Ever notice how everyone has the same problem? They hate writing resumes. Like, really hate it. They'll spend hours staring at a blank Word doc, wondering if "synergistically optimized cross-functional deliverables" makes them sound important or insane.
Well, one teacher figured out something interesting. Richard Lambert was teaching English abroad when he realized his students needed resume help. So he started offering the service on Fiverr for $55 each. Today? He's pulled in over $2 million from that little side hustle.
And here's the kicker - AI just made this whole business 10x easier.
Let me explain.
THE SETUP
Look, resume writing used to be this mystical art form. You'd either DIY it (badly) or pay some career coach $300 to jazz it up with corporate buzzwords. Lambert succeeded because he had experience from Harvard's career services office and could actually write.
But here's what's changed: ChatGPT can now write better resume copy than 90% of the "professionals" out there. And it does it in 2 minutes instead of 2 hours.
The math is beautiful: People still hate writing resumes (universal problem), AI makes the service delivery ridiculously fast (efficiency gains), and platforms like Fiverr connect you to customers worldwide (built-in marketplace).
This isn't about replacing human judgment - it's about using AI to handle the tedious parts while you focus on strategy and client communication.
THE EVIDENCE
Look, I'm naturally skeptical of side hustle claims, so I dug deeper.
Richard Lambert's story checks out. CNBC documented his journey from teacher to seven-figure Fiverr seller. He started charging $55 per resume in 2014 and now commands $75-130 depending on the service package. The guy built a legitimate business by solving a real problem.
The demand is insane. Current Fiverr data shows resume writing services ranging from $100-400 for entry-level positions, with some premium services hitting $2,500. That's not inflated guru nonsense - that's actual market pricing when people are desperate to land a job.
AI adoption is everywhere. One Medium writer recently claimed they're generating $20K monthly with an AI-powered resume platform. Look, I can't verify that exact number, but the trend is obvious: people want AI-assisted resume help and they're willing to pay for it.
Reality check: Not everyone will hit Lambert's numbers. But even at 10% of his volume, you're looking at a solid $200-500/month weekend business. The fundamentals work - people need resumes, hate writing them, and will pay for quality help.
The verdict? This opportunity is legit, but success depends on execution and client service, not just AI prompting.
THE BUILD
Here's your weekend weapon arsenal:
Core Tools:
ChatGPT Plus: $20/month (for GPT-4 access and consistent availability)
Canva Pro: $15/month (optional, for visual resume templates)
Fiverr seller account: Free (takes 20% commission)
Total investment: $35/month
Your Weekend Sprint:
Saturday Morning (3 hours): Fire up ChatGPT Plus and practice writing resumes for different industries. Crank out 5-6 sample resumes to build your portfolio. Focus on the bread-and-butter roles: marketing coordinator, software engineer, project manager, sales rep. Honestly, these are where the volume is.
Saturday Afternoon (2 hours): Time to learn ATS (Applicant Tracking System) requirements. Figure out which keywords and formats actually get past the robots. This knowledge is what separates you from the "I'll write your resume for $10" crowd.
Sunday Morning (2 hours): Build your Fiverr gigs. Start with 3 packages: Basic resume review ($75), Complete rewrite ($125), Premium package with cover letter and LinkedIn optimization ($175). Don't overthink the pricing - you can always adjust.
Sunday Afternoon (1 hour): Work your network. Post on LinkedIn about your new service. Text that friend who's been complaining about job hunting. Even landing 2-3 clients your first month covers your tools and then some.
Pro tip from the trenches: Don't just copy-paste AI output. The secret sauce is using ChatGPT to generate strong bullet points, then editing them to match the client's voice and industry. That human touch is what justifies your fee.
(I'm diving deeper into this strategy in something I'm building—details at the bottom.)
THE MONEY TALK
Realistic projections: Let's keep it real. If you land 4 resumes your first month at $100 each, that's $400 gross. After Fiverr takes their 20% cut, you pocket $320. Not retirement money, but not bad for weekend work either.
Lambert's doing several resumes per day at $75-130 each. Even hitting 25% of his volume gets you to $1,500+ monthly. Scale from there based on how much you actually want to work.
Hidden costs nobody mentions:
Learning curve: Budget 2-3 weeks to get smooth with AI prompting
Client revisions: People will want changes. Plan for it.
Platform competition: You'll need solid reviews to stand out from the crowd
Bottom line: This isn't a get-rich-quick scheme. It's a legitimate service business with AI making everything faster. The upside scales with how much effort you put in.
YOUR MISSION (should you choose to accept it)
Your weekend checklist:
□ Sign up for ChatGPT Plus
□ Practice AI resume writing with 3 different job descriptions
□ Create Fiverr seller profile with sample work
□ Post about your service on LinkedIn
□ Reach out to 5 people in your network who might need resume help
The beauty of this business? You're solving a real problem people face constantly. Job market's tough, competition's fierce, and nobody wants to spend hours crafting the perfect resume.
You're just giving them a shortcut.
Catch you in the lab.
-San
Building The Easy AI Playbook
Look, I'm tired of $3K courses teaching outdated AI tactics. So I'm building something different—think Netflix for side hustles. Fresh opportunities every month, real validation, weekend implementation guides.
No fluff, no fake income screenshots, just the stuff that actually works.
I'm launching later this year, but if you join the founding member waitlist now, you get "The First $5K Playbook" free—3 validated AI businesses you can start this weekend.
800+ people already in. Want early access? 👇
