Looking for work as an editor/proofreader?

English is my speciality. I majored in it in university, and I really want to get into a field that exercises my love for the language. I'd really like to do editing/proofreading work, but don't know where to look/how to start! I got some work experience a couple of months ago, but have never had a professional job in the field.
I know there's plenty of Arts majors out of work, but that's not what makes me so restless. What bothers me is the fact the other people are getting jobs that I'm applying to, and making mistakes I know I'd never make!
What I want to know is HOW can I catch people's attention. How can I make them see that I'm the best person for the job. Or am I wasting my energy? Should I be looking elsewhere? In the US/Canada/Australia?
I'm starting to get really frustrated with my situation and just want to work!

Denerick

Have you sent a speculative job application to every publishing house in Ireland and the UK? Have you applied for every publishing job/internship that emerges in these isles? Publishing is an oversubscribed profession. Competition is fierce. Pay is low. Good luck.

I've mainly been focusing on Ireland, since I'm reluctant to move away. I've written to as many publishing houses/magazines/newspapers/etc as I can think of, to no avail. Most of them don't even reply to me. It drives me crazy knowing that a job I know I can do, and would be really good at, is being handed to someone else.
Should I start looking overseas/in the UK? I don't really know what the market is like elsewhere, and I'd like to have an idea of what I'm stepping into before I start buying plane tickets.

Jellybaby1

Check the Writers' & Artists' Yearbook for lists of publishers.

looksee

Do you know the proof-reader/printer 'language'? You would need to be able to communicate your conclusions as well as find them.

You really need to be looking for advertised jobs though, sending off unsolicited cvs these days means that they are probably not even looked at. If there is no job they are not going to create one for you, or throw out an existing proof-reader to replace them with you!

You could also look at typesetting, a skilled job where good English and grammar are a great advantage, and a good typesetter can eliminate the need for a proof-reader. Anywhere I have worked the typesetter was their own proof-reader, sometimes with the help of another person if it was an important job. It involves reading out loud very fast and accurately!

AnnyHallsal

And Social Media. There are loads of publishing people on Twitter. LinkedIn might be worth a look. Networking, making yourself known in these circles is the most successful strategy these days. Get experience any way you can. Persistence is key in this sector where there are few openings and the few tend to go to people who have made themselves known to people.