Get Paid to Write Resumes Online ($28/hr): 11 Best Sites for Resume Writer Jobs

How to Become a Certified Resume Writer

Let’s start with the qualifications.

Now, here’s the good news.

You don’t actually need to become certified to be a resume writer.

It’s still possible to get lots of work and private clients as a freelance resume writer, without being certified.

However, some places do require certification.

So if you can make room for it in your schedule and budget, then you might want to consider it.

Here are a few places where you can get trained/certified as a resume writer:

• National Resume Writers’ Association (NRWA)
• Career Directors International (CDI)
• Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

While being certified doesn’t hurt, it’s not a requirement with every company.

You’ll find that many companies state that they prefer certified candidates, so it’s definitely something to consider as it could increase your chances of getting hired.

Some places require you to have a degree instead or as well as that certification.

Other places don’t really require you to have any qualifications – instead, they’re just looking for a good portfolio of samples or experience.

Just check the requirements for the company that you plan to work with.

Where to Find Resume Writing Jobs

General freelancing sites aren’t the only places where you can find freelance resume writing opportunities. Below, we’ve listed places where you can find work as a resume writer.

1. WriterBay

Find freelance resume writing work at WriterBay.

To join the site, you’ll need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree, which can be in any subject, and excellent writing skills and knowledge of the English language.

Of course, since it’s an online freelance gig, you’ll also need internet access and an email address.

If you’re looking for a resume writing side hustle, give this company a try.

• Find work with WriterPay here.

2. RiseSmart

Offering, career transition services, RiseSmart is often on the lookout for resume writers.

You’ll need to have at least 5 years’ worth of experience as a professional resume writer for this one. So if you’re just starting, this company might not be ideal.

Aside from that, you’ll also need to have excellent written and verbal English communication skills.

RiseSmart also says that it prefers candidates who have a certification from one of the major career organizations, like the NRWA, CDI, or CPRW.

RiseSmart posts openings for resume writers on its careers page.

At the time of writing, there were lots of positions available for resume writers, including remote positions.

• Find resume writing work with RiseSmart here.

3. Talent Inc.

At the time of writing, Talent Inc. has openings for a remote resume writer.

So if you want to make money from home writing resumes, this could be the gig for you.

Just visit the careers page that we linked to below, and scroll down to where it says, “Open Positions” and you’ll see the resume writer gig.

For this one, you’ll need to have exceptional writing skills, and have at least three years’ worth of experience.

• Find resume writing work at Talent Inc. here.

4. WriteZillas

WriteZillas has work available for resume writers. According to the site, more than 100 new assignments come in daily, so there’s plenty of work on offer.

There’s not much on the site about required qualifications, so apply and see if you’d be suited to work with the company.

• Find resume writing work at WriteZillas here.

5. Boardroom Resumes

Boardroom Resumes is another one to check out.

It’s a company that provides resume writing services.

On its careers page, Boardroom Resumes doesn’t list any details about its resume writing jobs.

Instead, there’s a form that you can complete to apply for work.

• Find resume writing work at Boardroom Resumes here.

6. ResumeYard

ResumeYard is another resume writing service.

It often has positions open for resume writers.

At the time of writing, ResumeYard had an opening for a resume writer.

To be eligible for this position, you’ll need to have two years’ worth of professional resume writing experience. You’ll also need to have excellent written and verbal English communication skills.

Experience in HR and a certification from one of the major career organizations, like CPRW, is also preferred.

• Find resume writing work at ResumeYard here.

7. UpWork

On UpWork, clients posts jobs and freelancers can apply for them.

On there, you can find resume writing jobs. The client will outline a budget and then you can bid on it.

The only issue with UpWork is that if you get a job when you get paid you will have to pay a service fee on your income, which is 20% when you first start working with a client.

• Find resume writing work on UpWork here.

8. Indeed

Clients and companies post job openings for writers on Indeed. So it’s definitely worth taking a look on there for work.

You can find a lot of remote positions on there as well.

• Find resume writing work on Indeed here.

9. Freelancer.com

Freelancer.com is another platform, where you can find freelance resume writing work.

Clients post job listings on there, and you can apply for them.

It’s worth checking on there for paying gigs.

• Find resume writing work on Freelancer.com here.

10. SimplyHired

Another place to check out for work is SimplyHired. It’s another one where clients and companies post jobs for freelancers. It’s worth a look because it has a pretty good selection of resume writing jobs.

• Find resume writing work on SimplyHired here.

11. Fiverr

Fiverr started as a platform where people could offer small gigs and services for just 5 bucks a pop but it slowly morphed into a hugely popular freelancing platform where freelancers offer any kind of service you can imagine.

You can offer anything from graphic and website design to making videos, holding a sign in a public space and prank calling to voice over, data entry and of course writing cover letters and resumes.

All you need to do to get started is create a free Fiverr account and create a gig. Thor forms make it easy to quickly enter the details of your service, how much you charge, samples of your past works and whatever else you want to add.

You can promote your Fiverr gig anywhere you like -Craigslist, friends and family, on social media sites, your own website or blog and so on. That said because Fiverr is so popular, sometimes you don’t even need to promote your gigs that much since it will naturally be seen by hundreds of thousands of Fiverr’s daily visitors.

• Find resume writing work on Fiverr here.

How Much Can You Make as a Resume Writer?

The pay really varies on this one.

Let’s take a look at some examples of what you could earn as a resume writer:

• According to PayScale, the average pay is $23.96 an hour for a resume writer.
• On UpWork, the pay differs a lot from job to job. At the time of writing, there were jobs available on the first page of the listings that paid between $40 and $100.
• WriterBay pays $10 to $14 an hour, according to figures reported on Glassdoor.
• On its website, WriterBay says that writers can make up to $20 per page.
• On Glassdoor, resume writers report that they make $26 an hour at RiseSmart. Pay can vary from $22 to $28 an hour though.
• WriteZillas pays up to $15 per page.
• On Freelancer.com, at the time of writing, the average bid for resume writing jobs ranged from $20 to more than $300.
• Talent Inc. says it pays up to $3,500 a month.

How to Start a Resume Writing Business

Working for companies, like RiseSmart or Talent, Inc. is great, but you might want to consider starting your own resume writing business.

This is because it can be more profitable in the long-run.

When you have your own business, you can set your own rates.

Plus, you can increase your income as you build up your business.

When you work with one of the companies like ResumeYard or WriterBay, your income is set, without much room for growth.

So starting up your own resume writing business can be a good idea.

Of course, at the start, making money from your own business will be tougher than making money with the sites above.

Stick with it though, and you could really increase your income.

Here are some tips for starting your own resume writing business.

Brush up your writing skills

Writing and communication skills are key in resume writing. So make sure you can write well.

If you are a little rusty, brush up online. There are plenty of grammar courses online, this this one from Northern Illinois University.

Think about working with local clients too

The internet is an excellent place to find clients, but consider working with clients in your area as well. Chances are that there are people in your area who need your services. You could hand out business cards and even put an ad in the local paper.

Consider working in a niche

When you define a niche within the resume market, like finance, for example, then it can differentiate your business from other resume writing services.

You can specialize in writing resumes for recent graduates, stay-at-home moms and dads who are returning to work, or healthcare, for example.

Consider a niche if it suits you of course.

Get the right equipment

You don’t need tons of equipment to get started with this.

That said, this is a computer based home business so you do need some equipment. A PC with a word processor is enough if you are working solely online.

Depending on whether you plan to work with clients in-person, you might also need a printer, fax machine, and copier.

Also, if you do plan to meet with clients face-to-face, then you will need to set up a small office space. You’ll just need a desk and several chairs to create a comfortable and professional atmosphere.

Research your competition

Don’t get too caught up in what your competition is doing.

But, do research their rates, experience, and services they offer as it can help you to alter your business to match the current market expectations if needed.

It can also help you to find more ways to differentiate your resume writing business.

Think about what services you want to offer

While it’s fine to just offer resume writing services, many businesses also offer additional services.

For example, many also write cover letters or help their clients to organize a career portfolio.

So consider offering a few services in the career area if you want to.

You can then set prices for each one.

Providing a few different services can attract those customers who are looking for a one-stop-shop type of deal.

But don’t think that you have to offer more than just resume writing.

Some people just want someone to write their resume and that’s it.

So if you want your business to solely offer resume writing services, then that’s great too.

Check your state’s laws

You might live in a state that requires special licenses for the business you plan to start. So do check to see if your state has any such rules.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has a useful article on licenses and permits that you can check out here.

Consider joining professional organizations

Joining and getting certified by a professional organization, like the National Resume Writers’ Association is definitely something to consider.

Being part of one of these organizations makes you look more professional to clients. While being certified isn’t a requirement for resume writers, it really will set you apart from the competition.

So consider getting certified with one of the organizations that we mentioned above.

Don’t forget about LinkedIn!

While not a “professional” organization like those we mentioned above, LinkedIn is still an excellent platform for resume writers. It’s designed for professionals.

Plus there are lots of groups you can join, making it a great platform for networking, and therefore potentially building up your client base.

Get your branding together

You will need a logo, a website design, and potentially business cards. So it may be worth working with a graphic designer.

Create an online presence

You’ll need a website for your business, and also a profile on social media sites, like LinkedIn, which we already mentioned above, and Facebook.

Offer your services to friends and family

Ask your friends, family and colleagues if they need to have a resume written for them. You could offer your services at a reduced rate or even for free in the case of family.

Then you can use their resumes as samples for your portfolio.

You could even ask them for testimonials to put on your website.

Building up your own business and client base takes time. But it will pay off in the long-term if you are consistent and you can often make more money than you would working for a company like WriterBay.

Closing Thoughts

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to make money writing resumes.

And, you could even consider starting your own resume writing business and make even more money.

Whether you’re looking to write resumes as a part-time gig, or as a new career, give the sites and tips above a try.

Let us know about your experiences with resume writing in the comments section below, and if you know of any great platforms for finding resume writing work then share them with our readers too!