ACS STUDENT FINDS DREAM JOB
(Recently we received an email from Jaqui Eyley, a student in our Freelance Writing course. She wrote, "This course has just helped me get a job as a proof reader!" So we asked her to tell us about her new job.)
"At last I have found my dream job! I have read so many books on finding the perfect career, and then, advertised in the local paper, in between 'cleaner available' and 'care assistants wanted' was my job, 'proof reader required'. The work was for a national newspaper and they were looking for someone with a high level of literacy, an interest in farming and an eye for detail. In addition to my Freelance Writing course with ACS, I have a degree in law, a small holding, and I can pick nits till the cows come home; perfect! I couldn't believe my luck; someone was actually going to pay me to read the newspaper. The work was part time and so flexible I could even bring it home with me. My imagination worked overtime; I was already laid back in my hammock casually marking out mistakes with a glass of something cold and fizzy by my side.
Of course in reality it is nothing like that; proof reading requires intense concentration and the ability to read very fast while picking out a variety of errors. The newspaper is a farming publication and while many articles are interesting, the technical subjects are hard work. One thing the job has taught me though, is that some writers are a lot better than others. If you know your subject well and are reliable, just about anyone can get published"