Ben
(Building a Lasting Career)

When we first spoke to Ben in 2021, he had recently completed our Becoming A Proofreader course and begun proofreading for clients through Proofed. At the time, he was balancing four different roles – proofreading, teaching English online, working in human resources administration, and running a cleaning business with his wife.

Back then, he was excited about the flexibility and variety that freelance proofreading offered, as well as the opportunity to build experience through real client work with Proofed.

We caught up with Ben again to see how his freelance proofreading career has evolved and what life looks like several years on.

Hi, Ben! It’s great to catch up again. Before we talk about how things have evolved, let’s rewind a little – what made you consider a career as a proofreader or editor?

I always had an interest in proofreading and found myself doing it in various jobs. I had looked into proofreading courses before but nothing seemed right. In 2020, I was living in China and teaching English when I discovered the Becoming A Proofreader course with the opportunity to have a work trial at Proofed. It seemed like a great opportunity to get into proofreading and learn some new skills.

Are you working as a proofreader or editor full time, part time, or alongside other work?

I currently work full time for Proofed as a Service Delivery Manager, but the work is so flexible that it allows me to pursue other things in life.

How long have you been working at Proofed and in what role?

Since September 2020 as an editor. Since June 2021 doing admin support.

And since July 2022 as a Service Delivery Manager.

What does a typical working week look like for you?

I work 40 hours per week on a flexible schedule. I sometimes do things on an evening or weekend, but I also take time off during the day. 

I don’t proofread much these days, being a Service Delivery Manager. Instead, I oversee teams of proofreaders and reviewers and maintain relationships with a selection of Proofed’s clients. This includes meeting with new and existing clients, training team members, developing resources, reporting, and working with colleagues to improve Proofed as a workplace and an editorial service provider.

Where do you usually work from? What’s your setup like?

I usually work from my home office. I can also work while travelling or from a different location, as all I need is my laptop and an internet connection. At home, I have a large second screen and a comfortable, ergonomic desk setup, which makes things easier.

What do you enjoy most about working in an editorial role?

I love being able to refine and improve someone’s work to bring out the best in it. It’s satisfying to see content out there that I’ve had a part in editing.

I really appreciate the flexibility of the role – that I can choose to work when and where is convenient for me. Although having a good office setup at home is useful, it is great that I can just take a laptop with me and work anywhere.

I’ve been very fortunate to be part of the Service Delivery team at Proofed. I get to work with and learn from some amazing people from all around the world.

I’ve also enjoyed helping to train and mentor others at Proofed and bring out their strengths. It has been very rewarding to see others grow into different roles.

“I really appreciate the flexibility of the role – that I can choose to work when and where is convenient for me. Although having a good office setup at home is useful, it is great that I can just take a laptop with me and work anywhere.“

What’s your favorite type of document or project to work on and why?

I enjoy proofreading, editing, and formatting business content. A lot of the clients I work with are in the financial services, banking, investment, and market research sectors. The content isn’t the most exciting, but, like me, it’s informative, if a little dull. 

I like learning different style guides and requirements and have picked up a lot of new skills in formatting and creative writing.

Is there anything you’ve found surprising or especially challenging about the job?

I didn’t expect that this would turn into a full-time position when I started, but I’m really glad that it did. Trying to solve problems while running up to tight deadlines has been challenging at times, but taking time to research, relying on others for help, and keeping calm have always helped.

Are there any tools, processes, or habits you rely on daily?

I always do a final spell check using the built-in app or (the free version of) Grammarly. I don’t rely on these to make decisions for me and I don’t accept all their suggestions, because they’re often wrong, but they can be effective tools when used responsibly for finding “hidden” spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.

I always recommend taking a break after working on a document and then going back to have a final read through before returning it. It’s surprising what you can become blind to when working on something, which you then see after a break.

Keeping files organized and maintaining clear records is essential.

Finally, having good boundaries helps to have a positive work-life balance.

What are you most proud of since starting your proofreading and editing career?

I’m really grateful for the progress that I have been able to make at Proofed. Starting with being a new editor, then moving to reviewing others’ work, then being involved in admin support work, and then becoming a Service Delivery Manager has been a great journey for me. Seeing clients expand their agreements with Proofed because they’re so happy with and reliant on our work is really rewarding.

“I’m really grateful for the progress that I have been able to make at Proofed. Starting with being a new editor, then moving to reviewing others’ work, then being involved in admin support work, and then becoming a Service Delivery Manager has been a great journey for me. “

Where do you see your career heading next, or what would you like to develop further?

There are some really interesting opportunities with new kinds of content coming along all the time. I’m planning to spend more time developing my editing and formatting skills.

What’s it like working at Proofed? How does it compare to other jobs you’ve held?

The flexibility is great. I’ve enjoyed being able to fit work around other things in life. Working from home is a great bonus today too.

The Service Delivery team is amazing. Everyone is friendly, professional, and so knowledgeable!

The company is forward thinking and progressive; Proofed is inventing and implementing new initiatives to keep up with modern technology all the time.

Compared to now, how confident did you feel when you started out? Was there anything in particular that helped you build confidence?

Being invited to join more teams and being more involved in things outside of my comfort zone has really helped me gain experience and confidence.

Working with a team, having a supportive manager and colleagues, and learning from others like me has made it easier to progress.

Would you recommend working with Proofed to other aspiring proofreaders and editors? 

Absolutely! It’s a great place to learn and grow with lots of amazing opportunities available to those with the right attitude.

In what ways did your Knowadays course help prepare you for your proofreading or editing career?

Although I had an interest in proofreading before, I realized when I took the course how little I actually knew about the world of proofreading and editing! The course I took really helped me gain a foundational understanding and included everything I needed to get started.

Looking back, which parts of the course have been most useful in your day-to-day work?

The basics of how to proofread in Microsoft Word, industry terminology, lists of useful references, and suggested workflows really helped me.

Is there anything you’ve learned since starting work that you wish you’d known earlier?

Not to be overwhelmed about things I don’t know how to do yet. With training, experience, patience, and help, I’ve learnt to do some things that would have been unthinkable a few years ago!

Based on your experience, what advice would you give someone considering a Knowadays course?

Try to research the potential outcomes before doing a course to make sure you’d enjoy that type of work. There’s no point in studying to learn how to do something and then discovering you don’t like doing it!

What do you enjoy most about working freelance or working remotely?

Not having to spend time and money commuting is a great bonus. I love the flexibility of choosing when to work.

Is there anything you’ve found surprising or challenging about freelance life?

I’ve been freelancing for a long time, and finding work has been challenging at times. Keeping on top of managing my own taxes and finances with fluctuating pay takes time and patience too.

Do you do any other work alongside proofreading and editing? If so, how does it fit into your schedule?

For the first year of working at Proofed, I also ran a cleaning business and did some teaching work online. After that, I started working full time at Proofed. I also do charity work outside of work time.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

I like to travel. My wife and I have lived and worked in the Far East and Mexico.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your journey, your work, or your experience with Knowadays or Proofed?

Once you know how to proofread properly, you’ll see mistakes everywhere… 

Do you have a website, LinkedIn profile, or portfolio you’d be happy for us to share?

I have a LinkedIn profile.

Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor

Today, Ben works full time at Proofed as a Service Delivery Manager, overseeing teams of editors and maintaining client relationships across a range of industries. What began as an opportunity to build freelance proofreading experience developed into a long-term career with real progression. 

If you’re considering a career in proofreading or editing, our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses are designed to give you the practical skills you need to get started. Pass both courses with distinction scores of 80% or above, and you’ll be eligible for guaranteed work with our partner company, Proofed – giving you the opportunity to gain experience and build your career, just as Ben has.