Thanks for all the opinions. Glad to hear you like the idea. I have many people who I am going to be giving a nice gift to :) . Also, I do take your opinions seriously, so thank you once again for sharing!
To go a step further in this discussion, especially considering the number of MCP’s responding who take multiple exams per year, I thought I would show the Perk leveling gift folio. And of course, I wondered if I show you the different gifts, if it would change your opinion from the first post. Specifically, if you moved up levels and the benefits become a better ‘value’, would you would choose differently?
For example – if you were to be in level 1, you would choose x benefit; however, in level 2 you may choose something different…Do you think that the difference in where you are in taking your next exam, change the benefit you would choose?
(For the sake of helping quantify the levels, imagine a person who has achieved a TS credential in Level 1, an IT PRO or PRO Dev credential would be in Level 2, and those who have multiple credentials (including MCT’s) would be in level 3. )
Also, to clarify, this is just a vetting process, and please understand that, as always, anything and everything is changeable. I think you understand why I have to say that…
(Also, if you didn’t respond to my last post and respond to this one – I still have not reached my 100+ opinions, so the lovely gift is still on the table if you respond. Email me at sgrant@microsoft.com .)
I’m a PC -
SG
Posted by Sarah Grant
-------------------------
Comments
Monday, November 24, 2008 10:36 PM by Michael D. Alligood
I'm a PC and I'm digging this idea!
I think you people are on the right track. If you could throw in a bottle of Patron XO Cafe (http://www.1-877-spirits.com/spirits/patron-xo-cafe), we got a deal!
Monday, November 24, 2008 11:28 PM by David Lawlor
Being able to choose what perk you want is a nice bonus, because there are definitely times when you might need something different in the later tiers than when you just started out.
Nothing like ending the year strong with ideas like these to get us excited for what is coming down the road in 2009
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 1:10 AM by Steve Maier
I like the idea of tier perks like this. I normally take quite a few exams a year and would love things like this. Of course I need to actually go and take some more soon. ;-)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 6:57 AM by Tony Cullen
I feel that this is a long time coming.
For MCP's this is great; however I have always felt that MCT's or higher should have been getting MSDN Subscriptions foer free especially since we pay £220 per year?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 8:11 AM by EduardoKita
I think that after taking a few (or a lot) exams would certainly change your expectations on which perk to chose.
For example, being on the 3rd level, and having a job totally grounded on all the knowledge acquired from the many certifications would lead me to the Technet Plus 100% off perk!
For newcomers, progressive discount on e-courses, e-refs and specially on exams is a nice plus.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 9:27 AM by Benjamin S
I think personally I would try the 4 month free trial of TechNet Plus as I have never tried it. Come time of the third test I would think the free TechNet Plus subscription would be most appealing. Around that time I would be nearing the end of the trial and could tell if I wanted it!
Would we be able to take a fourth test for free and get another free test? Does this end at the third passed test?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 9:31 AM by Benjamin S
Is there a possibility of adding in a percentage off a practice test program?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 9:59 AM by Les Bowman
I think the incentive folio you posted in this follow up is just the sort of thing to get people to stay current on their certs. I know I and many of my coworkers get a cert for our resume or the rare instance when work requires it but keeping it up can be a challenge, especially as Real Life gets in the way.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 10:01 AM by dobby10
I do think I would choose differently as I moved up. Probably technet plus at level 1. Elearning collection at level 2, and then technet plus at level 3. It seems to me that those are the best values.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 10:41 AM by Reed Wiedower
I think the perk leveling process is a *great* idea. Three points:
1) For those of us trying to get additional certifications, having a higher perk level would be a great way to encourage us to go for the entire certification, rather than just 1-2 classes.
2) Having seen the MCP eStore, it is mostly swag that isn’t terribly useful. Having it as a perk should be L1 or L2 only. Technet Plus subscriptions are good, but again, once you get to level 3, if you're working for a MS Gold Partner, you've already got MSDN, so I'm not sure what Technet Plus adds.
3) I still think that the highest level of certification should allow discounts on MS Press books. Those are tangible, BIG and extremely useful for learning. Best of all, they would be a much greater incentive for people to pass the tests. Getting a free Resource Kit book after one passes the requisite course (say, the Vista test allows you to get a discount on the Vista Resource Kit) would be an incredible incentive.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 4:14 PM by Dale Braun
I also like the perk level process. I would skip over things like the 50% goodies in favor of progressing to the next level and getting the 100%-ers. I especially like the E-courses being 100% at all levels, since the E-courses would tend to feed into the next cert exam, which levels you up to get another E-course, which feeds... well, you get the picture.
...and I'm a Marvel.
Dale
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 10:21 PM by LawrenceGarvin
Hey Sarah... I like the levels and choices idea... I doubt they'd change how I originally commented on my first choices.. I'd still take an exam voucher or training over the other options -- but obviously not everybody has the same perspectives -- *choices* are good!!! As to which I'd take at any given time, that would be a factor of what exam I was preparing for, whether I already had an exam voucher in-hand, and what training resources I found suitable for exam prep.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 7:02 AM by Terry Morris
I like the idea of getting TechNet Plus for free. I will go after a couple exams just for TechNet Plus. I see most people would like the vouchers. I get everything reimburshed so give me something that isn't like TechNet Plus.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 8:18 AM by Peter Read
I guess it depends how it pans out, I've always kinda thought by the time you're in the 'MCSE club' (and/or MCITP:EA, or MCSD) should have pretty much carte blanche to use server software for non-commercial (e.g. personal/'fiddling/testing/playing') purposes, rather than being limited to eval versions. I guess that's pretty much what Technet gives us? If so that'd be at the top of my list.
Especially given some of us specify server software for our clients, so you want us all familiar with your new software right? ;)
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 12:10 PM by Pete
It seems that the one thing that is missing is the software to test/learn/build/play with. The Partner Action Pack is a nice start, but it really doesn't contain the range of stuff that we need.
I have been tempted to lease a server, upgrade to certified partner (joining with a fellow mcse to get around the whole 2 people thing) and use that software. The downside there is the cost. Server+subscription is a huge chunk of money.
Maybe if there was some MCP pack that let us have the software we could use that instead?
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 4:08 PM by TitusT
A discount on MSDN subscription for MCPD certs might be good too!
Another option could be discount on MS Press books!
Friday, November 28, 2008 5:49 AM by Pete
Oh, one other thing: can you make any exam discounts etc compatible with the Second Shot offer? SS is the most useful thing we can have, but frequently means any other offers are largely useless.
Friday, November 28, 2008 12:35 PM by Andy Helsby
@Pete - you can buy a decent machine from Dell for $500 - the Dimension530 is what I purchased in April this year. Add another $70 to increase the memory to 6GB, use the microsoft trials and you have a great server for testing/learning. with hyperv you have lots of servers at your disposal. Even better when you get technet plus which means you don't have to worry about the trials running out.
Personally i like the technetplus idea as my exams are refunded by my employer (as long as i pass - which I have done every time so far)
Sunday, November 30, 2008 11:34 PM by Jeff Senter
My employer only pay for the exams they want me to take. I am usually wondering though the MS blogs looking for Beta or free exams to take.I would far prefer exam discounts so I have more control over what I am taking rather than taking exams because they are free.
Monday, December 01, 2008 12:44 AM by kimbal
The levels and choices idea are great.
How about to have discount on the license?
e.g. somebody who toke MCITP SQL 08 can have discount on the license.
Some giveaways, for example mouse/keyboard set, would also be great.
Monday, December 01, 2008 1:31 PM by TitusT
When will we get our surprise gift?:-)
Friday, December 19, 2008 5:47 AM by James O'Doherty
I really like your idea of perk levels because it rewards the effort and dedication that is required to achieve a certification. There are definitely some perks that are more valuable than others. I realize that this somewhat subjective but for me free eLearning courses are more valuable than 4 month trial of TechNet Plus because I already pay of TechNet Plus and MSDN. I also think that the perk level should be reflected in the number of eLearning courses i.e Level 1 – one course, Level 2 - two courses and Level 3 – three courses. I think the most valuable reward that you can provide is one that helps candidate increase their own learning and cluefullness - http://blogs.msdn.com/shawnmor/archive/2003/08/19/24623.aspx.
Level 1 is relatively easy to achieve with 1 or 2 exams. Level 2 requires far more exams – often 3-5 exams. Level 3 is much harder to achieve and this should be reflected in the perks.
I do however have some questions. Do the perk levels work like a frequent flyer program i.e. are they valid only for the current year? Do you have to achieve further credentials to renew the perk level for the following year or do you stay on the perk level once you have reached it? How do you reward someone say who achieve MCPD – Enterprise Application Developer in .Net 2.0 and MCITP - Enterprise Administrator on Windows Server 2008 in one year but then wants to continue with exams in .Net 3.5 in the following year- in that case it would be able difficult to achieve the highest perk level?
Monday, January 05, 2009 12:24 PM by Sarah Grant
Hi!
Just a quick update for everyone on your gift. I have them all on order - it is just taking a bit to get. I guess everyone was on holiday or something. LOL.
Take care -
writing this on a PC
Sarah