Proofreading: It Is Essential For Your Career

Person proofreading a manuscript. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Success in the real world is very dependent upon a good education. Which college or university you are accepted into, the job you are hired for after college graduation, and the ability to excel in your chosen profession and make a great salary all depend upon how others perceive you and your abilities. If you are thought of as intelligent and capable, you will most certainly enjoy more success than if you are perceived otherwise.

Before High School Graduation:

Maintaining a high grade point average (GPA) throughout your high school education is the first very important step toward planning your successful future. If a student is engaging in coursework for college-preparatory classes, he or she needs to pay very close attention to the quality of that work. For example, in an advanced literary class in which students are expected to read novels and produce reports on them, proofreading is an absolute must. To obtain a good grade marking in the literary class and maintain a high grade point average, the papers that students turn in must be error-free.

As the high school education nears conclusion, students will need to begin the college application process. High-quality colleges and universities will require applying students to produce an entrance essay. This essay should reveal the student’s best qualities and show the admission committee what makes the student standout from the other applicants. Since these colleges and universities consider the entrance essay to be of considerable importance in showcasing the student’s high school education and abilities, it is very important to write a stellar essay that will separate you from the other applicants and show why you are exceptional. Spelling, grammatical, or punctuation errors in the essay could be the difference between acceptance and denial at your institution of choice. Therefore, proofreading your essay is extremely important.

The College Years:

Throughout your college education, it is essential to carry a high grade point average. Graduating with honors will further distinguish you from your classmates as intelligent, capable, and professional. All of the suggestions for your high school years, such as carefully proofreading your work before you hand it in, apply here as well. Great papers make for great grades.

After College Graduation:

Once a student has completed his or her college education, the logical next step is to begin searching for a job. Professional companies almost always require job candidates to provide them with a resume and a cover letter. If your resume and cover letter are of high quality, you may land an interview with the company. Once the interview is completed, it is considered good business etiquette to send a personal thank you letter to anyone you interviewed with for the position. The quality of your education thus far in life will most certainly shine through in your resume, cover letter, and subsequent thank you letter. Any mistakes in spelling, punctuation, or grammar can easily land your cover letter and resume in the trashcan before you are even considered for an interview. So again, proofreading all of these documents is something you do not want to overlook. In this case, it is often wise to ask a trusted friend or associate, who is also well educated, to read over your documents to be doubly sure there are no mistakes.

Your Career in a Professional Environment:

So you have graduated high school and college, and you finally landed your dream job. You have your education to thank, along with your hard work, and your confidence in your ability to get the job done. In the professional environment throughout your career, you will be perceived as more capable and more of an asset to the company if all of your reports and correspondence are free from errors. You are more likely to receive promotions, more responsibilities, and raises in your salary if you carefully monitor each work project and letter to be sure it is well-written and contains no grammatical, spelling, or punctuation errors.

Throughout your years of education and your entire professional career, proofreading is absolutely essential to your success. Be diligent and you will be a high-achiever.

Author Bio

Ryan Ayers is a writer who creates informative articles in relation to education. In this article, he describes the importance of proofreading and aims to encourage further study with a UC Online Masters in Reading.