I have decided to spend the next few entries talking about the process of getting certified for Microsoft. Things like, should I get certified, what certification should I get, how can I get the most out of my education to make the process easier, tips on exams and so on. If anyone has any specific things in mind, feel free to comment and ask.
So what is first? I think answering the question of whether a person should even get certified is important enough to answer. This subject was already discussed a bit in this article that was posted a month and a half ago. I agree with much of what it says but the one thing that I would like to add is this. The importance of a certification depends greatly on the company or the hiring manager that you are dealing with. In my experience, some locations think that a certification is a minimum job requirement, some think it is a reason for a step up in pay or responsibility and some don’t care. It seems to be the same thing with the decision makers. Some managers see it as a valuable guide to a person’s potential; others think it is simply an excuse to get away from work for a few days to take a class and study.
There are a few exceptions. The best example is a trainer. Trainers, at least at any Microsoft Certified center, MUST have the correct credentials to teach a class.
So what if it isn’t so important at your job? Should you still take the certification classes and tests? I think you should. (OK — I admit that this might come off sounding biased, given that I make my living training people. But it is not intended as a personal plug.) Having a certification means that you know how Microsoft (or whatever company you are talking about) wants things done. They know their product and they have written it to be most efficient when used a certain way. The education and certification process will let you see that manner.
Another reason why Certification can be useful is the spottiness of learning things on your own. I see it all the time. Students that have been working with things for years didn’t know that a particular utility or feature existed. They just didn’t come across it in their experience. By taking the classes that you need to get certified you get a broad base of experience that can “fill in the gaps”.
So to sum up, should you get a certification? I think so. I feel that it can mean a lot under the right circumstances and even in the wrong ones, it could be the one thing that distinguishes you from someone else and helps you further your own knowledge.
