Proofreading is a job that requires immense knowledge and attention to bring out the best piece. A proofreader has to look for errors and inconsistencies in the title, captions, headings, content, and photos attached to the content. Therefore, it is essential for you to find just the right person to proofread your content.
You should not hire your proofreader just on the basis of certificates and degrees. You have to look for several qualities in your candidate before you choose them. If you are on ‘the best proofreader to proofread my essay‘ quest, here is what you need to look for in your candidates:
Good eyesight
Since most of the proofreading nowadays is done on computer screens, It is extremely important for your proofreader to have good eyesight so that he can sit in front of the screen for longer durations. Also, with good sight, he or she will be able to read through different styles and sizes of fonts. A sharp eye on the content can also catch errors more quickly than a weaker one.
Knowledge of the language
This is probably the first quality that you should look for in your candidate. Your proofreader must have an excellent grasp of the language. He should be good at catching any errors in the spelling, punctuation, and grammar in the content.
Experience
Although it is not very crucial, this might make some difference. Some experience and industry knowledge helps your candidate to adjust to your firm easily and saves you from the hassle of training a new employee. Ask your candidate for his/her portfolio to check if he meets all your requirements.
Attention to detail
It is essential for your proofreader to pay great attention to the details of the content like punctuation and spelling mistakes and catch them quickly. This helps him to pass only the best quality of content that is well-structured and is grammatically correct. Check if your candidate has that eagle eye for errors. You can test him for this with the help of some sample assignments.
Ability to focus
Focus and concentration is another essential quality that your proofreader must possess. He/she needs to pick errors in the style, spelling, and grammar, and focus is the key to becoming a professional proofreader. Your proofreader must be a person with single-minded concentration so that he is able to produce a fool-proof content for your firm.
Knowledge of various stylebooks
There are a variety of stylebooks available online and different companies adopt different stylebooks that their employees need to master. Therefore, it is crucial for you to have enough knowledge of some popular stylebooks like MLA style guide, AP style guide, etc. Proper understanding of the stylebook of your company will help your proofreader identify and refer errors quickly and thus produce only the best quality of content.
Communication skills
Most of the people do not consider this point, but this is as important as any other quality. The proofreader must have communication skills good enough to make it easy for him/her to communicate with you regarding any doubts about his assignments. Any misunderstanding between you both while communicating the guidelines can affect the quality of your content.
Technical knowledge
Technology is becoming increasingly popular, with each passing day in the twenty-first century. Most of the proofreading jobs are done on electronic devices. Therefore, it is imperative for your candidate to have enough knowledge of computer skills. Make sure he is familiar with editing and proofreading tools on Microsoft and other software that your firm uses.
