Fiverr Resume Side Hustle to Career Coaching Business

Hello! I’m Dr. Kyle Elliott. I’m a trauma-informed career coach and trusted confidant to Silicon Valley’s top talent. I help senior managers and executives in tech as they navigate their job searches in the competitive employment market. This often includes helping them identify target companies that align with their career goals, showing them how to position themselves competitively for roles, and working with them to improve their interview skills.

As an ardent learner, I’ve completed more coach training programs than I can count. In fact, one of my pandemic hobbies was completing a doctorate in education. My doctoral research focused on mental health stigma and storytelling.

When not coaching or managing my one-person business, you can often find me at Starbucks or Disneyland. I also spend a lot of time doing Pilates, my newfound hobby, which has been a great way to manage my mental health.

I started my side hustle, a resume review business, entirely by accident. I created an advertisement on Fiverr, an online marketplace, to provide resume reviews and write LinkedIn About sections.

I was good at writing resumes and landing jobs, so this felt like a natural way to make a few bucks while helping people at the same time.

Fast forward several years and several price increases, and I was working 30+ hours per week on top of my full-time job at a university. Ultimately, I had to decide whether it would remain a side hustle and limit the number of clients I served, or I leave my 9-5 gig to pursue career coaching as a full-time business, which I ultimately did.

I never imagined this college side hustle would turn into what is now my full-time job!

Originally, I defined success by simply making enough money to pay for my iced soy, sugar-free vanilla lattes at Starbucks while in college. As a college student, I was happy if I made a few hundred dollars per month to sustain my coffee addiction and grab pizza or Subway.

Over time, I developed a niche in helping professionals in tech who were making a difference through their work. I found—and continue to find—great satisfaction and meaning through my efforts.

I measure success in two ways: (1) with my clients, whether they reach their goals, which are often things like improved career clarity, increased confidence, and landing a new job, and (2) with my business, whether I am using my unique experience, expertise, and talents to make a positive, lasting difference in the world. At the end of the day, and at the end of my life, I want to look back and know I made a difference.

Today, I’ve finally surrounded myself with a great group of fellow business owners who support and uplift me, and I wish I had found these communities and individuals sooner, as they make the journey feel far less lonely and isolating. I also wish I had invested in coaching and business mentorship earlier on, as they give me confidence and help me avoid rookie mistakes.

If you’re just beginning, start small. Please don’t feel like you must have a website, social media presence, email newsletter, or any other collateral to launch your business. It’s easy to get hung up on little things and miss out on doing the work of relationship-building, selling, and running your business. This sounds scary, but you’ll soon find that small, consistent steps toward your larger goals really does work.

Please feel free to check out my website, CaffeinatedKyle.com, where I offer a ton of freebies to help professionals navigate their job searches and careers.

You can also hang out with me on LinkedIn, where I was named a LinkedIn Top Voice for Job Search & Careers (the platform’s highest honors).

Or you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).