I need to clean up this opening to my resume. Please make this sound better.

"I am seeking an application development managerial position in a
small to medium size company.

In my last eight years in the technology field, I have been a manager
of teams ranging from five to fifteen members. My teams have always
comprised of both local and offsite members, and in many cases, they
have comprised of offshore developers from Russia, the Ukraine, India,
Australia or Argentina.

For two of my professional years, I held the position of software
architect, designing client-server three-tier applications from only
user requirements. I have also re-architected existing applications to
make them quicker, smaller and more efficient. I have extensive
experience designing desktop interfaces as well as complete websites.

I have built my management skills based upon my hands on experience as
a software developer, specializing in Microsoft technologies.  I have
authored six software development publications and hold both B.S. and
M.S. degrees. Outlined, my skills include the following:"

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Clarification of Question by cornchip-ga on 26 Jan 2005 07:30 PST

Than you Boxclever,

This is at the top of my resume, and not the cover letter in an
Objective or Introduction section.

Your advice for submitting cover letters and interviewing are superb.
I will use them.

However, I am looking for this set of paragraphs to be reworded a
little more eloquently. If necessary, I can modify the content.

The point of it is to quickly point out my benefits (in general)
without restating what is already in the resume. For instance, I used
to list the publications I wrote, but I have a section for that in my
resume later on. The same is true for the degrees I hold.

You've mentioned the word "opening" so by that do you mean a covering
letter to your CV (resume)? People tend to make the same mistake when
applying for a vacant position within a company; they explain what
they have done in the past rather than explaining how their knowledge
and expertise can help the recruiting company fulfil its obligations.

Those seeking new staff want one thing; to find the right person to
fill the vacant position in the shortest possible time. It is always a
chore to recruit. One spends hours sifting through a mountain of CVs,
most of which say pretty much the same thing, in order to spend yet
more time interviewing staff in order to get the "how can you fit in
here? / What can you offer this company? " questions answered.

Your opening letter, accompanied by your resume, is one of two entries
to the interview stage. It needs to set itself apart from the others.
You should always try to personalise this opening. I'll explain:

"The position of {post advertised} within your comapny interests me
for several reasons." Go on to give at least three reasons why the
advertised job within the recruiting company is appealing. This shows
that you have not just sent the same CV and cover letter to a dozen
companies, but you have paid particular attention to the finer details
of the advertised post. It may be necessary to do some background
research into the company beforehand. If one of the reasons why the
post is appealing is based upon additional research and not as a
result of something written in the advertisement you have set yourself
apart.

One thing that always makes me cringe is the last line in the opening:
"I very much look forward to hearing from you and would be available
at your disposal to discuss my candidature further" or something to
that effect. Tell them in the letter that YOU will telephone THEM.
Then do it. You do not yet work for the company but already you are
trying to save them time and money. So, "I shall telephone your office
on {four working days later} to confirm receipt of my candidature".
This is the second entry to the interview stage. Very few people do
this so the interviewer will take your call.

Once in the interview stage the interviewer will try to take control.
It is esential that you take control; but gently. Remember that he is
looking for the ideal candidate so that he can get back to doing his
"proper" job. He wants to say "The job is your's" to someone and soon.
Always have the last word. When asked "Do you have any further
questions?" say "Just One!. As a result of this interview do you have
any reservations about me or any reasons why you cannot offer me the
position?". (It takes b*lls to ask this one). If he says yes and goes
on to explain his reservations you can answer and put his mind at
rest. You are still there in front of him. You are now in control and
he has to find reasons why you cannot offer you the position.  If he
says no then you simple ask what date he wants you to start.

"I'm sorry, I'm afraid you do not have enough knowledge of offshore
development in Outer Mongolia". Your reply again puts you in control:
"If in three months time I do not have sufficient knowledge of the
Outer Mongolian Offshore Development Program you can fire me. It is
not my intention to get fired!"

One last thing. When you have internal meetings you go to the meeting
with a block pad and a pen. You do not go with a briefcase. Unless you
have some large skethces to take to the interveiw do not go with a
briefcase. You show yourself as an "outsider". Treat the interview as
just another internal meeting and you will both feel more confortable.
It shows you fit in.

Rather than trying to write the above once as a generic opening use
the information within it to adapt it to a particular advertised
position.

Hi Cornchip. What about this for starters : 

1st Paragraph is an amalgam of your first two paragraphs.

A methodical, thoughtful and conscientious developer with proven
executive career managing teams of international on-shore and
off-shore developers from differing cultural backgrounds seeks
managerial position.

Do not use ?I?; refer to yourself as a third person. How do you judge
if a company is small or medium? Do they see themselves in the same
guise as you see them? Will you offend a ?large? company if you send
your letter to them? Have you limited your employment potential using
words such as small and medium?

2nd Paragraph.

An in-depth understanding of software architecture, with particular
emphasis on client - server three tier systems, has honed skills in
software re-development making applications more efficient, effective
and user-friendly. This expertise together with a thorough knowledge
of desktop interfaces, Microsoft technologies and Intranet development
and deployment would greatly benefit any company where information
distribution is seen as essential.

Your management skills come from managing people ? with and without
errors. Don?t give Bill Gates the credit for something YOU?VE done
through your own steam. Okay, you?ve mentioned websites and I?m using
the word Intranet. But I know you know what it means. It also sounds
more techy!

3rd Paragraph.

Holding both BS and MS degrees in ?XX? and having authored six
{national / international???} software development publications,
existing skills include:

Cornchip, this is, of course, me writing this and when I get to the
interview I speak the same way as I write. You may want/need to
rewrite this in Cornchip ?speak?.  I?m no oracle and I don?t give this
information out for a living. What I can say is this: I have NEVER
been refused an interview and I have ALWAYS been offered the job ?
although I?ve not always accepted the position. Good luck and I?ve
plenty more ticks ?n tricks for the interview stage once you get
there!