From anti-certification to 14 Microsoft Certification exams in one year!

If you’re not aware, Microsoft Learning participates in discussions on Twitter via @MSLearning. There, we met Eric and learned his story. For a while Eric was very anti-certification, but he is now glad to be pro-certification. What turned him around? We connected with him to learn more.

- Eric, what gave you the mindset that certification had no value and did not show experience?

I’d say this all started off when I had first heard about an “MCSE Boot Camp”… where you could attend this grueling course and come out certified. For me it gave the impression that you could take anyone off the streets with minimal to some computer knowledge and in X days turn them into a certified individual who’s ready to administer an enterprise. I also felt that just because you had a certification did not mean that you could actually use the product, which I have since then learned is a major misconception.

- How did you come to this conclusion about certification?

 I’d say it’s 70/30. Seventy percent of believing certifications had no value had come from me being poorly informed and not seeing the big picture of how being Microsoft Certified provides value for your employer. The other thirty percent came from peers fueling my poor choices.

- Despite all of this, you mentioned you took 14 certifications exams in one year! What changed your mind and made you decide to get certified?

I’m sure the SharePoint team would love to hear this… but it all started with SharePoint 2007/WSS 3.0. We were going through the phases to migrate from SharePoint 2003 to 2007. One of my co-workers had said to me that he was sure I could pass the certification… and I should take it just to see how I would do. That November (2008) …I took the plunge and registered on Prometric for the SharePoint 2007 exam. After walking out with the score report that said I had passed… I was on cloud nine. A few weeks later, I found myself returning for what I would consider the other half of the exam… WSS 3.0. This was the start of a series of self-challenges I would endure to mirror everything that I do to a certification.

- As someone who was anti-certification, was taking 14 certification exams worth the time and energy? Have you noticed any benefits?

Finding time was not easy. I spent many nights, weekends and holidays studying. It took a year to get there, but it was worth every drop of sweat or hour of sleep I lost to get them!  It has definitely added to my confidence in my job and my certifications show in the level and quality of work I produce.

- After becoming Microsoft Certified, how did your workplace/peers respond to your decision to become Microsoft Certified?

At first, I’m not too sure they were happy with it because of this new level of competition in the workplace. I think at the end of the day, I’ve encouraged my peers to seek certification and further their professional development. We have found worth in certification and its contribution to the company ten-fold.

My name’s Eric Olson and I’m certifiable!

Thanks, Eric, for sharing your story with us, and best of luck with your future!

Do you have an exciting story about Certification? Post about it in the comments, or tweet us @MSLearning. We’d love to hear it!