There has been a lot of concern in the professional resume writing community lately about the impact of artificial intelligence on the profession. I’ve been a resume writer since 1996 and have seen a lot of changes in the industry during that time. The threat from AI-written documents has had an impact on the profession — but so did resume-in-a-box software, the introduction of LinkedIn, and the rise of Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software. The industry adapts.
Hot take: AI is making the good resume writers even more valuable than ever.
Jobseekers are flooding the market with AI-generated resumes. 67% of hiring managers say AI resumes are slowing down hiring. And 65% report it’s harder to verify real skills because the resumes sound the same.
AI-written resumes lack strategy, storytelling, and the ability to position someone for a specific career move. Recruiters and hiring managers recognize AI-generated content, and it doesn’t stand out in a sea of identical applications.
Professional resume writers aren’t disappearing. They are adapting, applying their skills (career strategy, personal branding, interview preparation, etc.) to help jobseekers with the resume, other career documents, and more.
Jobseekers who use AI to write their resumes may be unprepared for the job interviews, as they weren’t invested in creating the content. One of the best things about working with a professional resume writer is the process of self-discovery and validation as the career documents are created. I can’t tell you the number of clients who have told me over the years, “Wow! I sound great!” My response is always: “You did the work. I just helped tell your story.”
In the resume development process, a good resume writer elicits accomplishments and added value from the candidate. My extensive client questionnaire requires clients to reflect on what sets them apart from other candidates with the same job title. If you post a job description and a job posting into AI, it will return results that contain the right keywords, but there’s no “soul” to the document. It still reads like a job description. There’s no transformation, no insight into how the results were achieved. That’s the difference between an AI-written and a professionally written resume.
Hiring managers can spot AI-written content more easily (generic phrasing, perfect-but-generic bullet points).
Demand for human expertise and assistance in the job search isn’t disappearing. It’s shifting to higher-value services.
Clients aren’t just paying for a "resume" anymore. They need real strategy, storytelling, personal branding, executive positioning, job interview preparation, and help fixing bland AI-written resumes.
Career professionals who pivot will develop their skills in:
- Career coaching
- Career counseling
- Career assessments
- Job search strategy
- Job interview preparation
- LinkedIn optimization
- Executive positioning
AI can draft basic documents, but clients value the human-centered, strategic side of getting help — career advising, coaching, training, and helping jobseekers stand out.
These are:
- People who treat resume writing as a primary or significant professional service — typically independent practitioners, certified writers, or those in small agencies who specialize in client-facing resume/career document services. Many in this group are self-employed freelancers or small business owners.
- PARW claims 2,800-3,000 members
- Additionally, there are writers employed at larger resume services/agencies (estimated at around 1,880 professionals).
This market is expected to remain steady over the next 5-7 years, with retiring practitioners replaced by newcomers in the market.
The resume writing service market in the U.S. is estimated at around $1 billion (2024-26 figures). For dedicated ”resume writing and editing services,” as of 2026, IBISWorld estimates the market size at approximately $304.6 million.
The larger figure of $1-$1.5 billion includes:
- Related services (LinkedIn optimization, career coaching, outplacement services, etc.)
- DIY tools, resume builder software platforms, and enterprise offerings
If you want to be part of a connected careers community that is helping jobseekers for the now and the next, join BeAResumeWriter.com.
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