If you’ve ever read Closed Captions on a live television show, you will have some idea of the difficulty of our next guest’s job. Proofreading a court transcript is one tough job, but she not only loves it, she helps others find their way to it as well.
Please introduce yourself to our readers…
My name is Caitlin Pyle, I’m 28, married, and living in Orlando, Florida. I graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication.
Can you tell us what company you work for?
I work as a sole proprietor under my own name, but I do business as Caitlin Pyle Proofreading and ProofreadAnywhere.com.
What is your title there?
I am a professional transcript proofreader, founder of ProofreadAnywhere.com, and creator of the online course Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice.
What are the exact responsibilities of your job?
I proofread transcripts for court reporters from my iPad, and I teach others how to do it too!
What is it about your job that makes you love it?
It is so flexible. I can literally do it anywhere in the world on my own time. Plus, I’m my own boss. I wake up every day more excited to do my work than ever. It’s a part of me. I’m literally doing the job of my dreams. I had to create it myself, which was not easy, but it was worth it.
What particular skills or talents are most essential to completing your tasks?
I have to have a very keen eye for details and errors combined with a high level of concentration. I wasn’t always good at focusing for long periods of time; that’s a skill that develops the more you do it.
What level of education would you say is required to perform your role?
You do need some training to be able to do what I do. Lots of people asked me to teach them when I first started, which is why I eventually went on to build the intensive course in transcript proofreading on my website. You don’t, however, need an English degree or a law degree. In fact, several people with a keen eye for errors have gone through my course without any prior experience or degrees at all and pick it up just fine.
Do you find that you bring your work home with you? (And is that a good or bad thing?)
My work and I are the same these days, and I love it. I love it so much. I love working with my clients and students. I answer e-mails from students and clients at any time of the day or night, during the week and on weekends. I want them to know I’m accessible and available, and that I take my work very seriously.
How does this job compare to other jobs you’ve held in the past?
Being your own boss and being 100% responsible for the work that gets done can be scary for people, but for me it’s liberating. At my previous jobs, I’d have to take responsibility for other people’s incompetence on a regular basis. Now, the success my business and the happiness of my clients is 100% the result of the work I put in.
What is your favorite food?
I love Indian food — give me some chickpea masala, curried potatoes, and garlic naan and we’ll be friends for life!
Thanks for sharing Caitlin! You can find her on Twitter @CaitlinPyle!