I made $1.2 million as a résumé writer last year. AI has reduced my monthly income by about a third, and I’m thinking about a career pivot.

I made $1.2 million as a résumé writer last year. AI has reduced my monthly income by about a third, and I’m thinking about a career pivot.

Summary

Richard Lambert, a highly successful résumé writer who earned roughly $1.2 million in 2024 and has made over $7 million via Fiverr since 2014, says AI has cut his monthly income from about $105,000 on average last year to roughly $70,000 by summer 2025 — about a 30% decline. He still earns very well and believes human-led, personalised résumé work remains valuable, but he’s exploring other skills and considering a career pivot as AI reshapes demand.

Key Points

• Lambert averaged $105,000 per month writing résumés in 2024; by mid-2025 that fell to about $70,000 — roughly a 30% drop.
• He built his business primarily on Fiverr and through his own company, accruing more than $7 million since 2014.
• Clients increasingly use AI as a first step for résumé writing; AI-assisted résumés are common but often show distinctive “tells”.
• Lambert still provides value through personalisation, tailored role-specific résumés, and packages of multiple targeted CVs for jobseekers.
• In response to uncertainty, he’s expanding his skills (learning boat mechanics) and pursuing better work–life balance and new income options.

Content summary

The piece is an as-told-to essay from Lambert describing how rapid adoption of AI tools has materially reduced demand and revenue for expert résumé writers. He outlines concrete numbers, his reaction to the shift, and how he’s adjusting — both professionally and personally. Lambert highlights that AI can be useful but often lacks personalised voice and nuance, which remains a selling point for human writers. He also describes spending time learning manual skills as a hedge and for fulfilment.

Context and relevance

This article is a real-world snapshot of how generative AI is affecting specialised freelance services. It matters to freelancers, hiring managers, career coaches and platforms that connect gig workers with clients. The story echoes broader trends: AI lowers barriers to entry for basic tasks, pressures prices, and forces incumbents to focus on differentiation, higher-value services and skill diversification.

Why should I read this?

Short answer: because it’s a front-row look at what AI actually does to someone earning six figures from a niche service. If you freelance, hire freelancers, run a marketplace, or simply wonder whether AI is hype or livelihood disruption — this is a neat, human story that sums it up. Plus, there are practical takeaways: specialise, add human nuance, and don’t put all your eggs in one platform.

Author style

Punchy: the account is candid and direct — numbers first, feelings second. It underlines urgency without panic: you can still win, but you need to adapt. Read closely if you rely on specialised, repeatable work where AI can step in.

Source

Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-has-reduced-my-monthly-income-by-a-third-2025-9