When you are interviewing for a position, the topic of certification usually comes up. This is the first of a two-part blog regarding some common interview questions and how to handle them.
1. What certification do you have?
My advice here is to keep your answer short and to the point. Keep it simple with an answer like “MCSE with Exchange email emphasis” or “Technology Specialist on Project Server” or “MCSD .NET Framework.” 90% of all recruiters don’t understand the intricacies of Microsoft’s certification program, and because it’s so complicated, it’s a losing battle for you to try to explain it to them verbally during in an interview. Microsoft has significantly redesigned their certification program in the last four years, and not many people have been able to keep up with all the changes. In short, Microsoft still recognizes all the “classic” certifications as well as numerous new ones. Check out this FAQ if you want to read more.
2. Did you just take the courses or did you also pass the tests?Smart recruiters will ask this one. I have seen scores of resumes where the candidate will list something like “MCSE Windows 2003” or “MCDBA SQL Server 2005” and upon further questioning, the candidate just took the classes but never passed the tests. Just taking the courses doesn’t really mean much, since there is no guarantee the instructor was good, and no guarantee that the candidate was paying close enough attention to learn anything. Successfully completing the tests is a much better proof of competency. If you have never passed the tests, you should word your resume something like “Successfully completed all seven MCSE Windows 2003 courses.” If you’re a recruiter, be sure to ask for a copy of their Microsoft Transcript. Anyone who is really certified can print off a copy of their transcript from the Microsoft web site, or send you a web link and allow you to view their transcript online. Read more about it using this link.3. How long have you been certified?This question is designed to figure out if you have current skills or not. Don’t just say “3 years.” What the recruiter wants to hear you say is something like, “I got certified 3 years ago in Windows 2003, and I’m in the process of upgrading my certification to Windows 2008 (just one more test to go).” That shows your commitment to learning. If you just recently got certified, then you might say, “I obtained my certification less than a year ago, but prior to that I worked with the product hands-on for several years before taking my first test.” If you are truly a newbie (new certification without much experience), that’s OK too as long as you are interviewing for an entry level position. Sometimes recruiters actually prefer to hire newbies because they typically have lower salary requirements and can be more easily taught exactly how the company wants the job done. In addition, newbies are more likely to stay with the company for a longer period of time before leaving.
In my next blog, we’ll continue this discussion with some more recurring interview questions related to certification.
