1. The Certification Advantage
Understanding the many benefits of Microsoft Certification
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2. Why Microsoft Certification?
Microsoft Certification recognizes and validates real-world IT skills, supports the certified community by providing access to unique resources, and offers a life-long career path of IT skills development.
The multiple benefits of Microsoft Certification to individuals, hiring managers, and organizations are based on three core pillars: Relevance, Journey, and Community.

3. Real-World Performance
Relevance
Real-World Performance
Certification reflects and validates real-world skills and job-related experiences used every day, aiding in practical technology problem-solving and improving the professional performance of IT professionals, developers and information workers. Certification programs are continually updated and measured for relevance in the marketplace, so they remain effective tools for job satisfaction and career growth.

4. Relevance Proof Points
Point 1: Being Microsoft Certified enables IT practitioners to be more productive through enabling faster problem solving.
Point 2: Being certified enables IT staff to work together better by providing a common framework of problem solving Microsoft technologies.
Point 3: Microsoft Certifications are performance-based, and have been proven to increase an individual’s efficiency in their job roles.

5. Skills for an advancing career
Journey
Skills for an advancing career
Microsoft certification adds value across all stages of an individual’s career path, so it is valuable for job seekers, new and advanced skill building, and upward career growth.

6. Journey
Proof Points
Point 1: Microsoft invests in ensuring its certifications are credible and valued in the marketplace, helping technology professionals get jobs.
Point 2: Microsoft Certifications are relevant across all stages of an individual’s career, helping technology professionals keep jobs.
Point 3: Microsoft Certifications enable individuals to demonstrate their individual progression and grasp of the latest technologies.

7. Community The major leagues of IT
Being Microsoft certified means access to valuable, exclusive Microsoft resources and benefits, and opportunities to connect with a wide network of certified professionals.

8. Community Proof Points
Point 1: Microsoft Certification provides access to unique Microsoft resources, including a community of certified professionals.
Point 2: Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs) share an ongoing connection through Microsoft-sponsored events, local user groups, and online forums.
Point 3: Microsoft recognizes the contributions of its certified community by providing exclusive benefits only to certified professionals.

9. Certification’s Impact
On organizations
A 2006 study1 showed that Microsoft Certification helped organizations improve performance:
For each new team member certified, team performance increases.
Team skill is directly responsible for organizational performance in several key IT functional areas.
Increasing the concentration of Microsoft certified team members on a team directly impacts team performance.
The teams at the top tier of performance have between 40% and 55% of their teams certified on relevant Microsoft technologies and processes.
75% of managers believe that certifications are important to team performance.
66% of managers believe that certifications improve the level of service and support offered to IT end users/customers.
1IDC, Value of Certification: Team Certification and Organizational Performance, November 2006

10. Certification’s Impact
On individuals
According to RedmondMagazine’s 2006 survey of compensation for Microsoft IT professionals,2 Microsoft Certification can lead to more earning power:
43% of respondents reported salary increases as a result of Microsoft certification.
57% of respondents expected to receive pay bonuses that year.
More than 40% of respondents reported that Microsoft certification was a factor in improving their ability to find or keep a job or lead to a promotion.
2 Redmond Magazine, 2006 Salary Survey, September 2006

11. Certification’s Impact
On IT managers
IDC conducted interviews with 400 IT Managers of large US-based organizations
Concentration of certifications in a team is clearly linked to improved capability and team performance.
To achieve “top tier” performance, organizations should strive for between 40% and 55% of the team certified in relevant technologies and processes.
More information on the benefits of hiring a Microsoft Certified Professional can be found at

12. Certification’s Impact
On hiring managers
A 2006 MCP Customer Satisfaction Study found that:
63% of Hiring Managers feel that certified individuals are somewhat or far more productive than their non- certified counterparts.
55% of Hiring Managers consider employee certification as criterion for hiring.
46% of Hiring Managers consider employee certification as criteria for promotion.

13. Learn more about the benefits of Microsoft Certification
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