BENEFIT #3
Better Consulting Jobs
Certification is particularly important to firms providing contract and
consulting services to other companies. "For contractors and those selling
services, it's much easier to place certified people than noncertified people,"
Martin said. Certification is a metric that a contractor can show its customers.
"Companies use consultants so that they don't have to go through the hiring
process. Firms that hire contractors like having confidence that the person they
are hiring has some Microsoft approval."
Through the Solution Provider program, Microsoft provides a form of
accreditation to companies that deploy Microsoft technology. To become a Solution Provider, a company must have at least two MCPs on staff. (An individual
becomes an MCP by passing an exam on an operating system, such as Windows NT
Workstation, NT Server, or Windows 95.) Solution Providers must go through the
recertification process every year.
"Any company that lacks certification doesn't have the credibility to
do large-scale deployments," Erwin said. His firm, CompuCom, provides
services for large businesses operating nationwide. "If you do not have
certification in your engineering workforce, you cannot credibly go after and
capture large-scale business."
BENEFIT #4
Reduced Turnover
Of course, certification benefits both employers and their employees. Some
companies include certification in their training programs because they have
found that earning professional certification helps keep employees satisfied
with their work. Employee satisfaction, in turn, reduces costs associated with a
high rate of employee turnover.
"Education and training on new products and new technologies is
everything," Mockler said. "Training is the number one thing that
keeps technology employees happy. Certification is an extension of training.
Generally, people like to put on their business cards or résumés
that they are certified on Microsoft products or other technology."
Many engineers and technicians appreciate companies that are willing to
invest in them. Additionally, companies that invest in employee certification
usually deploy more complex and interesting systems, so their engineers are more
challenged and more satisfied.
"We spend a tremendous amount of money on training. It's a corporate
philosophy that we invest highly in engineers," Erwin said. "Certifications
are tangible goals and training targets for individual engineers to measure
their personal growth. That aids in our retention."
BENEFIT #5
Increased Compensation
Not only do certified employees tend to be happier with their jobs, but they
tend to make more money. How much can administrators who become certified expect
their salaries to increase? "I tell people $5000 to $12,000 per year,"
Martin said. "You're not going to suddenly make $75,000 if you were making
$25,000, but if you make $35,000, you'll probably make $40,000. These numbers
may even be low."
The IDC study found that certified employees earn an average of 11.7
percent more than noncertified professionals. A January 1997 survey by Microsoft
Certified Professional Magazine, a publication about Microsoft
certification, found that MCSEs earn an average of $70,700 per year; MCSDs earn
an average of $76,400 annually; and Certified Product Specialists earn an
average of $54,100 per year.
Many firms take certification seriously and offer financial incentives for
certification. "We give bonuses to reward engineers who get certified,"
Erwin said. Some types of certification may even move employees to a new
position or salary, particularly if the certification is related to the
company's business goals and objectives. "I would promote an employee who
became an MCSE and give that employee a significant bonus," Erwin said.
Certification won't guarantee you a higher-paying job as a technician. "We
haven't seen people saying they will pay $60,000 for noncertified and $65,000
for certified people," Mockler said. "Perhaps in the future, as
certification becomes more popular, that will change."
Increasing numbers of IS professionals are earning their certifications.
From August 1996 to August 1997, the number of MCSEs increased from 11,100 to
25,756 (a 132 percent gain). MCSDs increased from 2200 to 5056 (a 130 percent
gain). But the increase in companies' demand for certified professionals
outpaces the increased supply. Microsoft estimates that the demand for certified
employees will continue to outstrip the supply three to one for the foreseeable
future.
Martin observed, "Certification says something about a person. It says
this person has initiative, focus, and intensity. It either says the person has
intelligence and certification was easy, or certification was hard and the
person worked for it." Apparently, employers agree.