Writing Resumes
Our Side Hustles Breakdown
Resume writing is about more than listing qualifications. It’s about presenting an individual’s career story in the most compelling way, making potential employers take notice. With the job market’s competitiveness, a well-crafted resume can be a pivotal factor in landing interviews.
Cons
- Subjectivity: Different clients might have varied preferences and feedback, creating new challenges in each task.
- Measuring Success: A person’s job prospects might hinge on the resume and many other resumes, making it difficult to measure success.
- Requires Up-to-date Knowledge: Resume trends and employer preferences evolve.
Pros
- Consistent Demand: Career transitions and job searches are constant, providing consistent demands.
- Flexibility: Work can often be done remotely and at flexible hours, which can be agreed beforehand.
- Satisfaction: Directly aiding individuals in their career aspirations can bring a lot of satisfaction.
What’s the one detail almost all jobs worldwide require from us besides experience? If you answered a well-written resume, you’re right!
That’s where a skill such as writing resumes comes into play. If you know how to craft a resume that captures the eyes and mind of the recruiter, then you might have a golden ticket in your hand.
Dive in to explore this sought-after skill’s potential!
An Overview of Writing Resumes: A Primer
Writing resumes is transforming a career’s worth of experience and skills into a concise document that paves the way for individuals to land their dream jobs.
But what does it actually entail? For starters, writing resumes means you need to have solid communication skills.
This is because before you write anything, you’ll sit down with the client to understand who they are and their needs. After that, there’s a lot of research.
Because industries differ vastly, freelance resume writers must familiarize themselves with the specific jargon, norms, and preferences.
While writing the resume, the writer must remember that the modern job market utilizes Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Such systems help companies filter out resumes before a human eye sees them, so resume writers need to understand them.
How Much Can Writing Resumes Earn You?
Luckily for you, if you’re great at writing resumes, you can easily make extra cash from it as a side hustle.
In fact, it can be a lucrative opportunity if you manage to distinguish yourself through quality and specialization. The base earnings of a beginner resume writer could go anywhere from $50 to $100, with an hourly average of $18
The more you learn and add to your skill list, the more you earn. If you’re an expert with consistently positive feedback on your services, the charging rates can be up to $100–$300.
Resume writers who want to gain more profit offer add-ons. For instance, you can offer potential clients cover letters that detail their relevant skills to impress potential employers.
How Much Does it Cost to Start a Side Hustle Writing Resumes?
One of the best features of writing resumes as a side hustle is that you don’t need a huge budget. How so? It’s because this is a skill-based job opportunity.
If you have what it takes, getting your business going shouldn’t take long. Nonetheless, here are some tips that can help your business.
For starters, getting certified to do your job is one of the easiest ways to enhance your credibility. To do so, you can take online courses or head straight to the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches. This step can cost anywhere from $150–$1000.
While you may already have a laptop or a computer, purchasing another one—along with a business phone—just for work is a great idea. Both products can cost around $1000–$2500, based on your preference.
Lastly, no business is complete without the little tools that make it efficient. You’ll need programs like Word Processing Software and grammar and plagiarism checkers. Monthly fees for such programs cost $30–$60.
In total, you won’t need more than $3,500—if you’re going all out—to start a writing resume side hustle.
Where Can You Find Writing Resumes Gigs?
How do you find work if you have the skills and the capital to write job descriptions and perfect resumes? Well, you can go about it through two different routes:
Where to Independently Find Writing Resumes Work
For those who prefer a hands-on approach to their business and love building their brand personally, you can start with networking. Attend industry events, job fairs, and career workshops to make connections and foster business relationships.
While you’re socializing, create profiles on different social media platforms. Sites such as LinkedIn or Instagram can showcase your skills and services. You can also use them to offer tips and share sample resumes to garner clients.
Gig Economy Companies That Offer Writing Resumes Work
Upwork is one of today’s largest and most popular bid-based platforms for online writing jobs—among other categories, like technical writing.
All you have to do is set your profile properly, as that’ll be the first item potential clients see. As such, you must fill out each section, especially the overview, where you can show off a little bit of your skill.
You start out with “connections,” which you spend while applying for jobs. Tiny hint: This might not be the best site for inexperienced applicants, as the connect system can be challenging.
Another great freelance website of the many writing sites out there is Fiverr. This site doesn’t just offer job opportunities for striving writers, but it also provides help and education.
You can find in-depth guides, podcasts, and online courses on the website to help distinguish you from the crowd.
Why You Should Consider Writing Resumes As a Side Hustle
Are you still on the fence about starting this side hustle? Well, here are some pointers that might help sway your decision:
- High Demand: As mentioned, one key aspect all jobs require when looking for candidates is a good resume. This means as long as there are job opportunities, there are people out there looking to create the perfect resume.
- Flexibility: Writing resumes as a side hustle offers immense flexibility because you’d be a freelance writer. You can choose your own clients, where you work, your hours, and balance your personal life without any issues!
- Minimal Startup Costs: If you have a suitable laptop at home and around $100 for writing software, you’re good to go! You can develop your business as it grows, but when starting it, you don’t need much.
Problems With Writing Resumes
Considering you know all the benefits of starting this side hustle, it’s only fair to look at the drawbacks. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- High Expectations: Some clients don’t understand you’re not guaranteeing an acceptance letter. Managing those expectations while explaining what your resumes can do is tiring.
- Workflow Inconsistency: Even though there are multiple job opportunities out there, not everyone seeks a professional to write their resume. That’s why one day you can get tens of requests while other days it’s just a couple.
- Regional Differences: If you’re working with international clients, you’ll face bigger challenges. You’ll need to research their regional norms, expectations, and every little nuance that can deplete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now that you know almost everything about writing resumes as a side hustle, here are some of the most popular questions out there:
What Type of Writing is a Resume?
Resume writing is a form of professional or technical writing. It’s a concise document that summarizes an individual’s education, work history, credentials, and accomplishments.
Resumes are also purpose-driven, aiming to persuade potential clients to hire you. They’re also targeted, so each document is specially tailored to the company it’s going out to.
Is There a High Demand for Resume Writing?
While DIY sources and ready templates are available for the public, people still seek professional resume writers to help them. It’s a growing field with ample opportunities.
This is mostly because every individual’s career is unique, and templates often don’t capture their journey.
It also offers individuals a chance to get an objective assessment that can help them identify and highlight their strengths and downplay any weaknesses.
