You may find it useful to have a degree in:

• English
• publishing
• journalism
• digital media

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English
• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

You can apply to do a Publishing Professional Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship, which may help you get a proofreading job.

This usually takes around 2 years to complete.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

You could start as an editorial assistant then move into proofreading.

If you have a degree or expertise in a particular subject, you could use it to develop a proofreading specialism. For example, if you have a technical or scientific degree you could proofread science textbooks or journals.

Volunteering will help you get a better understanding of the job and is a good way to make contacts in the publishing industry.

You could volunteer to:

• write or proofread for student magazines or publications
• proofread for small businesses
• work on charity publications, websites or social media

Doing professional courses can improve your skills and your chances of finding work. You can find short courses through the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading and The Publishing Training Centre.

You'll need:

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• knowledge of English language
• excellent written communication skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• the ability to work well with others
• persistence and determination
• to be flexible and open to change
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

As a proofreader, you'll work with digital and non-digital documents to make sure they're ready for publication. 

You'll:

• correct spelling mistakes, punctuation errors and grammar
• make sure text, tables and layouts follow the agreed style
• check for inconsistencies in wording, chapter titles, headings and lists
• confirm that references and hyperlinks match notes - and work
• make sure text flows well and is in the right order, including page numbers
• highlight confusing words and suggest changes
• use proofreading tools to mark up digital content, track changes and leave comments

You could work in an office or from home.