5 Reasons Proofreading Is the Perfect Student Job

Proofreading is an ideal student job. Don’t believe us? We can give you five great reasons:

1. Proofreading lets you earn while you study.
2. Freelance work is flexible, so you can fit it around your schedule.
3. You can improve your own writing skills by working as a proofreader.
4. You’ll also develop valuable professional skills for life after college.
5. It’s easy to get started with our Becoming A Proofreader course.

Still not sure? Read on to learn why you should choose proofreading as a student job.

1. You Can Earn While You Study

College is expensive, and you might be living on a tight budget. But rather than eating nothing but cheap noodles for several years, you can earn a little extra by proofreading.

There are, of course, many part-time jobs available to students. But most of these positions pay low or minimum wages, and many require you to work unsociable hours.

As a freelance proofreader, you can earn a better rate and work as much or as little as you want. This means you control how much you earn, helping you to budget effectively.

2. Freelancing Is Flexible

Inconsistent class schedules can make it difficult to schedule steady hourly work or leave you working strange shifts. But proofreading is flexible. For example, you can:

• Work around your schedule, such as between classes or on days off.
• Take on less work when preparing for final exams or major projects.
• Enjoy socializing without having to worry about work the next day.

And you can work your own hours over the breaks as well. No need for seasonal employment!

3. Proofreading Improves Your Writing

You’re likely a good writer already if you’re looking into proofreading. But you might find that proofreading helps you polish your academic writing skills (and boost your grades) by:

• Turning you into a grammar and punctuation expert.
• Making it easier to spot errors in your own work.
• Giving you a better understanding of formal and academic writing styles.
• Offering experience with referencing, which will help you avoid accidental plagiarism.

These may seem like minor factors. But clear, concise writing is vital in college. And by improving your skills in this regard, you can pick up vital extra marks on your work.

4. You Can Develop Key Work Skills

As well as writing skills, freelance proofreading will give you valuable professional experience that other student jobs, like bartending or nannying, don’t. These include:

• Computing skills – As a proofreader, you will have chances to work on documents in many formats and use programs like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Project management – As a freelancer, you will be responsible for managing your own time, finances, and workload, which will help you become more organized.
• Communication skills – In your work, you’ll learn to communicate professionally with clients, proofreading agencies, and other editors and proofreaders.
• Attention to detail and problem solving – The day-to-day work of a proofreader demands great focus and the ability to solve problems, which are skills all employers value.

The skills you learn while proofreading will set you up for life after college, helping you stand out as a candidate when you apply for other jobs. Alternatively, once you’ve had a taste of the freelance life, you may decide to make proofreading your full-time career.

5. It’s Easy to Get Started

Finally, compared to the years of study required for a degree, proofreading requires relatively little training, making it a great choice for a student job. And it costs a lot less, too!

For example, our Becoming A Proofreader course takes around 50 hours to complete. You can do it at your own pace, too, fitting it around your studies. Or you could finish it all during the summer break. And if you complete both our Becoming A Proofreader and Becoming An Editor courses with distinction grades, you can benefit from a work guarantee from our partner company, Proofed. This means you have a chance to start working as soon as you finish training!

Even better, you can try it for free! Sign up for our free trial today to find out more.