Pam
(Continued Professional Development)

No matter how long you’ve been proofreading, completing extra training is a great way to contribute to your continued professional development. To find out how this works, we spoke to professional proofreader Pam. She proves that our Becoming A Proofreader course isn’t just for beginners – it’s also a great way to keep your established skills in top condition.

Hi, Pam! What made you consider the Knowadays course?

I am a retired law librarian and was working about 15 hours a week as a professional proofreader and copy editor before I found the course. In addition to small editing jobs, I had one client that I had proofread regularly for over the last five years.

However, I had just lost this contract position because of COVID-19. As a result, I was looking for an online course to keep my skills sharp and found Becoming A Proofreader. The price was reasonable, and I was impressed with the organisation of the course materials.

Was there anything particularly challenging in the course for you?

I think the most challenging issue was keeping my notes from the course organised! I originally started out with separate folders for each module. But, as the volume of materials grew, I put my most-used modules in a three-inch binder and the other materials into other folders.

What has been the single best benefit of having done the course?

Learning new things! I am a lifelong learner always looking for new opportunities for professional development.

“I am a lifelong learner always looking for new opportunities for professional development.“

Was the course good value for money?

I believe the money for this course was well spent and an excellent investment.

What do you enjoy most about proofreading?

I enjoy the challenge of perfecting ESL documents and helping people who aren’t fluent in the English language to express themselves. It may seem funny, but I find proofreading therapeutic.

Have you been self-employed before? How are you finding it?

I have been self-employed previously and I really enjoy it. I hope to keep doing this for a long time.

Where in the world are you, and where do you proofread?

I split my time between Tucson, Arizona and Lakeport, Michigan. I spend summer and autumn in Michigan and the rest of the time in Arizona.

I have an office in both residences, with a door that I can shut that lets my husband know I am deep into some project.

What do you do when you aren’t proofreading?

I love to go hiking. In Arizona, that means hiking in hot dry temperatures in the desert. In Michigan, that means beach walking for miles in much cooler temperatures.

I also continue to take online classes for professional development and babysit my grandchildren when needed.

Otherwise, I keep busy with genealogy, kayaking, camping, gardening, sewing, reading, and trying to learn Spanish so I can speak to my daughter-in-law’s parents when they visit from Colombia.

How has life changed for you as a freelance proofreader?

Having worked from 2015 to 2020 as a freelance proofreader before losing my job, I find that I miss the routine of having an ongoing flow of work that I can fit into my schedule.

I am hoping that I can find that routine again through my ongoing work for Proofed during these somewhat chaotic times.

Becoming A Proofreader

Are you a professional looking to follow in Pam’s footsteps and develop your proofreading skills? Sign up for a free trial of our course today!