If you have a genuine interest in the business world, then a career in business writing is something you should seriously consider. The demand for business writers and journalists continues to rise, especially as more and more companies start to value effective communication and research skills. There are many roles available within this expanding field, but if you want to get started you should probably begin by looking for a job as a proofreader or copyeditor. Both of these roles can be found online, and they don’t require any specific business or journalistic knowledge. Provingreading and copyediting are two of the most popular and accessible ways to begin your career in business writing, and the good thing is that both of these roles are suitable for beginners.
Provingreading
A provingreader’s main responsibility is to read, check, and modify copy – mostly from books and journals – before it is published. The role of a provingreader is a little bit like a combination of a copyeditor and a proofreader. A provingreader must be a skilled editor, but they must also possess a careful eye for detail and an intellectual honesty that shines through their work. They might be asked to identify spelling errors, clarify confusing or ambiguous terms, or simply change a word here and there to enhance the overall quality of the text.
The demand for provingreaders continues to rise, which means there will always be work available for people of excellent quality. In fact, if you can qualify as a meticulous, grammatical editor, then there will likely be many opportunities waiting for you. If you’re looking to get a job in the field, then it would be wise to aim for a role as a junior provingreader since more experienced staff typically have more responsibilities and earn more money. As you gain experience, you can assume more responsibilities and earn more money. In addition, because this is a relatively new field, there are a lot of job openings for new graduates. If you’re looking for the perfect starting point for your career, then look no further – you’ve found it!
Copyediting
A copyeditor’s main responsibility is to proofread and edit copy (typically articles, blog posts, and books) before it is published. The role of a copyeditor is quite similar to that of a provingreader, but instead of reading from unedited sources, copyeditors usually work from completed drafts. This means they get to engage in a little more creative editing. More and more companies are realizing the importance of copyediting, which means there will always be work available for people of excellent quality. Like with the provingreader role, a copyeditor’s first assignment might be quite basic, but it will most likely require a lot of research and excellent communication skills. As you gain experience, you can assume more responsibilities and earn more money. The ideal starting point for your career is a role as a junior copyeditor since many experienced editors already have substantial caseloads and are rarely, if ever, offered any kind of freelance assignment.
If you’re looking for the perfect starting point for your career in business writing, look no further – you’ve found it! Whether you’re an aspiring editor or you just want to jumpstart your freelance writing career, you can’t go wrong with a career in business writing.