Professional Resume Writers Aren’t Disappearing … They’re Adapting

By Bridget (Weide) Brooks

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.

There are 7,000-8,000 pure “resume writers” in the U.S. as of 2025-26. 

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. 

Resume Writers: Don't Be a Hater

Today’s blog post challenge is to write about something that irks me.

Here’s one: There are enough people dissing resume writers out there without us tearing each other down. Are there good resume writers, and not-so-good resume writers? Sure. But instead of writing Facebook status updates and blog posts about how you have to rewrite the work of other resume writers, why not reach out to the original writer (if you know who it is — and that’s not often hard, if you check the “Summary Info” section of the Word document) and offer some assistance?

With millions of potential clients out there — and surrounded by pundits who say you don't need a resume writer, or do-it-yourself resources — when you publicly tear down the work of other resume writers, it makes the public doubt all members of the profession. That may not be your intention — but that's the perception it creates.

It’s hard for many people to decide to work with a resume writer, and it's even harder for them to judge what makes a “good” resume writer. I believe the fact that someone is asking for help at all is going to make them more successful. In my experience, there are few resume writers who will actually make a client’s resume worse — so if they take a client’s resume that is a “two” and they make it a “six or seven,” that client is going to benefit, even if it’s not a “ten.” And, frankly, most of these clients are not going to be unhappy, because having their resume worked on will give them more confidence.

YES, there is a difference between a $10 resume and a $10,000 resume. But there are clients who can’t afford even a $750 resume. I’ve said it before — there are resume writers who are not certified who are charging $250 for a resume that is better than some certified resume writers who charge $1000. Our goal should be to elevate the profession. To encourage each other to continue our professional development. To share best practices. To educate one another. To educate prospective clients on what a good resume looks like…and how to find those writers.

Next time you come across a poorly written professional resume, do two things:

• Research the original writer (again, you can often find this in the “Summary Info” section of the Word document). Google the person/firm. Reach out to the original writer and introduce yourself. Explain that the client came to you seeking a rewrite. (You may get some interesting information from the writer about the client that will help you serve him/her better.) Encourage the writer to join a professional association in the industry.

• Instead of writing a status update or blog post criticizing the work of that writer, turn it around and use the opportunity to educate the public about what DOES make a good resume. (“Are you making these four mistakes on your resume?” or “Is Your Resume Working?”) Don’t point out that the mistakes were made on a “professionally” written resume. After all, it’s likely that do-it-yourselfers are making the same mistakes.

I believe there is enough business for everyone. We don’t have to tear others down to build ourselves up. One of the things that impresses me most about the resume writing industry — overall — is that we are colleagues, not competitors. PLEASE keep this in mind the next time you are tempted to post something negative about another resume writer.

What are your thoughts on this?