Proofreader Resume Example
Working as a proofreader can provide a rewarding career, involving correcting grammatical errors and ensuring consistency throughout. To succeed in your applications for proofreader roles, you'll need a resume that reflects your relevant skills and experience. In this article, we'll outline how to write a winning resume to boost your chances of success in your proofreader applications.
This complete guide to a proofreader resume will equip you with the tools you need to compete in your applications. You'll learn how to show employers you've got the relevant qualities, skills and experience for the job, all presented in a format that employers prefer to see. The article also includes tips for formatting your resume according to your experience and strengths. Continue reading to find expert tips and advice from Jobseeker that will help you with your proofreader resume.
Main sections of a proofreader resume
Although the content of a proofreader resume may differ according to your experience and seniority, the main sections will remain the same. If you're lacking relevant work experience, you might choose to add sections that showcase your skill set earlier than in a traditional resume layout. These sections might include projects, education, hobbies and interests, skills and other optional sections.
While the content and format of your resume may vary depending on your experience levels, it's important to always include the following sections:
Resume Header with Contact Details
In your proofreader resume header, list your name, email address, phone number and address or location. You can also add your LinkedIn, if you have one, to help employers better understand your work history and skills. While in some countries, you might include additional personal information or a photo, these aren't necessary. Keep your header clear and concise, with only the most necessary information included. Opt for a stylish, professional design that creates a strong first impression.
Opt for a professional-looking email address based on your name. If your email address could be construed as unprofessional or inappropriate because it contains nicknames or unsuitable language, create a new, more professional email address for your job applications. Always check your contact details to make sure they're up-to-date before you send your resume.
Joshua Gray
joshua.gray@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
280 South Verde Street, Los Angeles, CA
linkedin․com/in/joshua–gray123
Resume Objective
Following your resume header, write a resume summary to introduce yourself and showcase some of your key skills and achievements. Alternative names for this section are 'resume objective' and 'personal profile'. While a resume summary focuses on your career experience, a resume objective covers your ambitions and career plans. Furthermore, when writing your profile, focus on two or three key skills and achievements that showcase your suitability for proofreader roles.
Alternatively, use this summary to introduce your personal career ambitions and explain why proofreader roles are a good fit for you at this stage of your career.
A great resume summary should highlight why you're an ideal candidate for proofreader roles by showing key skills and qualities that reflect the job description and provide evidence to support them. It should also introduce your personality and unique qualities to the reader, to help them start to form an opinion about you as a candidate. You can see some positive examples of a resume summary for proofreader jobs below.
Good example:
Experienced proofreader with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a strong background in content editing. Proficient in ensuring accuracy, clarity, and consistency in written materials. Adept at managing multiple projects, meeting tight deadlines, and maintaining high editorial standards. Skilled in collaborating with writers and other editors to polish and perfect content for a variety of audiences
Bad example:
Proofreader with some experience in English and editing content. Worked on making sure written stuff is accurate and clear. Can handle several tasks at once and meet deadlines while keeping quality. Worked with writers and editors to improve content for different readers
Alternatively, a poor resume summary would include bland, generic information that does little to prove your suitability for the role, while failing to provide any useful insights on you as a person or as a candidate. In the graphic above you can find some negative examples of how to write a resume summary.
Skills
Adding a list of your key skills provides a quick reference for the reader of what you can bring to a proofreader role. Skills such as grammar and syntax or attention to detail are particularly useful for proofreader jobs. Again, refer to the job description and make sure you include skills that the employer has listed as essential or desirable for employment as a proofreader.
Highlighting your hard skills
Hard skills are specific skills related to the job you're applying for. They include particular abilities, technical skills and industry knowledge that relate directly to jobs as a proofreader. Furthermore, an extensive list of hard skills helps to make a compelling case for your proofreader job applications, as they show employers your understanding of the proofreader role. Aim to include four or five key hard skills. If you have space, explain how and where you've used that skill to create successful outcomes in your career. These skills will demonstrate your credentials and show how you meet the job description.
If you want to make a strong impression with your hard skills list, focus on hard skills that align with your specific industry expertise, and that reflect the job description. For inspiration on the right type of hard skills for a proofreader resume, see below.
- Grammar and syntax
- Spelling accuracy
- APA/MLA guidelines
Soft skills on your proofreader resume
In your soft skills list, include any personal characteristics that make you a good fit for a proofreader job. Soft skills tend to be more universal than hard skills, but they're no less important. Indeed, transferable skills are growing in importance in the modern world of work, so make sure you include several of these in your resume. Aim to include approximately five soft skills that reflect the skills listed in the job description.
An effective proofreader resume soft skills section should be targeted to include skills that reflect your personality and unique characteristics, while also matching the job description. The graphic below includes some examples of good resume soft skills.
- Attention to detail
- Strong communication skills
- Time management skills
Educational Achievements
Under education, add details of any degrees or professional qualifications relevant to proofreader roles.
To work as a proofreader, employers tend to require candidates to have a specialist degree, such as a Bachelor of Arts in English. If you have this degree, focus on it in your education section, while also mentioning any educational achievements that show your punctuation rules or attention to detail.
List every relevant qualification, including the name and level of the course, the name of the school, college or university, its location and your graduation date. If you have space, include some bullet points outlining any specialist areas of study, awards or high grades, so the employer can learn more about your unique skill set and knowledge.
Additionally, mentioning any leadership roles or any societies and clubs you participated in while studying shows proactivity and initiative.
Bachelor of Arts in English, 2017 - 2020
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Licenses and Certifications
Under this section, list any relevant certifications or licenses that are relevant to proofreader jobs. Add any official certifications or accreditations that increase your level of qualification and suitability for working as a proofreader. Therefore, add any professional licenses or certifications, along with valid dates that show they're still valid.
See below for some suggestions of relevant certifications for a proofreader resume:
- Poynter ACES, 2022
- SfEP Membership, 2022
- Editors Canada, 2022
Work Experience
Next, list your relevant employment history and any key achievements that show you're suitable for a proofreader position. List each relevant role in reverse-chronological order starting with your current or most recent role. Add your job title, the organization name, its location and the dates you worked there.
Also include some bullet points for each job mentioned, showcasing your achievements so the employer can see the impact you made on the company. Pay attention to the job description and make sure each point is relevant to proofreader roles.
A good resume work experience section includes your most relevant previous jobs and highlights your key achievements in each role. To make the best possible impression on hiring managers, make sure each entry in your work experience section references skills and experience listed in the job description, and shows how you added value to each role with quantifiable evidence and outcomes. See below for some good examples of what to include in your resume work experience section.
Good example:
Content Editor, January 2022 - Present
RedPen Precision Proofreading, Seattle
- Increased website traffic by 40% through strategic content planning and SEO optimization
- Successfully managed and edited over 500 articles, maintaining a 99% accuracy rate
- Spearheaded a content overhaul project, resulting in a 30% boost in user engagement and retention
Bad example:
Content Editor, January 2022 - Present
RedPen Precision Proofreading, Seattle
- Improved content quality and readability for various projects
- Collaborated with team members to enhance document accuracy
- Contributed to the overall success of multiple initiatives
The example above can give you some idea of what not to include in your resume work experience section. A bad resume work experience section might fail to address skills and achievements that relate directly to the job description. Falling back on clichés, vague descriptions and basic responsibilities, rather than showing the impact you made, is likely to disengage the reader.
Hear from experts:
Emphasize hands-on experience and relevant skills, such as customer service, teamwork, or problem-solving, to showcase your readiness for the role. (1) Use bullet points to organize your resume and keep it easy to read, especially for hiring managers scanning for key qualifications. (2)
Optional Sections
To provide further information on your suitability for the role, you could add some optional sections to a proofreader resume. Add any of the sections below that help you showcase your key skills and experience.
Hobbies
Add any hobbies and interests that reinforce your credentials for the position. These are particularly useful for your resume if you're short of work experience and need to showcase a particular skill or experience. Think about adding hobbies and interests to your resume if they add some insight into your personality that you can't express elsewhere in your application.
Volunteer Experience
Voluntary work can help you develop useful skills, so it's a valuable addition to your proofreader resume. Add any voluntary roles, including your position, the name of the organization, the dates of your voluntary work and a brief explanation of your responsibilities and achievements.
References
It's relatively unusual to include references in a standard proofreader resume, but they are required occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Add two or three professional references, and be sure to approach each referee before you include them.
References are available upon request.
Best words to use in a proofreader resume
Action words can help illustrate to the hiring manager the difference you made in each of your previous jobs. Choose verbs from the suggestions below that highlight your key skills or those mentioned in the job description.
- Review
- Correct
- Edit
- Verify
- Refine
- Evaluate
- Enhance
- Proofread
- Fact-check
- Improve
For help creating an eye-catching resume design to catch the attention of hiring managers, see Jobseeker's professional resume layouts. You can also use our clear, effective cover letter templates to complete your application.
Sample proofreader resume
Now that you know everything that needs to go into your proofreader resume, let's review an example resume that you can use as a guide when creating your own:
280 South Verde Street, Los Angeles, CA
•
joshua.gray@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/joshua–gray123
Detail-oriented proofreader with a Bachelor of Arts in English and extensive experience as a Content Quality Specialist. Adept at ensuring clarity, coherence, and accuracy in written materials. Proven track record in maintaining high editorial standards and optimizing content for readability and engagement. Skilled in identifying and correcting grammatical, punctuation, and stylistic errors, with a strong commitment to enhancing overall content quality.
Content Quality Specialist
2020
-2022
VeriText Solutions (Reno)
- Enhanced content accuracy, leading to a 35% increase in user engagement and a 20% reduction in content-related customer complaints
- Implemented a rigorous content review process, improving overall content quality and compliance with industry standards by 40%
- Trained and mentored a team of 10 writers, boosting productivity and content approval rates by 25% within six months
Grammar and syntax
Spelling accuracy
APA/MLA guidelines
Attention to detail
Strong communication skills
Time management skills
Poynter ACES
SfEP Membership
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Quick tips for a proofreader resume
Tips to write the best resume
- Use a professional resume format with clear headings, a defined structure and consistent margins for optimum readability.
- Quantify the impact you've made in different roles by offering evidence of your key abilities and your contribution.
- Write a compelling resume summary or objective to introduce yourself and your key proofreader skills.
- Adapt your resume depending on the job you're applying for. Take a look at the job description and make sure you reference all the required key skills and experience.
- Use action verbs to showcase how you've put your proofreader skills to use in your career (e.g. 'review', 'correct', 'edit').
Avoid these common mistakes on your resume
- Don't lie or exaggerate on your proofreader resume, as this can create false expectations in employers and harm you in the future.
- Don't write any unnecessary personal details on your resume. Details such as age, gender or nationality can lead to unintentional recruitment bias.
- Don't forget to keep your contact information up to date, to ensure the employer can contact you if necessary.
- Don't list irrelevant work experience as it will likely do nothing for your chances of success.
- Don't use passive language - avoid phrases like 'I was tasked with' and use strong action verbs instead.
How to make an ATS-friendly resume
Applicant tracking systems (ATS) help recruiters and employers to manage their hiring process. They can handle some of the more time-consuming and resource-intensive jobs, such as initial screening of resumes. Employers often receive hundreds of applications per vacancy, and ATS software can quickly and accurately scan and rank resumes based on their likely suitability for any role. When drafting your proofreader resume, there are a few guidelines to follow to give you the best chance of passing the ATS screening stage and progressing with your application.
Here are a few quick tips for creating an ATS-friendly resume:
- Use a traditional resume format, such as reverse-chronological or functional. These will give your resume a structure that's easier for ATS to scan.
- Use of job description keywords throughout your resume will help it rank higher in the ATS scanning stage, as it will more closely match the requirements laid out in the job description.
- Add each section with clear headings that match the established resume conventions, so ATS software can easily identify each part of your resume.
- Adopt a resume design that uses clear, professional design principles and leaves white space for your content to breathe. Use the most readable fonts and incorporate subtle design elements to enhance the readability of your document.
- Use concise language to keep the length of your resume to between one and two pages. This will make it easier to scan for ATS applications.
For advice and guidance on creating the perfect resume, read our expert career blog and check out our detailed resume examples.
A proofreader resume FAQs
After writing your proofreader resume, you'll want to write an accompanying cover letter that helps your application stand out.
Before you write your cover letter, think about whether you need a formal, professional letter or if a brief, less formal email might be more suitable.
If you choose to write a full cover letter, follow traditional letter-writing conventions surrounding greetings, sign-offs and use of professional language. The body of the cover letter tends to be three paragraphs. The first introduces yourself and the role you're applying for, giving reasons for your application. The second briefly covers your key skills and achievements that are most relevant to proofreader roles. Finally, the third paragraph re-emphasizes your interest in the role and leaves a call to action, encouraging the employer to reach out to you.
Jobseeker's HR-approved cover letter templates can help you produce a cover letter that really catches the eye of employers.
For an experienced proofreader, the resume is an account of your achievements and the skills you've gained through your career. Your proofreader resume is likely to have a longer work experience section than resumes for less experienced candidates, any you may wish to go back further than the standard 10 to 15 years of employment history, depending on your experience levels. Your proofreader resume could also include optional sections that demonstrate your experience levels and reputation in your industry. These could include, for example, awards, achievements and successful projects.
A strong resume headline can give the reader an immediate idea of your suitability for proofreader jobs. Resume headlines are also a powerful way of increasing your resume's chances of passing the ATS stage. They reference the job title and some of the keywords that match the job description. Write a few words to set the tone for your resume, including the job title, your experience or track record and one or two key skills that make you stand out.
Below you can see a resume headline example:
- Aspiring Proofreader Seeking Opportunities
- Meticulous Proofreader with Eagle Eye
- Expert Senior Proofreader for Hire
The best format for your resume depends on two key factors. Firstly, the amount of relevant work experience you have. Secondly, the type of role and its level of seniority. If you don't have much experience, for example if you're applying for a graduate role or changing careers, you might consider a functional resume format. This focuses on your skills and education above your work experience. For more senior roles where you have plenty of relevant experience, use a reverse chronological format. This resume structure places work experience at the heart of the document, using it as a showcase for your skills and achievements.
Key takeaways for your proofreader resume
An effective resume is a concise, professional summary of your relevant skills and career achievements, showcased through a chronology of your career history. Use a suitable resume format and tailor your resume for every application you submit.
Using the professional resume templates and resources of Jobseeker can help you create a great-looking resume that stands out from other applicants. Sign up today and follow the simple steps to get started. To make the best possible impression with your applications, write a cover letter with the help of Jobseeker. You can also find plenty of expert-designed cover letter examples for inspiration.
Sources:
(1) Writing a Resume, California Department of Human Resources: https://www.calhr.ca.gov/employees/Pages/resume-tips.aspx
(2) Resume Tips, Duke University: https://careerhub.students.duke.edu/resources/resume-tips/
