Career change as a proofreader
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 4 with on-the-job training and 4 with training or a course.
In the job search you can sort by what matters to you, save jobs and see where they lead.
Career change paths
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PR officer
Also: Corporate communications officer
With on-the-job training
In public relations you write press releases, newsletters and web texts, handle media inquiries and make sure the company's language is consistent.
- What you bring:
- You phrase things precisely, keep style and language consistent, and know the processes at publishers and agencies.
- How to get there:
- You can start with an assistant job at an agency or press office. Courses to become a PR officer at training providers and associations take a few months. Work samples count more there than a particular qualification.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€5,318gross per monthMedian salary
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Content manager
Also: SEO copywriter
With on-the-job training
As a content manager or copywriter you plan and write web texts, maintain content in the editorial system, and check machine-generated texts for correctness and tone.
- What you bring:
- You know spelling, style and text structure inside out and can improve texts quickly.
- How to get there:
- Agencies, online retailers and companies give career changers with strong language skills on-the-job training (Einarbeitung). Certificate courses in content marketing and search engine optimization take a few weeks. A portfolio with your own texts helps with your application.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€5,385gross per monthMedian salary
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Documentation assistant
Also: Document management employee
With on-the-job training
In the document management of a company or authority you manage documents, check versions and approvals, and maintain filing and archive systems.
- What you bring:
- You check texts and data reliably and can enforce uniform rules.
- How to get there:
- Companies, especially in pharma, engineering and administration, usually give careful career changers a few weeks of on-the-job training (Einarbeitung) in their systems. The move brings fixed structures rather than a promotion.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€4,404gross per monthMedian salary
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Learning companion
Also: German tutor
With on-the-job training
As a learning companion or tutor you support students in reading, writing and homework, in the all-day care of schools or at tutoring institutes.
- What you bring:
- You have a confident command of spelling and grammar and can explain rules clearly.
- How to get there:
- Tutoring institutes and providers of all-day care take on career changers with strong language skills after short on-the-job training (Einarbeitung), and there are also part-time and fee-based jobs. For work with children, an extended police clearance certificate (erweitertes Führungszeugnis) is required.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people€5,254gross per monthMedian salary
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Editor
Also: Online editor
With training or an exam
As an editor you research and write texts, edit others' contributions, and plan content for print, online or companies.
- What you bring:
- You have a sure feel for language, notice unclear wording immediately, and work precisely even under time pressure.
- How to get there:
- The usual way in is a trainee program (Volontariat) of one to two years at a publisher, broadcaster or in corporate communications. Smaller editorial offices and online media sometimes hire good proofreaders directly.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€4,728gross per monthMedian salary
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Technical writer
With further trainingPromotion
As a technical writer you write manuals, help texts and documentation for machines, software or medical devices, and coordinate them with development and translation.
- What you bring:
- You can make texts clear, consistent and error-free, and you work in a structured way.
- How to get there:
- Training providers offer further training in technical writing, alongside a job or full-time, usually lasting a few months, often with a certification by the professional association tekom. Technical interest is important, because you have to understand products before you can describe them.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an officeHome office possible€4,728gross per monthMedian salary
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Media and information services specialist (Fachangestellter für Medien- und Informationsdienste)
Also: Library assistant
With retraining
In a library, archive or documentation center you index media, maintain catalogs and databases, and advise users.
- What you bring:
- You work precisely, know rules and filing systems and like dealing with texts and media.
- How to get there:
- You do vocational training (Ausbildung) as media and information services specialist (Fachangestellter für Medien- und Informationsdienste), which normally takes three years, or often less as retraining (Umschulung). Training places are offered mainly by public libraries and authorities. With work experience in a related field, you can also be admitted to the external exam (Externenprüfung), and the responsible body decides on this.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office€3,715gross per monthMedian salary
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Media designer digital and print (Mediengestalter Digital und Print)
With retraining
As a media designer you typeset books, magazines and advertising materials, design layouts, and prepare files for print and web.
- What you bring:
- You know typesetting rules, typography and printing processes from proofreading.
- How to get there:
- You can do retraining (Umschulung) as media designer digital and print (Mediengestalter Digital und Print), which usually takes about two years and ends with a final exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Courses in InDesign and Photoshop lasting a few weeks help you check beforehand whether design suits you.*
* No guarantee of accuracy.
Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office€3,305gross per monthMedian salary
Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
Which jobs can I do as a proofreader without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: PR officer, Content manager, Documentation assistant and Learning companion.
Which retraining or further training suits me as a proofreader?
With vocational training, retraining, further training or a course: Editor, Technical writer, Media and information services specialist (Fachangestellter für Medien- und Informationsdienste) and Media designer digital and print (Mediengestalter Digital und Print).
What promotion options do I have as a proofreader?
Promotions include, for example: Technical writer.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Content manager (€5,385 gross per month), PR officer (€5,318 gross per month) and Learning companion (€5,254 gross per month). Half of employees earn more, half earn less; when you start it is often lower. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), April 2025. No guarantee of accuracy.
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