Zak
(Graduate Freedom)

Students may not immediately consider freelance proofreading as an option upon graduating. But they should! Knowadays offers a simple way to transition to full-time work, as well as teaching you skills you can use in your career. To see how this works, we’ve spoken to a recent graduate of both university and Knowadays: Zak from Vancouver, Canada.

Hi, Zak! What were you doing before you started the course?

Before I began the course, I was finishing up university as a philosophy major. I’d never done any professional proofreading before, though, so it was all new to me.

What made you consider the Knowadays course?

As a recent graduate, the guarantee of work with Proofed upon completion of the course was a huge draw. I was also looking for an introduction to proofreading and editing in general, and I found the tone and content of the course interesting.

Was there anything surprising in the course for you?

The course was more or less as I expected it would be. I got a thorough introduction to the topic and the chance to dive into the details that I knew would be important when I started working. As someone who loves language, I had fun with it.

How has your transition to working as a freelance proofreader been?

The transition to working with Proofed has been simple. It took a month or so to feel settled, but there were never any major issues and the Proofed team helped me with any questions I had. I felt comfortable throughout the process, and I am very glad that things worked out.

Where do you proofread? Have you got a work space set up?

I usually work in coffee shops or at home. But I also value my freedom and independence, so the opportunity to travel while working is something I want to explore. I’m really looking forward to taking advantage of the flexibility of freelance life over the next year or so.

“I usually work in coffee shops or at home. But I also value my freedom and independence, so the opportunity to travel while working is something I want to explore. “

Are you making enough money?

I am certainly making enough to support my current lifestyle. For someone who values independence and flexibility, it’s been more than enough to get by!

What do you enjoy most about proofreading?

I enjoy diving into new topics on a regular basis and helping people out with their writing. Most of my work with Proofed has been editing journal articles on a variety of scientific topics.

And, finally, what do you do when you aren’t proofreading?

When I’m not proofreading, I’m usually reading and writing (I have a few projects on the go right now), watching movies, listening to music, or hanging out with friends and family.

Becoming A Proofreader

Are you a graduate looking for a simple way to transition to full-time work? Sign up for a free trial and give our Becoming A Proofreader course a try!