How to Get Proofreading Jobs At Home

If you have excellent copy editing skills and an eye for improper spelling and grammar, apply for Web-based proofreading jobs at home. Work at home proofreaders must edit and make content corrections before publication.

Business owners, writers, employers and webmasters continually need the assistance of a qualified proofreader and most of these jobs are home-based. Proofreaders obviously must possess excellent grammar skills and a thorough understanding of the English language, various writing styles and editing symbols.

Proofreading Jobs Online In Demand

Proofreading is always in demand since there is always a need for new content all over the world. Whether it’s a newspaper article,  advertising, or a blog, a proofreader is always needed to edit and perfect writing online and offline. Although proofreading job scams do exist online, it is a legitimate work at home opportunity and even a career.

Testing for Proofreading Jobs

Find online practice tests and ebooks for online proofreading jobs and brush up your grammar skills and vocabulary. Practice testing will refresh vocabulary and restore confidence before applying for new job openings online. Proofreading is a time-sensitive job, where content must be proofread before a deadline, and practice testing will increase editing speed so you are able to complete jobs quickly.

Practice tests for online proofreading jobs are both free and paid. Free proofreading tests online are alright as a quick refresher, but paid versions might be better for someone in need of in-depth practice and learning.

Apply for Online Proofreading Jobs From Home

Proofreading jobs at home are very popular. Working from home as a proofreader means that you will be a self-employed contractor and responsible for paying self-employment taxes on all income earned online. It is also possible to work from home for an employer or major publishing house, but this will require a degree and experience.

For beginner writers looking to work at home, taking on freelance work is best, because openings are readily available online and also as your online reputation grows, so does the opportunity to earn more money from proofreading jobs that pay more.

If you are looking to work from home as a proofreader, it would be a good idea to visit well known freelancer sites like Elance and also look for job openings on Monster, but use caution, because some jobs on Monster are crap. Both sites, especially Elance, almost always post work from home proofreading jobs, but on Elance, you must bid on job leads.

It is also not a bad idea to create a small blog or website to showcase your abilities and help attract new prospects and repeat clients. You could post links to completed jobs and testimonials from previous clients.

Proofreading Job Salary

In the United States, the average salary for a proofreader is $41,229, according to the website 1Salary.com. Applicants seeking a career in proofreading will need at least 2-4 years related experience and an Associates degree.

The top paid proofreaders work for an employer, or publishing house, and perform job tasks including grammatical and typographical correction. Freelancers usually earn less money than those who work for a big company, but freelance jobs in this field are easier to obtain as there are always people looking to outsource their editing needs. It is possible to make a living working from home proofreading as more satisfied clients recommend your services.

Proofreading Job Scams

There are work at home scams for every type of web-based job and proofreading is no exception. The two most common scams are people trying to get your money for a list of “job leads” and people posing as an employer with a practice test, only in an attempt to get free proofreading for their own jobs. Stick with the major job sites and job boards when seeking freelance work and never pay fees to get a job. Always use caution.