The Software Contractor's Guild^SM

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Selected Feedback:

At 11:51 AM 1/1/2004 -0600, you wrote:
David,


   SC Guild is a rare gem on the internet these days.  My expectations
for joining was meet and exceeded.  It is simple but powerful.


I joined hesitantly, since my perception was that it was just another service
like so many others and most are extreme rip-offs.  I've been very disappointed
since technology is my career.


The only reason I even bother to join was that I came across it by accident as
a result of a search.  I even called the gentlemen and asked him what he thought about
his membership.  His characterization was accurate now that I think back.


I have not taken advantage of any of the many calls and emails I've gotten over the
last 7-8 months, but the steady stream of opportunities have given me a sense of
confidence to take risk with other ongoing negotiations for consulting business.


Here are the key reason I think the SC Guild has worked for me:


        o The website's support for getting my pages searched, resulting in my resume showing up
in searched world wide.
        o Simple mechanism for making changes
        o Access statistics to help me monitor the "economy"


Fundamentally, it has been the best and most productive way to get exposure.  Most of the
opportunities have been high quality.


I've been meaning to write you and offer some constructive feedback, so I'll take the opportunity
now (the importance of each is ranked 1-5; 5=very important:


        o The "Additional Contact Info" area is my only opportunity to enter free text.  This,
or any new area you might decided to add that allows us to make free form comments should
be moved higher to the top of the page.  My concern is that anyone looking at my page might
not bother to scroll to the bottom after the loooooonnnnnngggg technology list.  (5)


I was going to say something about the process for updating our resumes but the more I think
about it I realize 1) I've been able to do it without any major problems, and 2) the current process
allows for the page to be searchable.


Thanks again.

Tim Coddington

Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2003 12:11:07 +0530
Subject: This is the best site I have seen for software contractors

Fist time I have come across a site which brings software contractors
and clients in direct touch without trying to be the mediator.
Moreover the coverage is extensive.Congrats for the great effort.

shahid
for softcell
shahid@softcellsolutions.com



Date: Tue, 01 Jul 2003 00:20:41 -0400
From: (Mary B. Winfield, Platinum Precision Software Inc.)

Thanks, I look forward to the high profile exposure from scguild.
Last summer I got a 9 month project from posting my paperwork with
you folks, it certainly paid off.

MBW


From: "Steve Duerksen"
Subject: jobs happen
Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2003 16:35:13 -0400

Hi Dave-

I actually landed a very small contract gig in May, via scguild.
A guy emailed me, needing a library of code his company produces
ported to Nucleus on ARM (they currently only do Windows and
some UNIX). So I got paid (decent hourly rate, by today's
standards) for about 80 hours over four weeks. Never met the
client personally, did everything over the Internet. It was a
hard sell (I did a lot of research before first phoning him) and
there was pressure to keep the hours low, but hey, I had zero
commute and could set my own work hours, which was very suitable
for my situation. With my current low cash-flow requirements
(zero rent at my girlfriend's place), this worked out well.

BTW re nuts and bolts, I was concerned about getting paid, since
it was such a small job and would be nearly over before the
first invoice would be paid. So I established a small (20 hours)
retainer, paid to me in advance and later deducted from the last
invoice (like a security deposit). That way, each of us was "into"
the other for either money or work, and this arrangement operated
well.

Regards,
Steve # 1007


At 10:12 AM 8/22/2002 -0700, you wrote:
I just wanted to say that this is the best site for IT contractors
that I resource from. You guys are the best!

Radhika Shah/  Resource Manager/
Spire Systems Inc/ 650.558.1891/ Radhika@spireinc.com


From: "Bill Mueller"
Date: Sun, 18 Aug 2002 12:57:32 -0500

Hi David,

This is most probably the best money, dollar for dollar, that I spend each
year.  Let me happily share with you my recent experience.

As we are all will aware of, the technology industry is flat on its face,
especially for available consulting positions.  I have spent the last year
scouring many of the on-line job websites, only to spend my time sending
resumes and responding to job positions that returned nothing.  Literally, I
rarely even get a response back after replying to a position that I am
perfectly qualified for.  I talk to a number of recruiters and have found
that they received 200-600 replies to every job posting.  They can't hardly
handle the volume of response in this market place.

Recently I was called directly by a high-tech corporation here in Austin.
They were anxious to talk to me regarding the need for a large data
gathering and analysis, custom application that they wanted to create.  It
is a very large contract and after an interview, I was signed up.

Curious about how easily I was able to secure this large contract, after
going through countless other disappointing interviews on other occasions,
I questioned the corporate recruiter.  His answers to my questions were very
revealing.  This corporate recruiter had come from a failing job/contract
placement company before he joined this high-tech corporation.  He was used
to searching for qualified candidates on the internet and was proud of his
successful techniques in finding personnel.

He said that his best success came from the niche job websites that
specialize in certain technologies, market areas, and in my case, contract
personnel.  He was not so impressed by the caliber of candidates that he has
found from the big, general, national jobsites. He found my resume and
qualifications on The Software Contractor's Guild.  His next step was to
check out my website.  This one-two impression virtually sold him before we
even had a chance to talk.

I suspect that many of the recruiters that are coming from the struggling
job/contract placement companies are beginning to change the flavor of
corporate recruiting.  In the past corporations were more inclined to go
through contract and placement companies for their personnel requirements.
I am beginning to see corporations now utilizing more of their own direct
recruiting through the use of good "internet" recruiters and through the use
of their own jobs postings on their corporate website.

I want you to know that your website has served me extremely well, indeed.
Since 1987 I have received four major contracts from the use of The Software
Contractor's Guild that directly, or indirectly, have accounted for most of
my income over the last 5 years.

That's why each year I say to you "this is the best dollar that I ever spend
to continue my successful consultancy".

Thank you,

Bill Mueller
bmueller@wcmsolutions.com
http://www.wcmsolutions.com
512 336-0842


Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2002 07:06:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: Dennis Matzner 
Subject: Re: Renewal - Software Contractors' Guild

Dear David,

    I have nothing but good things to say about you
and www.scguild.com.  It continues to be the best
twenty dollars I spend every year.  Scguild was the
starting point of a nine-month contract I landed last
year in May.  So far this year, I have received
several serious inquiries and expect to be working
soon.
    If you raised the bar to $100 per year, I would
still be in.
    Thanks, David.

                             Sincerely,

                             Dennis Matzner


From: "Bill Mueller"
Subject: Sad State of Affairs
Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2002 10:23:19 -0600

As I note the number of available contractors listed in the Guild, it just
confirms the terrible effect that the downturned economy and the events of
9-11-01 have had on the technology industry.

The economists and analysts are indicating that the economy has begun to
turn back up.  I have also heard that corporations will have a tendency to
contract rather than employ as this economy get back in motion.  However, I
am very skeptical.  I have already seen and experienced far too many events
and conditions that everyone said could not, has never, or should not
happen.

We are not likely to ever experience, in my lifetime,  the explosive demand
for technology that we saw in the Internet Goldrush.  However, I would be
pleased to see a normal state of demand and growth.

I suppose that we all just have to be patient while the changes in the
economy settle out.  I suspect some requirements will go back in high
demand, and some requirements will be left to be in small demand.

In my 37 years in this industry, I have not seen such as dramatic change in
technology (from one extreme to the other) in such short period of time.

Best of success,

Bill Mueller




From: "Steve Duerksen"
Subject: suggestion and feedback
Date: 
Fri, 01 Feb 2002 19:54:48 -0500

Hi-

1) For your "files", my last contract was obtained because
the company found me DIRECT (no recruiters, the way it's
supposed to work) on scguild. I was able to negotiate a VERY
fine rate, higher than usual for me, because there was no
agency involved. Hence, my final rate was actually cheap
(well, maybe affordable would be a better adjective) for
the client. It was a little more work up front, getting on
the client's approved vendor list, but well worth it.

2) For the small extra cost, you might want to consider
registering scQuild.com and have it point to scGuild.com.
Maybe I'm the only one who does this, but almost every time
I type in your name, I inadvertently hit that "q" (perhaps
because "qu" is a macro in my brain). I know full well how
it's pronounced and spelled, but I still make this mistake
commonly. FWIW.

-Steve Duerksen #1007


Date: >b>09:04 PM 1/2/2002 -0500
David

Thank you for continuing to operate SCG.

I have received over half a million dollars
from leads that your site has brought me.
I do not need to advertise anywhere else.
Your service is extremely cost effective for me.

I have gladly renewed my membership for another year.

Larry Hartweg

From: "Ed Sanderson" 
Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2001 19:55:52 -0400

David,

Being Independent for 16 years I am cheep, but SCGuild is worth the cost.

Ed



From: "Bill Mueller" 
To: "David Keeney" 
Subject: Re: Software Contractors' Guild (The Annie Hilton spam email)
Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 11:26:37 -0500

Hi David,

I applaud your ethics. I have been with you and The Software
Guild for nearly 6 years because of your straight, ethical
operation.  It is nice to see those that honor their
business.  I have been in the computer industry and managed
my own business for 40 years now.  Alot has changed. Some
not for the best.  There is something to be said about the
old fashioned business ethics of honesty and committment and
standing by our word.

Thanks for the email, and best wishes for continued success.

Bill


From: Bob Coward (Georgia Chapter webmaster)
Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2001 09:10:01 -0400
Subject:  The Annie Hilton spam email

David,

Thank you so much for the note.  I know your policy so when I see
these type emails I figure someone ran a spider through the site.

I will add that this organization did call me via the telephone.
Their interests were of course to be move to the "top of the list"
for any service that could be provided.  I informed them that I
only provided a service of information and direction to anyone
from Ga who may have questions about The Guild.  I iterated the
Guild policy to them and further went on to indicate that any
decision like this is of course that of David Keeney.  I've
highlight what I can remember of the conversation.

ABH:
We are blah, blah and having obtained your name from the SCG we
were hoping you could assist the fellow membership realizing our
services.

Bob:
It is not the policy of the group to sell or recommend one group
in particular.  As proponents of free enterprise, of course we
would probably welcome your listing where applicable on the site.

ABH:
But we wanted to (in their way....go to the top)

Bob:
Again this is not the policy of the SCG.  I recommend that you
take this conversation to David Keeney of the SCG because this
is an admin decision that only he can make.  If you continue to
ask for my assistance I will have to continually tell you I'm
just a pawn here and am not a decision maker.  I do recommend
that you ask David.

The conversation went on in almost a broken-record conversation
style whereby anything I said of course they had remedy for.
So I added the last bit to the conversation that I felt needed
to be said.

Bob:
People, people.....Please listen to what I am saying.  I have
NO capacity to assist you with your request.  I do know that
due to the "pushy salesman" feelings I'm getting here that I
will not be a proponent of your services and if there is anyway
that this is voted upon I will diligently lobby against you.
I think I've given you all the information I could and you've
continued to rebuke my input and for whatever reason continue
to try and gain my approval.  If I move to an emphatic NO tone
will you hear me.  Please call David Keeney.

The conversation ended and I figured you would never hear from them.

On another note...thanks again for the SCG.  I enjoy being a
member.

Thanks

Bob Coward
CADS, Inc.


Date: 
Fri, 11 May 2001 18:34:35 -0400

Thanks for the quick reply.  I know you had to remind me a couple of
times...sorry for the procrastination.  I do have to say that I gladly pay
$20, as this is the best site I know for Contractors.  I get more quality
leads from the SCGuild than from any other source combined.

Chuck Miller
Member #4452



At 11:55 PM 5/10/01 -0400, you wrote:
Dear David Keeney,

Thank you for running a great organization for software professionals, I was
glad to be a part of it for a while.  At the moment, I am starting my own
software firm and can no longer keep up with my listing in the Software
Contractors Guild, but I really appreciated the way it was run and wanted to
say "Thanks" before I disappeared.  With any luck, I'll be back again one
day recruiting.

Thanks,
Claudia Markovich


Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 13:55:56 -0700 (PDT)
From: Anthony Yemma
Subject: Re: Renewal - Software Contractors' Guild
To: admin@scguild.com

David,

I thank you for this service.  I must get one or
two inquiries a week from people looking for my
services.

Great job.  Keep it up.

Anthony
Member #2217


Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2001 16:39:35 EST
Subject: Re: 1042 Paid - Software Contractors' Guild
To: admin@scguild.com

Thank you for the service you have provided over the years.
It helped me find outstanding assignments around the world.
While working for Qantas in Sydney Australia last year,
I met my wonderful fiancee - Sara. She just finished her
PhD in medical research. We are very happy together.

It is good to see your business growing.

Larry Hartweg
#1042


From: "Max West"
To: 
Subject: well done
Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2000 14:04:19 -0500

Just updated my info & resume for next year - what a great site you provide!
Easy to update this stuff and the links to search engines are ideal.
Thanks!

Max West
#1951


Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2000 22:16:44 -0500
From: "Mitchell C. Nelson, Ph.D."
To: admin@scguild.com
Subject: Re: Renewal - Software Contractors' Guild

David,

I thought you might like to know that I now get as many calls thru
scquild as I do through net-temps!  Congratualtions.


Mitch Nelson




From: "Heath Rogers"
Subject: $20 / Year is too Cheap
Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2000 19:48:44 -0500

Thanks so much for your service.

I have been on a long contract and just entered the foray of trying to
establish myself with potential clients. I now have 2 steady contracts at a
good rate, both through finding the SCGUILD.

Great job guys. You need to have an area for donations as I would be one to
chip in. Worth every cent.

Heath Rogers
Ceraplex Corp
heath@kiva.net


Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2000 09:55:45 -0400
From: Jan Theodore Galkowski
Subject: Re: Invoice 1707 - Software Contractors' Guild

David,

I'm sending dues by snailmail early in August.  It'll be
a personal check.

Thanks very much for continuing to have a great -- even
"fantastic" -- site.  Although I'm employed full-time, it
remains the best place to point clients to get my vitae
when I hunt for part-time work.

Have a great summer,

   --Jan


From: "Marc W. Abel"
Date: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 12:16:47 -0400

Thank you!  I'll get you a check very shortly--I think your site is a
tremendous service, and it contributed indirectly to my obtaining the
present assignment.  (It put a lot of pressure on my current broker to find
me something before someone else did.)

M.A.




From: "Rebecca I. Hopkins"
Date: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 19:44:06 -0700

Thank you for having the guild.  I would be dead broke without it.  I'm
learning HTML from experience with it.

Later,


Rebecca I. Hopkins
(281) 450-2564



From: Randolph Back
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2000 11:40 AM
To: admin@scguild.com
Subject: Re: Newsletter #5 - Software Contractors' Guild

Hello,

I believe I just received my first contract through the Software
Contractors' Guild.  A small project -- modifying the user interface
for an OS/2 program but with a  possibility of additional projects.

But what I really appreciate is the lack of noise from my listing in
the Guild.  I received only a few inquiries, all were to the point and
one resulted in a contract.

Thanks for the good work.
--------------------------------
Randolph Back
Back Software & Consulting, Inc.
PMB 399, 45 State St.
Montpelier, VT 05602
voice: 802-479-6225
http://www.backswc.com



From: STEPHEN GARBOWIT
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2000 09:46 PM
Subject: UPDATE

I got a job from your site, so I know it can work. I am doing
work on a UNISYS platform and I wanted to update my skills set, but
I didnt see it. Am I missing something if not think it should be there
since I am using it.
Has the main frame, IBM, contracting work picked up in the northeast?
It has been terrible in CT.
Thanks,
Steve Garbowit
ps I recommend your site to everybody.



>From: Earl Warner
>Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2000 05:20 AM
>Subject: Arkansas
>
>Why is Arkansas missing from the list of US locations?  Apparently, the
>philanderer in chief will not be going back for a while, so it should be
>safe.
>
>Earl
>
>P.S.  Good job of stirring things up in the primaries ;)

Response Wednesday, February 02, 2000 8:55 PM
Subject: Re: FW: Arkansas

Earl,

Well, look at that!  How could we have missed such an important State?
But sure enough, the list from which the page is generated does not
have it listed.

Well we will let you back in the Union...if you promise not to send
anything more to the white house. :)

This is a good catch.  I wonder how long its been like that.
Thanks.

David Keeney
Software Contractors' Guild
http://www.scguild.com

Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2000 21:42:30 -0600
Subject: RE: FW: Arkansas

Don't blame me!  I live in Florida!  And I agree with your use of
"any-thing."  Will we ever figure out what it is?

Earl




Sunday, October 17, 1999 11:45 AM
From: Bill Mueller
To: 'admin@scguild.com'
Subject: RE: Newsletter #4 - Software Contractors' Guild

Hi David,

As I have said on previous ocassions, I think that your rates are far too
low for the benefits provided.  (e.g. I have earned a number of very
profitable contracts from the Guild). I am pleased to see that you have
raised your rates.

Bill



Date: Thu, 09 Sep 1999 12:01:12 -0400
From: mark mehler
Organization: @Home Network
Subject: CareerXroads review of your site

Software Contractors Guild: david, nice job
on your site. Adding jobs is a big plus. Your
pricing is below market and now all you need
is advertising. If at some point you add push
technology for your members so jobs r sent
to them via email that will make a big
traffic difference.
best,
mark mehler
CareerXroads
--
Mark Mehler co-author "CAREERXROADS The 1999 Directory to the 500 Best
Job, Resume and Career Management Sites on the World Wide Web"
mmc@careerxroads.com   http://www.careerxroads.com
732-821-6652, fax: 1343, P.O. Box 253, Kendall Park, N.J. 08824.
"Where Talent and Opportunity Connect on the Internet."



Date: Sun, 05 Sep 1999 13:21:02 -0500
From: "Robert D. Rainer"
Subject: Re: Renewal - Software Contractors' Guild

Hello David -

SCGuild is valuable and effective service, and I am glad I posted my
resume on it. It is so effective, in fact, that I have taken a permanent
position with Sterling Commerce and am no longer in need of it. In
short, you're fired, but thanks for a great job. Should the opportunity
present itself in the future for us to reestablish our relationship, I
will happily contact you at the first sign of a RIF, downsizing, leaving
incentive, or whatever the hell else they're calling them these days.

Thanks again,
Bob Rainer

Go to Software Contractors' Guild Home Page.

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