Should You Pay for Help With Your Job Search?

Which services can be worthwhile and what to watch out for

Matt Swenson,

AARP

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Published January 06, 2026

an illustration of a person putting money into a paper shredder labeled job search

Rob Dobi

In the fourth incarnation of his professional life, Louis Pinault of Cary, North Carolina, vowed he would land a job as a privacy analyst. Having achieved two security certifications since 2020, Pinault was qualified for the role, but he could tell that his dream would not come true at MetLife, where he worked in the information technology department for more than three years.

Pinault, 70, could have ridden his existing job into retirement, but he remained determined.“I can get pretty stubborn sometimes,” he says.

So he contacted Colleen Paulson, an accomplished career coach based in Pittsburgh, after seeing her LinkedIn posts advising older workers. Impressed by Paulson’s knowledge of such individuals’ circumstances and needs, Pinault hired her for $1,000 to consult on his résumé and improve his LinkedIn profile.

After some disappointments in his yearlong search, Pinault was hired in November 2025 as a cybersecurity privacy analyst at Koniag, a government contractor.

In today’s competitive job-search environment, exacerbated for older applicants by age bias, many older job hunters are turning to professional help. This can include career coaching, résumé writing, networking support and more. Additional job-search costs can include premium subscriptions to online tools and specialty services that identify roles and companies that might be a good fit.

Today’s applicants are facing a weakening job market, says Elise Gould, senior economist for the Economic Policy Institute. “The hiring rate is pretty soft,” she says.

A tough market may lead to increased spending on job-hunting services.

Michael Baynes, CEO and cofounder at Clarify Capital, a financial consulting firm that studies the job market, says the company’s research found that 1 in 10 Americans spent $500 or more on their most recent job search. “The average job seeker spends the most money on interview outfits, travel and paid job platforms, so you want to make sure that money is going toward things that actually move the needle,” Baynes says.

In Pinault’s case, the investment was a modest sum that helped secure a senior position. Paulson said she typically charges $1,250 for individuals seeking executive positions, but she knows of other services charging between $3,000 and $6,000.

Paulson says the high prices can be worthwhile for individuals like one of her clients who accepted a position paying $600,000 per year. “It’s a different story for the average job seeker,” cautions Paulson.

Carl Van Horn, a Rutgers University professor of public policy specializing in the American labor market, advises older job seekers to steer clear of paid services. “I would say to rely upon friends and colleagues and associates that you’ve known over the years,” he says.

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Van Horn adds that there are a number of free resources available online and encourages those seeking external help to seek out volunteer organizations, college career centers and faith-based institutions.

AARP and Indeed also are collaborating to provide career services to older workers at free or reduced costs. These offerings include résumé reviews, job interview preparation and career coaching.

When job-search help might be worth the money

You don’t have to break the bank to get a boost on your job hunt. Here are some economical ways to get assistance in your search.

Résumés and cover letters. As more companies and organizations employ digital applicant tracking systems (ATS) that rely upon AI to filter résumés and cover letters based on keywords, having a professional set of eyes can help flag missing or misused language on your résumé and LinkedIn profile. “The ‘about’ section is usually the part where we go most in-depth into optimization,” says Lorraine K. Lee, a career coach, keynote and workshop speaker, and author of Unforgettable Presence, a guide to increasing your professional social media profile.

That noted, Lee says an applicant is more likely to get an interview and be in a position to be hired if they have a reference from within the company.

Personal branding. Selling your skills online may sound distasteful to applicants who have spent years proving their worth to companies. But in today’s digital world, it’s a necessary step and one that plays into the hands of savvy older workers, says Lee. “Someone who’s older and more experienced in their career has a very rich brand,” she says. “I actually think that’s a great advantage. It’s just about how they can be really clear on the value they offer.”

A career coach or social media consultant can help create the proper messaging and cadence for getting your name out there.

Networking events. Van Horn is dubious about heavily investing in one tool but says there are some intangibles stemming from a well-rounded strategy that could help land a new role. “The job-search process is in some ways random,” he says. “What you want to do is increase the percentage of opportunities for a random hit.” That can be done by attending networking sessions, going to seminars or simply volunteering with an organization in the industry you’d like to work in. Some efforts require financial investment; others involve being smart with your time and energy.

Job boards and social media. Paying a modest fee for access to a specialty job board or premium services on a social media platform can expand access to job opportunities. Prices for FlexJobs, which specializes in part-time jobs and remote work, range from $9.95 to $59.95, depending on how long you sign up for. Upwork specializes in contract work, charging a percentage for each contract signed.

Most of LinkedIn’s services are free and will suffice to get you started on the job search, says Lee.

LinkedIn Premium, available for free for one month before rates kick in, ranges between $19 and $39 per month (based on promotions) and offers increased opportunities.

Among the most distinct advantages of the premium service are the expanded networking opportunities. The paid service allows you to send five InMail messages per month on the service and be rolled over to 15.

Lee says using LinkedIn to send a personalized note can make a strong impression, as she learned firsthand when hiring a new employee recently. Out of 1,000 applicants, only 10 sent her a direct message. Two stood out over the rest. “Those two people ended up being the two finalists,” she notes.

What to watch out for

Given the challenges in the job market, desperation sneaks in, and scammers are eager to exploit your emotions and financial need.

A few signs of fraudulent job-search services to watch out for include:

Short-term promises. Pinault is among the many job seekers who heard promises about landing a job within a short time frame, such as 30 days. “No one can make that commitment,” says Pinault. “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

Paulson said a job search typically takes, at a minimum, six to 12 months. In the meantime, Baynes noted that there are benchmarks to evaluate the results. “Track whether you’re getting more emails, interviews or recruiter messages after using a paid service,” he says.

Generic solutions. Just as applicants should cater their pitches to employers, they should also seek out advice from professionals who cater their methods to the job seekers’ circumstances. An all-in-one solution should be a warning sign for a problematic outcome. “A good coach won’t have a turnkey approach,” says Lee.

Your shrinking bank account. Among the biggest factors in allocating funds for a job search is your own financial situation. Pinault had an existing job, and his wife still works as a certified nursing assistant, so he could afford to be patient. Others are not so fortunate and should be wary. “If you’re spending more than you’d make in your first month at the new job, that’s a red flag,” says Baynes. “There’s a point where the stress of overspending outweighs the benefit. Set a budget up front and stick to it. You’re looking for a job, not buying one.”

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