publishing, and Media Workers Sector of The Communications Workers of America. Union members must pay dues.
You should prefer:
- Activities dealing with things and objects
- Activities of a routine, organized nature
- Working alone
You should be able to:
- Notice detail and observe differences in copy
- Concentrate for long periods
- Interpret and follow directions
- Work quickly, efficiently, and accurately
- Read and comprehend a wide range of material
- Use language correctly
- Evaluate information against measurable or judgmental standards
- Write neatly and clearly
Math problem you should be able to solve:
- If there are about 500 words per page and this certain document is 5 pages long, how many words are present in this document?
Reading example you should be able to read and comprehend:
- Something moved in the hallway, and he jerked to his right. In the darkness he saw Black Eyes watching. He stepped forward to the door and glared at Mitch.
Writing example you should be able to produce:
- You should be able to re-write portions of a draft that you are proofreading to make them correct.
Thinking skill you should be able to demonstrate:
- You should be able to decide the best way to change a paragraph so it keeps the same meaning but is grammatically correct.
