The IT industry is constantly growing, offering those with the skills and certifications the opportunity to quickly rise up through the ranks and earn well above the American average. Microsoft Certifications are among the most in-demand, with the holders routinely earning well over six figure salaries every year.
Certifications are Independent of a College Education
Certifications are the new alternative to a college degree. They serve to illustrate that the holder has obtained the specific skills needed to competently handle a specific topic. This allows people to quickly gain the skills employers are looking for, and have a standard way of showing those skills.
It is possible for those with just a high school education to obtain a certification and suddenly go from the working to the professional class. A series of classes and tests is all the separates numerous people from a rewarding career with an excellent wage.
Certification Tests are independently administered
Microsoft controls the content of the tests and handles all verifications for the results. It does this to guarantee that those expected to work with its technology in a professional setting can do so competently.
This adds significance to the test, making it more valuable to employers as a measure of worth. Anyone can earn the certification, as long as they are willing to put in the hard work and studying needed to gain the skills.
Certifications are More Focused than Diplomas
College diplomas are designed to prepare the holder for all possible contingencies in a field. As such, it forces the holder to study a wide range of topics that may never come up during the course of the individual’s professional life.
In return for these unnecessary skills, the diploma holder is often saddled with debt that lowers the take home wage for any job for several years. A certification is cheaper, faster, and opens just as readily as a college diploma.
Example: Julie from Wisconsin
Julie was a cashier for a fast food restaurant for five years. With a child on the way, she needed to obtain a better job quickly. During her pregnancy, she became Microsoft Certified.
After her maternity leave, she applied and obtained a network administrator position that pays ninety-seven thousand dollars per year, plus benefits.
Helps You Gain That Promotion
A Microsoft Certification shows that you are not only familiar with the technology used throughout the enterprise, but that you have the skills needed to adapt to future changes and help your colleagues adapt. This is a vital asset for those in leadership roles.
Future Proofed Industry
Microsoft is famous for maintaining backwards compatibility throughout its ecosystem. It is not uncommon to find hardware and software that has been in place for several years, each requiring unique support skills that can only come through experience and certification. Beyond that, certification sets the stage for future education that can be handled quickly and cheaply.
Future Certifications
The skills obtained in preparing for the first certification can easily serve as the base for future certifications. For instance, obtaining a certification in a version of Microsoft Server will give you insight into the core philosophy Microsoft approaches the server industry, allowing you to quickly and intuitively handle advances that come with the next version.
Example: Jake from Memphis
Jake worked as a low-level IT help desk assistant for a medium sized company. He knew that his boss would be retiring, and decided to obtain the skills needed to succeed in obtaining the promotion.
After obtaining a Microsoft Certification, he was promoted and received twenty thousand dollars per year wage increase.
Future Education
For those with no college, or partial college education, certifications can serve as a springboard to a college degree. Numerous colleges accept life experience as credit for numerous courses. By obtaining these certifications, it is possible to save thousands of dollars and months of studying off your diploma.
Use the Certification to Obtain a Diploma
Even with certifications, a diploma opens the door to future higher-level employment opportunities. This directly translates to a better paycheck, and perks that no low-level job will ever offer.
Example: Kyle from Las Vegas
Kyle needed a degree to obtain a better job. He did not have the money to go to college, and could not afford to take on loans. By obtaining Microsoft Certification, he cut the time he spent in a classroom in half and left with an associate’s degree in one year.
Conclusion
Microsoft Certification is a vital component for anyone’s CV. It shows employers that you have the skills and experience needed to qualify for the highest paying positions in the IT industry.
Julie, Jake, and Kyle all benefited from receiving Microsoft Certification. The skills they obtained helped them obtain better employment, in fields that can easily net them over one hundred thousand a year.
Note: Examples were taken from Microsoft Website.