The Best $50 You Can Spend To Get Hired Faster — and Paid More
Written by
Laura Bogart
Edited by
Kristen Mae
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Whether you’re on the hunt for a new job at a new organization or looking to move up at your current company, you’re probably no stranger to frustration. You’ve polished your resume, stayed active on LinkedIn, and made all the right connections, but you still feel stuck.
You know that to get unstuck, you need new resources — some of which cost money. Fortunately, you don’t need to spend thousands on career coaching or expensive courses. For $50 or less, you can tap into powerful tools that can help you land a job faster and even negotiate a higher salary.
LinkedIn Premium: $29.99 per Month
Ideally, the extra features of LinkedIn Premium — which can help you get your profile in front of more people and provide AI-powered insights on job posts and resume-writing help — will help you find a job sooner rather than later. In fact, LinkedIn reports that Premium members are twice as likely to get hired.
With Premium, you can see who’s viewed your profile, tap into relevant courses through LinkedIn Learning, and learn more about roles that best match your skills. It puts a whole range of resources right at your fingertips.
Resume Upgrades: Prices Vary
If you’re wondering why you might want to invest in a professional resume writer or editor instead of turning to ChatGPT, consider this: If you want your resume to stand out to recruiters and hiring managers, you need a human voice, not to mention an editor who’s more likely to catch typos and other contextual errors.
Using a service like Fiverr, you can find a writer or editor whose services cost around $50. They can tailor your resume to a specific role, optimize it for applicant tracking systems (ATS), and help you highlight your strengths — all within a quick turnaround.
Professional Certifications: Prices Vary by Industry
Yes, some professional certifications can cost hundreds of dollars, but not all of them have to. From IT certifications to nursing certifications, as well as coding, project management, and even office applications, many online platforms offer certifications for under $50.
Earning a certification shows hiring managers that you’re willing to keep learning and growing to excel in your field — a key factor in securing a raise or promotion in your current job or landing a new role.
Admission to Networking Events
As the old saying goes, success isn’t always about what you know, but who you know. You can get to know other movers and shakers in your industry by signing up for networking events in your area.
Using forums like Eventbrite and Meetup, you can find professional networking events ranging from formal industry gatherings to casual meetups. Many are free, while others require a small admission fee, often under $50.
Bottom Line
Investing in your career doesn’t have to break the bank. Small investments, like upgrading to LinkedIn Premium or attending networking events, can have a big payoff, increasing your chances of landing a better job, faster — and with a higher paycheck.
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