Have you ever been reading through a book or manuscript and come across a typo? Have you wondered how they could have missed such an obvious grammatical mistake? And worst of all, did it distract you from the material you were reading? Have you read something by a qualified writer that just doesn't flow? Proofreading jobs in publishing are designed to catch those grammatical errors that elude the writer of the content and greatly contribute to the overall readability of the manuscript.
It seems that because paper publishing has taken a downturn that a publishing job search would be futile. Or maybe you fear that in order to find publishing jobs you need to move to a big publishing city like New York or California. This isn't completely valid because there are still many other options for jobs in publishing that include working from home or mobile offices.
A publishing job search is just what you need to get that dream job you've always wanted. If you are looking to supplement your income this can be an attractive part time job as well.
A publishing job search can encompass many types of searches. Perhaps you have a local newspaper or TV station where they would need a competent proofreader to look through content. Making regular visits to them and inquiring about proofreading jobs (and submitting your resume) would show your determination to contribute to the business and is likely to land you a full or part-time position in proofreading. From there you would be free to pursue other jobs in publishing in that company while also getting some experience to add to your resume!
Electronic media has taken the world by storm, and so not only is there more content than ever to be proofread, but the world's interest in published electronic media has grown exponentially as well. This growth has led to a lot of "garbage" out there on the web, and so people are looking for better, more organized published material. So in that respect, job opportunities should remain plentiful. This will help your publishing job search tremendously. Searching your local web classifieds for jobs in publishing can turn up a few gems out of the great masses of "work from home" job opportunities out there.
Most jobs in publishing, especially in the writing and particularly in the technical writing areas, require college education. But the good news about proofreading is that it is sometimes considered an entry level position, and so establishing a relationship and trust with the editor of a publication might be enough to get your foot in the door. There isn't a long training required for the entry level jobs in publishing. You only need to have an attention to details and a good eye for grammatical mistakes.
Because jobs in publishing are coveted, the competition is sometimes fierce, but the work environment can more than make up for that. Jobs in publishing can be at home or in a casual office where a proofreader is surrounded by many other creative people. There are still times, though, when in a large publishing company a proofreader would be required to work in a noisy office with other busy writers and copy editors.
Don't expect to become rich being a proofreader. The pay is variable and depends on the business type, and size of the business you are going to work for, and how much the writers and editors come to rely on your services. Generally, the starting pay would be relatively small. And with advances in electronic media, you certainly don't need to live in New York or California anymore.
Low pay and high competition might make a publishing job search seem futile. So there is the need to set realistic goals for yourself. Why do you want one of the many jobs in publishing? The best way to look at jobs in publishing, and especially proofreading, is to consider the proofreading jobs as primarily an excellent source of supplementary income or as a great stepping stone to other, more rewarding jobs in publishing.
Let's say your goal is to become an editor or freelance writer of an online publication. Offering your services as a proofreader and contributing effectively once you start can help build trust between yourself and the editor or publisher of the media outlet. And because trust is a valuable commodity in newspaper reporting and writing of any sort, this will help you establish your relationship and reputation early on, and you'll be rewarded for it!
Your efforts at the bottom, in the publishing field more than anywhere else, will help you better secure the job of your dreams.
