About me
Dear Sir/Madam,
I was excited to find a vacancy for a proofreader and on-screen QC via Creativepool. I feel my skills and experience are a great match for the post, and so I am pleased to apply for it.
As an English graduate with three years' experience teaching the subject in senior schools, I am aware that a formal knowledge of the language is not enough, and that natural aptitudes play a very important role in QC. My eye for detail and my sensitivity to errors and inconsistencies is what led me to write to Harrods' Head of Creative identifying a cornucopia of solecisms from the store's signage and ticketing, explaining the effect such things can have on those who read them and detailing how they should be rectified. Pleasingly, my 'immense piece of work' led directly to an investigation and a revision of their protocol. While teaching, my impulse for improving text and layout that does not deliver the right impression led me to volunteer to proofread all school newsletters, resulting in a huge difference to the output. I undertook several projects in this vein, such as copy-editing a food-writer's website or correcting presentations for a Higher Education college. Many examples were done through the annotation of PDF documents, including proofreading a Japanese-authored report to the Peruvian government and an investment recommendation written by a firm of financial advisors.
Whilst working in PR it was the opportunity to write that I most enjoyed, be it interviews in Velour magazine, copy for the New Statesman website or, as a ghostwriter, think pieces for The Independent or Port. But seeing things I had written butchered before publication - inexpertly subbed and with multiple errors introduced - fuelled my interest in sub-editing and proofreading. I had had over a year's experience of these at a weekly student paper, but recognised that time spent in a more professional environment was necessary. I therefore spent several weeks getting familiar with InDesign and the processes involved in on-screen subbing and proofing at The Chichester Observer.
Aware there was more to learn, I took an NCTJ journalism course which included two units on media law and one on production journalism, attaining the Diploma at 'Gold Standard'. Much of the production unit was taught and examined using InDesign (this time on Macs), the remainder of the exam being hard-copy proofreading using the BSI proofreading marks. I was pleased to find I was in good stead for this unit, which I enjoyed greatly, and that fellow students began asking me to proofread or sub-edit their articles. The law and production tutor wrote that I have 'an excellent eye for detail, a strong command of English and [am] highly proficient in InDesign.'
I would love to turn my attention to detail, my education and my experience to producing the best possible products on page or on screen for you, and would be delighted if you would consider me for this job.
Yours faithfully,
Patrick Driver