👨‍💻 Side Hustle #18: Resume Writing

In today’s competitive job market, having the perfect resume is often the difference between landing a dream job or being passed over. If you have the knack for creating standout resumes, you could be turning this skill into a highly profitable resume writing side hustle, earning between $1,500 and $4,000 per month.

As more professionals look for career changes or remote work opportunities, the demand for professional resume-writing services is higher than ever. In this guide, we’ll show you how to leverage your writing skills into a thriving business.

Why Start a Resume Writing Side Hustle?

Imagine having the power to help someone secure their dream job. A well-written resume is often the first—and sometimes only—chance a job seeker has to make an impression. Unfortunately, many struggle to convey their true value. That’s where you come in, offering a professional resume writing service that not only highlights skills but transforms their career prospects.

Here’s why starting a resume writing side hustle is an excellent opportunity:

1. Growing Demand: As recruitment processes become increasingly digital, the demand for resumes optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) is booming. Companies are relying on these technologies, and job seekers need resumes that meet these standards.
2. Flexible and Remote Work: You can work from anywhere, managing your schedule and connecting with clients from all over the world.
3. Meaningful Impact: There’s nothing quite as satisfying as knowing your work helped someone achieve their career goals. You’ll be making a tangible difference in people’s lives, and that feeling is priceless.

How a Resume Writing Side Hustle Works

A resume writing side hustle involves more than just listing someone’s job history. Instead, your role is to craft a professional story that highlights your client’s abilities, knowledge, and accomplishments in a way that resounds with potential employers. Here’s how the process typically works:

Step 1: Client Consultation

To begin, conduct a thorough consultation with your client. During this initial discussion, you will learn about their career goals, key achievements, and the types of roles they’re targeting. This step is crucial as it helps you understand how to position their experience in a way that aligns with their career aspirations.

Example: For instance, if your client is a fresh graduate, you’ll need to focus more on their education, internships, and soft skills rather than years of work experience.

Step 2: Draft the Resume

Once you’ve gathered all the necessary information, the next step is to begin drafting the resume. Make sure to use clear, concise language that focuses on the client’s key achievements. Moreover, it’s important to tailor the resume to fit the specific industry or job type your client is targeting.

Example: For an experienced professional in a managerial role, highlight specific achievements like "Reduced operational costs by 15% through process optimization" or "Led a team of 10 to deliver a project on time and under budget." These measurable outcomes add credibility and value to the client’s experience.

Step 3: Review and Revisions

After completing the draft, it’s time to share it with your client for feedback. At this stage, it’s essential to be open to their suggestions. They might want to adjust certain details or highlight additional achievements. By interacting closely will help you to make sure the final resume satisfies industry standards as well as customer expectations. closely, you can ensure that the final resume meets both your client’s expectations and industry standards.

Example: Imagine working with an executive who wants to pivot into a new role. They might ask you to emphasize their strategic leadership skills more than their technical background. By working together, you’ll find a balance that highlights their suitability for their next career move.

Step 4: Final Delivery

Finally, once the client approves the revisions, you can proceed with the final delivery. Make sure the resume is ATS-optimized and formatted correctly in the client’s preferred format, whether it’s PDF or Word. Also, confirm that the document is ready for submission to potential employers.

Example: Deliver the resume with a version that includes industry-specific keywords. For instance, a resume for a digital marketing role might include terms like "SEO," "content strategy," or "Google Analytics," which are key for passing ATS filters.

Who Needs Resume Writing Services?

Your resume writing side hustle can serve a wide variety of clients. From job seekers just starting their careers to seasoned executives aiming for high-level positions, the need for a strong resume spans across industries. Here are some of your potential clients:

1. Fresh Graduates

Many new graduates lack the experience needed to create compelling resumes. You can help them by highlighting their academic achievements, internships, and relevant skills.

2. Career Changers

Job seekers looking to transition into a new industry need help translating their existing skills into a new context. Your expertise can show how their past experience applies to the new roles they are targeting.

3. Experienced Professionals

Mid-career professionals often struggle to condense years of experience into a concise, well-organized resume. You can help them emphasize key accomplishments that set them apart from other candidates.

4. Executives

High-level executives often require specialized resumes that focus on leadership, strategic thinking, and measurable successes. You can craft resumes that highlight these attributes while ensuring the format reflects their seniority.

How to Generate Leads for Your Resume Writing Side Hustle

To grow your resume writing side hustle, attracting clients is essential. Here are some strategies you can use to generate leads:

1. Professional Website

Create a professional website including your services, testimonials, and resume writing samples. A well-designed website establishes credibility and helps potential clients find you online.

Pro Tip: Include client success stories and before-and-after resume transformations to show your expertise.

2. Social Media Promotion

Promote your services on platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook, where job seekers are most active. Share tips for resume writing and industry-specific insights to build your authority.

Pro Tip: Use hashtags like #resumewritingservices or #careercoach to reach a broader audience.

3. Networking

Collaborate with career coaches, recruiters, and job boards. These professionals often need resume writing support for their clients and can refer people to you.

4. Job Fairs and Career Events

Participate in virtual or in-person job fairs and career events where job seekers are actively looking for guidance. These settings are perfect for marketing your resume writing services.

5. Freelance Platforms

Join websites like Upwork or Fiverr to reach clients looking for professional resume writing. Be sure to highlight your skills and showcase your experience through portfolio samples.

How to Fulfill Resume Writing Services

Delivering exceptional resume writing services requires attention to detail and a client-centered approach. Follow these steps to ensure top-notch service delivery:

Step 1: Client Consultation

Beginning with a one-on-one meeting, learn about the career background, objectives, and specific job roles they are targeting. This information will be the foundation of the resume.

Step 2: Draft the Resume

Once you have all the necessary information, draft the resume. Emphasize your client's major accomplishments and make sure the resume fits the particular job or sector.

Pro Tip: Use active language and quantifiable accomplishments, such as "increased sales by 20%," to make your client’s resume stand out.

Step 3: Revisions

Send the resume draft to your client for feedback. Revisions are often necessary to align the resume with the client’s expectations. Be open to making adjustments as needed.

Step 4: Final Delivery

Once all revisions are complete, deliver the final resume in the desired format (PDF, Word) and ensure it’s ready for submission to employers

Best AI Tools for a Resume Writing Side Hustle

Incorporating AI tools into your resume writing side hustle can help you save time, improve accuracy, and optimize your resumes for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). These tools streamline the writing process, making it easier to create compelling, polished resumes. Here are some of the top AI-powered tools that can enhance your resume writing business:

1. Jobscan

ATS optimization is crucial in today’s job market, and Jobscan compares resumes with specific job descriptions to ensure compatibility with ATS software.

1. Why It’s Great: This tool highlights missing keywords and phrases, helping you tailor resumes to match the requirements of specific job listings. It increases the chances of resumes getting noticed by recruiters, ensuring they aren’t discarded by automated systems.
2. Example: If your client is applying for a marketing manager role, Jobscan will analyze their resume and the job description to identify keyword gaps, such as "content strategy" or "SEO," and suggest improvements for better alignment.

2. Resumeworded

Provides AI-powered feedback that helps you improve resumes by scoring their effectiveness and offering actionable tips for enhancement.

1. Why It’s Great: Resumeworded reviews your resume’s formatting, language, and overall structure. It gives you a “resume score,” highlighting areas that need improvement—like passive voice, weak action verbs, or lack of quantifiable achievements.
2. Example: If a client’s resume lacks impact, Resumeworded will recommend switching passive phrases like "responsible for managing" to "managed" or "led" for more direct, powerful language.

3. Grammarly

An essential tool for checking grammar, spelling, and style, ensuring that every resume is error-free and professional.

1. Why It’s Great: Grammarly goes beyond simple spell check—it detects complex grammatical issues, suggests clarity improvements, and checks for tone. This ensures that resumes are polished, professional, and aligned with your client’s tone of voice.
2. Example: While writing an executive’s resume, Grammarly can help ensure that the language remains formal and authoritative, removing any casual phrases or grammar errors that could undermine professionalism.

4. Zety

Key Feature: A user-friendly online resume builder that offers visually appealing templates and guides you through the resume creation process.

1. Why It’s Great: Zety makes it easy to create sleek, professional resumes with minimal effort. It offers customizable templates that are both ATS-friendly and visually striking. This tool is ideal if you’re short on time or need to quickly create multiple resumes for clients in different industries.
2. Example: When working with a creative professional, you can use Zety to design a resume that stands out with a creative yet professional layout, all while keeping ATS compatibility in mind.

5. Hemingway Editor

Analyze your writing to improve clarity and readability, suggesting ways to make your resume more concise and impactful.

1. Why It’s Great: Hemingway Editor helps you refine dense, wordy sections of a resume, ensuring it is direct and easy to read. It highlights overly complex sentences, passive voice, and areas where simpler words can be used, making your resumes more accessible to both hiring managers and ATS.
2. Example: If a resume section says, "Led the development and management of innovative marketing campaigns," Hemingway Editor may suggest simplifying it to "Led innovative marketing campaigns," improving clarity without losing meaning.

By incorporating these AI tools into your resume writing side hustle, you’ll be able to enhance the quality of your resumes, streamline the writing process, and offer your clients a competitive edge in the job market.

For more tools, check out our guide on AI tools for content creators.

Conclusion: Ready to Launch Your Resume Writing Side Hustle?

Starting a resume writing side hustle is a great way to earn a steady income while helping people achieve their career goals. By using AI tools, you can optimize your process and deliver resumes that not only pass ATS but also impress hiring managers. With the right strategy and tools, you can build a profitable side hustle that makes a real difference in people’s lives.

For more insights on how AI can help you in other creative fields like photo editing, check out our guide on AI tools for creative professionals and take your skills to the next level!