Resume template · Updated October 2026
Proofreader resume template
Short answer
Meridian suits a proofreader: it is clean and colourless, and its skill rows above the jobs show your markup methods and tools before the client list. The fictional sample is a freelance proofreader in York who checks page proofs for academic and non-fiction publishers, collates corrections for typesetters, and is a Professional Member of the CIEP, stated in the summary because certifications print near the end.
Download the proofreader sample
Eleanor is a fictional proofreader. Replace every detail with your own before you send it.
The files are made in your browser by Resumity's own exporters, from this sample. The builder opens it as your own resume: click any line to replace it. Free plan, no watermark.
Why Meridian suits a proofreader resume
Meridian is the plainest of the seven: no colour, grey rules running to the right of each heading, and labelled skill rows printed before the work history. For a proofreader those rows show at once whether you mark up with BS 5261 symbols or PDF comments and which tools you use, often the first thing a managing editor checks.
Second choice: Henrietta. Henrietta keeps experience directly under the summary, a better order when your list of publishers is the strongest selling point.
What goes in each section, in Meridian's order
Meridian prints its sections in a fixed order, the same in the PDF and the Word file. Here is that order for this sample, and what to put in each section.
- Professional Summary. Say what you proofread (book proofs, academic papers, corporate reports, marketing) and for whom. In the UK a CIEP grade is a quick signal of experience, so name it here as well as at the bottom of the page.
- Skills. Technical: the proofreading tasks themselves (proofs against copy, BS 5261 marks, cross-references, collation). Tools: the PDF and Word tools you mark up in and any checking software. Publishers differ in how they want markup, so show you can work both ways.
- Work Experience. Volume and material: books or documents a year, typical length, subjects. Then name the checks you run beyond spelling (running heads, figure numbers, bad breaks, index entries); they are what separate a proofreader from a spellchecker.
- Education. An English or subject degree with year. A subject degree matters for academic proofreading, since you will notice errors in the field's own terms.
- Certifications. The CIEP has four grades: Entry-Level, Intermediate, Professional and Advanced Professional. Entry-Level needs no application and the higher grades do, so state the grade you hold and the year you reached it.
The sample resume as text
The same content as the files above, so you can copy a line or compare it with your own.
Eleanor Whitfield
Proofreader, Academic and Non-fiction Books
York, UK | eleanor.whitfield@example.com | 07700 900582 | linkedin.com/in/sample-eleanor-whitfield
Freelance proofreader and Professional Member of the CIEP, with seven years on page proofs for academic and trade non-fiction publishers. Marks up PDFs with BS 5261 symbols or comments as each publisher prefers, checks proofs against the copy-edited files, and works to house style and fixed print dates.
Experience
Freelance Proofreader, Self-employed, York, UK (09/2019 to Present)
- Proofread about 25 books a year for six publishers and two university presses, mostly history, politics and popular science, typically 80,000 to 120,000 words each.
- Check page proofs against the copy-edited manuscript for typesetting errors, bad breaks, running heads, figure numbering and cross-references.
- Collate author and proofreader corrections into one set of marked proofs for the typesetter on three book series.
- Proofread index proofs and spot-check entries against page numbers.
Editorial Assistant, Minster Lane Press, York, UK (06/2016 to 08/2019)
- Prepared manuscripts for copy-editing and tracked about 40 titles a year through proofs to print.
- Maintained the house style sheet and answered style queries from freelancers.
- Gave catalogue and cover copy a first proofread before sign-off.
Education
BA, English Language and Literature, Ouse Valley University (07/2016)
Certifications
- Professional Member, Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) (2023)
Skills
Proofreading page proofs, BS 5261 proof correction marks, PDF markup, House style, Cross-reference checks, Collating corrections, Adobe Acrobat (stamps and comments), PDF-XChange Editor, Microsoft Word Track Changes, PerfectIt, Meeting fixed print dates, Tactful author queries
How to make the sample yours
Name your subjects
History, politics and popular science are the sample's areas. Academic and technical publishers book proofreaders by subject, so list the fields you know.
Say which stage you work at
Proofreading typeset page proofs is different from "proofreading" a Word document, which is often closer to copy-editing. State which you do so clients know what to expect.
Show you fit the production schedule
Typesetters and production editors work to fixed dates. A bullet on collating corrections or returning proofs within a set number of days shows you will not hold up a book.
Adjust for business or student clients
For corporate work, list document types (annual reports, tenders, websites). For student work, follow your university's rules on proofreading theses and say that you do.
Use the marks your market expects
BS 5261 marks are the British standard for marked proofs; publishers elsewhere may use other symbols or plain PDF comments. Ask, and list what you can work with.
Keywords to keep where they are true
Terms this kind of resume is usually searched for. Use the posting's exact wording, and only for work you have done.
- proofreading
- page proofs
- BS 5261 proof correction marks
- PDF markup
- house style
- style sheets
- cross-references
- running heads
- typesetting errors
- collating corrections
- academic publishing
- non-fiction
- Track Changes
- CIEP
Mistakes to avoid
- A single typo anywhere on the page. Read the resume aloud and check every date, name and phone number twice.
- Saying you "check spelling and grammar" without naming the proof-stage checks you run.
- Offering copy-editing changes when the job is proofreading. Corrections at proof stage cost money, so show you keep them to what is necessary.
- Calling yourself "certified" after a short course. Name the course provider and level, or your membership grade, instead.
How the sample PDF reads in text extractors
We exported this sample with Resumity's PDF exporter in Chrome on 2026-10-29 and read the file back with three open-source text extractors. This shows whether software that turns a PDF into text can recover it; it is not a test of any commercial applicant tracking system. How we test templates.
| Extractor | Name, email, phone | Headings | Bullets intact |
|---|---|---|---|
| pdf.js 4.10.38 | All found | 5 of 5 | 7 of 7 |
| pdftotext (Xpdf) 4.00 | All found | 5 of 5 | 7 of 7 |
| pypdf 6.13.0 | All found | 5 of 5 | 7 of 7 |
Frequently asked questions
Do proofreaders need a qualification?
There is no legal requirement in the UK, but publishers look for training and a track record. A CIEP grade above Entry-Level shows both, because each higher grade needs an application.
How do I get proofreading experience for a first resume?
Start with work you can show: a student newspaper, a charity's reports, a small press. List it with volume and the checks you did, and add training as you complete it.
Should a freelance proofreader list every client?
Name the publishers and presses that agree to be listed, give a count for the rest and group them by sector. A short list of relevant names works better than a full one.
Is proofreading the same as copy-editing?
No. Copy-editing happens on the manuscript and covers consistency, clarity and style; proofreading happens on typeset proofs and catches what is left, with as few changes as possible. Many people do both, so label each on the resume.
Which proofreading marks should I list?
In UK publishing, BS 5261 proof correction marks; the CIEP sells an extract of them from BS 5261-2:2005. If you also mark up with PDF comments, say so.
Will applicant tracking systems read this Meridian PDF?
The sample PDF read back with its contact details, all 5 section headings and all 7 bullets intact in three open-source text extractors (pdf.js, pdftotext and pypdf). Commercial systems such as Workday, Greenhouse or Taleo were not tested, and each employer configures its own.
Guides and templates for this resume
Sources, checked 29 October 2026
We opened every page below on that date. Pay, rules and requirements change, so check the source before you rely on a detail.
- Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading: Which membership grade is right for me? (four grades: Entry-Level (no criteria to join), Intermediate (the first grade that requires an application), Professional and Advanced Professional)
- Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading: BSI proof correction marks (CIEP sells "Marks for Copy Preparation and Proof Correction (extracted from BS 5261-2:2005)")
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