Antonia
(Finding Work During Lockdown)

Over the past year or so, we’ve seen lots of students join Knowadays after losing work during lockdown. Freelance proofreading lets you work when and where you want, so it’s the ideal job for many given the recent changes to our lives.

Antonia is just one of our students bouncing back with a new career as a freelance proofreader. And since graduating from Knowadays, she’s found work she enjoys with Proofed and has taken back control of her life. Read about her experience below.

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

Like so many other people, my career in the spa industry came to a halt due to the pandemic. So I decided to put my perfectionist tendencies to good use. I investigated proofreading as a potential way to find work during lockdown.

I was concerned about securing freelance proofreading work with no experience under my belt, so the guarantee of work upon completing the course made Knowadays an attractive option.

Was there anything surprising or particularly challenging in the course for you?

I was surprised (in a good way!) by the level of detail in the course.

A couple of my family members are English teachers, so I thought I had a reasonably good grasp of punctuation and grammar. But I soon realized that my existing knowledge only just scratched the surface of what I needed to learn in order to become a professional proofreader!

I also didn’t go to university and so I had no experience of academic writing. This made learning all the various academic referencing styles a little challenging at times, but it was also a good way to stretch my brain and push me out of my comfort zone!

Have you been self-employed before?

No, I haven’t. It definitely takes some getting used to, but I love the flexibility that it offers.

How has life changed for you as a freelance proofreader?

Becoming a freelance proofreader has enabled me to turn some of the negative aspects of the pandemic into a positive situation.

“Becoming a freelance proofreader has enabled me to turn some of the negative aspects of the pandemic into a positive situation.“

Though I couldn’t find work in my previous industry during lockdown, I am now using my time and new skills to help people around the world improve their writing.

It’s a very satisfying job and I’m proud to be able to call myself a professional proofreader and editor!

What is your day-to-day routine like now?

I have a daily schedule of proofreading for several hours in the morning. Then I have a break and may do some additional proofreading in the evening, depending on what time the work comes through.

I normally work four days a week, although I will sometimes take work on my days off if I don’t have any other commitments.

Where do you proofread?

I don’t have a dedicated workspace at home so I normally work from the (very comfy) sofa in the spare bedroom, which seems to work well for me.

I have also been known to proofread in bed at 7 am, but wouldn’t generally recommend this!

Do you have a favorite subject area to proofread?

I’m currently proofreading and editing for a company that writes foreign death investigation reports for life insurance claims. I’m fascinated by pathology, so I find these reports strangely interesting and very satisfying to work on.

My favorite subject in the world of academic proofreading is psychology. And I love the satisfaction of helping non-native English speakers to express themselves succinctly, whether it’s in an academic or business context.

“It’s a very satisfying job and I’m proud to be able to call myself a professional proofreader and editor!“

Was the course good value for money?

Yes, absolutely! An additional benefit is that once you have passed the course, you get immediate and free access to any further modules that are added to the course.

Do you have a LinkedIn profile?

Yes, here’s my LinkedIn profile. However, I should note that it mainly relates to my career as a spa educator, rather than a proofreader.

Become a Proofreader

Whether you need to find work during lockdown or just want a flexible job that survives your changing circumstances, our Becoming A Proofreader course can give you a rewarding profession and the control you need. Sign up to our free trial today.