What's resume real estate, anyway?

You've probably hear the statistics: most hiring managers will spend just 10 seconds reviewing your resume before making that crucial decision: interview or toss?

If you're having difficulty making it into the "interview" pile, take a hard look at what you've written and where you've put it.

Numerous studies abound that show nearly ALL recruiters will read ONLY the top half of your first resume page word-for-word.

Sure, they'll skim the rest (Where did you go to school? What are the dates of your posiitions? What were your job titles?), but you can count on having EVERY WORD scrutinized in this valuable section of "resume real estate."

So, to make your resume a standout document, you'll need to spend some time getting the mundane details out of this part of your resume--and move the juicy stuff to the forefront, starting with these tips:

1) Avoid supplying the details that others already know.

Network administrators configure servers, accountants manage general ledger entries, and sales representatives open new accounts. These are all no-brainer pieces of information that have NO place in prime resume real estate.

Save these descriptors for use later in your resume as keywords, but be sure to note the impact of your work when performing these tasks.

2) Sprinkle achievements here to grab the eye.

Dollar figures, percentages, and other metrics should take center stage on any resume, and the best place to point out these validations of your skills is right up front.

In a challenged economy, employers need to find productive, revenue-generating, cost-cutting resources more than ever. Make your resume shine by giving them what they crave--and DON'T make them hunt for it.

I frequently counsel do-it-yourself resume writers on how to include a Highlights section placed squarely in this area, with key pointers on what should go here, how to make it keyword-loaded, and how to structure the sentences that go into it for maximum impact.

3) Skip the trite phrases.

A truly branded resume tells the reader WHO you are and WHAT you do best, all up front.

Giving employers a taste of your unique strengths (skills, work style, achievements, and so on) is the best way to tell them why they need to call you--NOW--for THIS particular job.

Therefore, you'll want to avoid copying phrases that describe others, or that you've seen in every job ad. "Self-motivated team players" are everywhere!

Overall, you'll find that using prime "real estate" at the start of your resume is one of the best secrets to both a professional look, and one that gets results--fast.