The average computer user knows their way around essential Microsoft functions. Having a more comprehensive knowledge of Microsoft's programs can help advance a student's career and give them skills to complete more common tasks quicker and more accurately.
What Is Microsoft Certification?
Microsoft Certification "validates IT professional and developer technical expertise through rigorous, industry-proven, and industry-recognized exams," according to Microsoft.
Obtaining a Microsoft Certification demonstrates the student has specialized expertise in specific Microsoft Office programs.
Certifications are available for beginners, intermediates, and expert level students in a range of classes, such as Installing and Configuring Windows10, how to network a Windows server, and command line basics.
Is Microsoft Certification Worth It?
Microsoft Certification can help edge out candidates during a job interview. Companies in a broad range of industries use Microsoft programs, making a certification valuable even through career changes.
Professionals in IT to coordinator roll in large corporate companies can benefit from certifications to help them stand out from their colleagues.
In addition to giving students a better advantage when job hunting, earning a certification provides students with additional skills to run programs with greater efficiency and save time on vital, repetitive tasks.
In addition to landing a new job and having more robust skills, those who obtain certifications also report earning more money.
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What Will I Gain From A Microsoft Certification?
Microsoft surveyed Microsoft certified technologists for a white paper that showed the actual benefits of earning a certification. The survey found that 23 percent reported received up to a 20 percent salary increase after obtaining certification.
The same white paper found that nearly 65 percent of respondents received a positive impact on their professional image or reputation after obtaining certification. Of the survey respondents, 15 percent found a new job, and 12.5 percent earned a promotion.
Fifty-four percent of those who obtained certifications experienced a career benefit within three months, and 24 percent experienced the benefit immediately.
"What's more, certified employees are often entrusted with supervising their peers—putting them on the fast track for a promotion," Microsoft states on its website.
According to the survey, 86 percent of IT professionals said they would recommend certification to a colleague when discussing their career or wanting to advance in IT.
How Does A Microsoft Certification Advance My Career?
Microsoft certifications give students skills to use Microsoft's suite of products more fluently and proficiently. Microsoft's Office suite includes basics such as Microsoft Word, Excel, or Powerpoint, which now come preinstalled on many computers.
By earning a certification, students can learn how to create better and more professional documents, charts, or presentations. While it's appealing to the eye to have professional-looking documents, it can help win business, as well. Even with all the right points and numbers in an amateur looking deck, it can be hard to gain new business.
When using Excel, those who have certifications can more easily assemble more substantial data collections, which helps the user thinking critically and analyze that data to make better business decisions. With this data, companies can optimize customer interactions, save money, and increase revenue.
Is Microsoft Certification Worth It For Everyone?
There are Microsoft certifications that can enhance the skills for almost all professionals at all levels.
Developers use Microsoft programs to design, build, and maintain cloud solutions for their employers. Administrators use Microsoft to implement, monitor, and maintain Microsoft solutions. A functional consultant can leverage Microsoft Dynamics 365 “to anticipate and plan for customer needs.”
For coordinators, being able to do more than only schedule meetings and take calls can make them a valuable and indefensible member of the team.
What Are Microsoft Certification Benefits?
Microsoft offers exclusive benefits and career tools for Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs) as well.
Once you receive your certification, Microsoft gives a Certificate Manager View, Certification logos, and even MCP eStore Purchase apparel and accessories with certification logos.
The MCP community also allows you to make connections with your others through the Born To Learn blog. Member resources also include job opportunities and more.
How Do I Get A Microsoft Certification?
Students can obtain a Microsoft Certification by taking online courses through programs such as Cybrary's Microsft training courses, labs, and more. Students can browse Cybrary's vast library to find a course and certification that matches their needs, interests, and career goals.
The interactive modules help students obtain the certifications of their choice at their own pace. Each course is broken up into shorter, on-demand modules that help make the content easily digestible.
Students can take practice tests and assessments to help further advance their skills along the way. At the completion of the course, Cybrary issues students a Microsoft Certification.
