I spent seven years at the White House reviewing thousands of resumes from some of the most qualified candidates in the country.
What surprised me most wasn’t how good the best ones were — it was how many incredibly talented people had resumes that completely failed to showcase their strengths.
That experience eventually led me to launch a side hustle that has now generated over **$400,000** in total revenue — and helped me buy my first home in one of America’s most expensive cities.
From White House to Side Hustle
After leaving the White House in 2017, I took a 30% pay cut to join a Washington State government agency. Like many in high-cost Seattle, I was struggling to imagine ever owning a home on a government salary alone.
Around that time, friends, former colleagues, and mentees kept asking me for resume advice. One finally said, “You’re actually really good at this. Have you ever thought about doing it professionally?”
I hadn’t — but the idea stuck. In mid-2020, while working full-time as an enforcement attorney for NOAA, I quietly launched **Clinchy Career Consulting** on Fiverr.
The Biggest Resume Mistake Most People Make
The number one mistake I see on nearly every resume?
**People list what they did, but not why it mattered.**
They copy their job description into the experience section — “Responsible for X. Managed Y.” — without showing the *impact* or *value* they delivered.
A strong resume doesn’t just tell a hiring manager what you were responsible for. It proves you were *exceptional* at it. Did you save money? Increase efficiency? Solve a major problem? Deliver results under pressure?
That’s what separates a forgettable resume from one that makes you look like a superstar.
The same principle applies to cover letters. Too many people write a condensed autobiography or focus on what *they* want. Hiring managers don’t care what you want — they care whether you can solve *their* problems. The best cover letters quickly show how your specific experience matches the company’s needs.
How I Built a Six-Figure Side Hustle
I started with intentionally low rates on Fiverr to build momentum and gather reviews. It worked. Orders came in steadily, especially during January (New Year reflection season) and fall (back-to-school energy).
Fiverr was the perfect launchpad because it brought clients to me instead of forcing me to chase bids like on Upwork. As my reviews and reputation grew, I gradually raised my prices.
Today, while I still get clients through Fiverr, the majority of my business now comes from referrals and repeat clients. In 2025 alone, I generated **$250,000** on the platform. Across six years of freelancing (Fiverr + direct clients), I’ve now earned over **$400,000** — averaging roughly **$70,000 per year** in side income.
Why Demand for Career Help Is Exploding
The last few years have accelerated the need for professional resume and career support. AI-driven layoffs, rapid industry disruption, and more frequent career pivots mean people are changing jobs — and sometimes entire fields — far more often than previous generations.
Many skills are highly transferable. The key is learning how to reframe your experience to match what a new employer is actually looking for. I always tell clients: treat the job description like a manual. Highlight exactly what they need, then show how your background — even if not identical — makes you the right person for the role.
The Payoff
This side hustle has been far more than extra money. It helped me purchase and renovate a beautiful 100+ year-old home in Seattle — something that would have been nearly impossible on my government salary alone.
More importantly, I genuinely love the work. Every client has a unique story. I’ve now worked with professionals from 25 different countries across nearly every industry. Being able to help them articulate their value and land better opportunities is incredibly rewarding.
Advice for Aspiring Side Hustlers
If you’re thinking about starting a side hustle, don’t wait for the “perfect” time — it never comes. Just start.
Join communities like the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PARWCC) to accelerate your learning. And always ask happy clients for reviews. Those early reviews were the rocket fuel that helped my Fiverr gigs reach the top of search results.
You don’t need to be perfect to begin. You just need to begin.