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You're a manager, aren't you? I don't think I've met a programmer who's ever mentioned anything about bring "value to the table"

Close. I'm a consultant, so I bring the worst of all worlds with me when I pan handle at your door. ;-)

(I'm also available for contracts right now. Companies getting into grid software should contact me. Resume)

One thing I've learned is that no two people on the planet will give the same advice regarding resumes.

Yes! Let me reiterate that point. I've given advice here that is completely the opposite of what some others have said.

pmz has it right. This is a game of hope and luck. I'd add that it's important that your resume reflect your personality. Mine does that. And maybe that's the reason why I'm able to break many of the conventional wisdoms and still get both interviews and hires. I'm pretty good at what I do (as illustrated by the last couple pages), passionate about it and have made careers moves in order to produce good software. All this is evident in my resume and if it were much shorter some of it wouldn't be.

In short, be yourself and let your resume be a reflection of that.

With resumes, size does matter and the shorter, "the better."

I find that this isn't true. If you only have two pages after ten years experience that says something about you. If you can't fit two years of experience into seven pages, that does to.

I think that resumes, like many things, are best in moderation.

You want something no shorter than is necessary to get your point across and no longer than is necessary to make sure the manager sees everything that might be germane to the position.

That said, I think my resume is about right, but may be getting a little long. I'm toying with the idea of having a traditional two or three page resume with an appendix of interesting material that wouldn't normally make the cut. For example, I already have one appendix that lists the really nice things my bosses have had to say about me over the years. I've had several positive comments about this. Then the skimmer type manager has what he wants, but the extra information is there for those who want a bit more depth.

I added a "Community" section to my resume and put things like that there. Similar to a 'hobbies' section, but community expresses it better. Would running the local Unix security SIG be a hobby? Not really.

My resume