[quote name='Ravyne' timestamp='1350621376' post='4991671']
Yeah, TStrimple's resume isn't even really out there as far as formatting.
I have tried to make it stand out from the typical resume, while still being easily consumable.
smr, you have as many years of experience as I do. Are you still sending your resume out to get jobs? You've got to go to networking events. Code camps, dev conferences, etc. Better yet, start speaking at those events! Plan on doing a talk on a subject you're not that familiar with. This will force you to learn it to the point where you're comfortable answering questions about it and you are conversant about it.
Also, talk to people! Communication skills are likely more important to landing your next programming job than actual programming ability. However if you combine your communication skills with a solid development core, you'll never have to look for a job.
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Yeah, I definitely do need to network. I actually don't feel I'm deficient at all in my communication skills. That's typically one of the things people compliment me on. I was actually offered the position to manage our development team but I didn't accept it for various reasons. The team wanted me to take the job, even so far as one threatened to quit if I didn't accept it (and nearly did), and the rest of the organization seemed to want me as well. After about three weeks of mulling it over, I did not accept the promotion. One reason being is what I've listed on the resume, but there were other issues as well. There were some office political issues I didn't want to get involved in. Additionally the fact that our development team is in the middle of a year-long death march, and no one who can put a stop to it wants to listen to reason. I haven't been told this by the former manager, but I strongly suspect that's why he moved on. I really didn't see any good reason to put myself into his situation, because he was excellent and if he couldn't put a stop to it or improve the situation behind the scenes, I had no reason to believe I would be able to do it either.
Thing is that I've found though is that I don't typically fit in with developer types. Although I've been coding since around the time I got my first pube, I really don't come off as a "computer geek." I hardly touch a computer outside of work anymore. My interests are mostly physical: running, biking, martial arts, etc., or music. I don't encounter many developers outside of the workplace, so I haven't really networked organically. I suppose there are some things I could talk about. What's a good way to find these sorts of networking events?