MS Office Certificates of proficiency

[Sensitive New Age Thug]

My kid is pretty proficient with word, excel, access and powerpoint. He took
some classes. He's going to have to work his way through college. I have
encouraged him to get the official Microsoft certificates of proficiency. I
thought they would help him get better jobs. He can write well, too, and
proofread and such.

Problem is, we're not having much luck finding any official testing centers
that will administer the tests to get the certificates. Some say, "Oh, we
don't do that any more." Others say, "We only do that for students enrolled
at our school." Etc.

I wonder if this certificate program never really took off for Microsoft.
Maybe few emploers recognize or value the certificaates, and few people who
have the skills are bothering to get the certificates

Or maybe we're just clueless and talking to all the wrong people.

Please advise us.

Thanks in advance.

Tim

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

Tim,

This newsgroup is geared toward helping posters with issues with Office, not
give advice on job hunting questions. In that aspect, yes, you are talking
to the wrong people.

But I have to tell you that I'm curious why this "pretty proficient" son's
father is asking the questions - and not him. Today's economy is a vicious
place and Daddy can't get you a job in his office any longer. Employers want
employees who are self-sufficient. I'm out there looking for a job myself so
I know what's going on.

BTW - a certificate is just a piece of paper. Too many people are out there
with a piece of paper and nothing to back it up.

 

[Mary Sauer]

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/default.mspx

 

[Sensitive New Age Thug]

That was SO not helpful!

I don't need parenting advice.

Microsoft issues certificates of proficiency for it's MS Office products.
That is reasonably relevant to this forum and it's very likely that some
subscribers know the answer to my question.

Instead of lecturing me about how to assist my son, you could have posted a
link to a more suitable forum. You're an MVP. You probably know.

Thanks for less-than-nothing.

Tim

Tim,

This newsgroup is geared toward helping posters with issues with Office, not
give advice on job hunting questions. In that aspect, yes, you are talking
to the wrong people.

But I have to tell you that I'm curious why this "pretty proficient" son's
father is asking the questions - and not him. Today's economy is a vicious
place and Daddy can't get you a job in his office any longer. Employers want
employees who are self-sufficient. I'm out there looking for a job myself so
I know what's going on.

BTW - a certificate is just a piece of paper. Too many people are out there
with a piece of paper and nothing to back it up.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

My kid is pretty proficient with word, excel, access and powerpoint. He
took
some classes. He's going to have to work his way through college. I have
encouraged him to get the official Microsoft certificates of proficiency.
I
thought they would help him get better jobs. He can write well, too, and
proofread and such.

Problem is, we're not having much luck finding any official testing
centers
that will administer the tests to get the certificates. Some say, "Oh, we
don't do that any more." Others say, "We only do that for students
enrolled
at our school." Etc.

I wonder if this certificate program never really took off for Microsoft.
Maybe few emploers recognize or value the certificaates, and few people
who
have the skills are bothering to get the certificates

Or maybe we're just clueless and talking to all the wrong people.

Please advise us.

Thanks in advance.

Tim

 

[Sensitive New Age Thug]

Thanks, Mary. That's a start. I appreciate your effort. The top link you
posted is the site that got us started with this process in the first place.

I'm still trying to figure out if this certificate program is catching on
with employers and potential employees. In other words, do employers
recognize the certificate and value it? The fact that very few of the listed
testing centers actually administer the test suggests that it is not catching
on.

Anybody know? Anybody know of a better way to find out? A better forum to
ask on?

BTW, with regard to my questionable parenting practices, brought up by
JoAnn, my son is barely out of high school, took MS Office classes over the
summer, got 100% on every test, and he's also trying to figure out where to
get this certificate and whether it's worth the trouble. I've posted on this
forum before and he hasn't, so I offered to help.


Cheers,

Tim

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

Actually I don't know a more applicable forum. Maybe one of the many job
hunting sites. It's not this group.

What I gave you was a not-so-sweet dose of reality. Certificates are only
paper and good jobs go to those who are willing to go find them for
themselves.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

That was SO not helpful!

I don't need parenting advice.

Microsoft issues certificates of proficiency for it's MS Office products.
That is reasonably relevant to this forum and it's very likely that some
subscribers know the answer to my question.

Instead of lecturing me about how to assist my son, you could have posted
a
link to a more suitable forum. You're an MVP. You probably know.

Thanks for less-than-nothing.

Tim

Tim,

This newsgroup is geared toward helping posters with issues with Office,
not
give advice on job hunting questions. In that aspect, yes, you are
talking
to the wrong people.

But I have to tell you that I'm curious why this "pretty proficient"
son's
father is asking the questions - and not him. Today's economy is a
vicious
place and Daddy can't get you a job in his office any longer. Employers
want
employees who are self-sufficient. I'm out there looking for a job myself
so
I know what's going on.

BTW - a certificate is just a piece of paper. Too many people are out
there
with a piece of paper and nothing to back it up.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]




"Sensitive New Age Thug" <[email protected]>
wrote in message

My kid is pretty proficient with word, excel, access and powerpoint. He
took
some classes. He's going to have to work his way through college. I
have
encouraged him to get the official Microsoft certificates of
proficiency.
I
thought they would help him get better jobs. He can write well, too,
and
proofread and such.

Problem is, we're not having much luck finding any official testing
centers
that will administer the tests to get the certificates. Some say, "Oh,
we
don't do that any more." Others say, "We only do that for students
enrolled
at our school." Etc.

I wonder if this certificate program never really took off for
Microsoft.
Maybe few emploers recognize or value the certificaates, and few people
who
have the skills are bothering to get the certificates

Or maybe we're just clueless and talking to all the wrong people.

Please advise us.

Thanks in advance.

Tim

 

[Og]

Dear Thug:
If your son is seeking employment shoveling manure from a horse barn, or
holding a stop/slow sign on a highway project, or flipping burgers, he is
unlikely to need a deep understanding of any MS Office application.
In other words: whether or not MS certifications are of value to potential
employers is a question you should ask of potential EMPLOYERS, rather than
of a collection of MS Office users.
Steve

 

[Beth Melton]

I'm not sure which training program you're referring to, typically for
Office is Microsoft Office Specialist certification:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/officespecialist/

There's also a link for finding an authorized testing center that may
help as well.

As for how employers recognize or value the a MOS certification, that
I really don't know. I do know several colleges and career centers now
offer the certification tests to students taking Microsoft Office
courses so I suspect it is recognized and employers are familiar with
the certification. My viewpoint is if you don't have the job
experience then any type of certification certainly doesn't hurt.

Also, there is no need to defend yourself - you came here seeking
advice related to Microsoft Office applications and last I checked
newsgroup is for general Office questions.

Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email can not be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP

Office 2007 Preview Site:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/default.mspx
Office 2007 Community Articles/Tutorials:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/community/article_archive.mspx

TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/

"Sensitive New Age Thug"

 

[Sensitive New Age Thug]

What you gave me was an annoying dose of useless speculation. Who are you to
presume I know nothing about job hunting?

Certificates are only paper? How about my doctoral degree, my professional
license and my certificate of insurance for professional liability? How about
the college degree my son hopes to earn about four years from now?

Only paper? Pfeh!

Tim

 

[Sensitive New Age Thug]

Thanks, Beth,

The linke for finding an authorized testing center represent the core of our
concern right now. We've contacted all of the testing centers in our region.
They tell us either they no longer administer the test and issue the
certificates, or they only do it for students enrolled in their programs.
Often, when we call these places to inquire, no one seems to know anything
about the certificate program.

Thanks for your support. I'm trying not to be defensive

Tim

 

[Tom Willett]

....and "the kid" needs to be doing the reseach on his own, not the father.
I would not hire anyone who depends on someone else to do the research, etc.

 

[JoAnn Paules [MVP]]

Better watch out. When I said that, Thug jumped on my butt. How dare you and
I expect someone to do their own job hunting?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

 

[Tom Willett]

Thug doesn't get it.

Better watch out. When I said that, Thug jumped on my butt. How dare you
and I expect someone to do their own job hunting?

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

...and "the kid" needs to be doing the reseach on his own, not the
father. I would not hire anyone who depends on someone else to do the
research, etc.

 

[Beth Melton]

Quite frankly those of you who think the microsoft.public.* newsgroups
are for dishing out unsolicited advice, ridiculing posters, and
offering little help on Microsoft Office related questions are the
ones who don't get it.

Tim came here asking about Microsoft Office certification. *Why* he is
asking is none of our business. This newsgroup is for helping each
other out on Microsoft Office related questions - please refrain from
off-topic comments and unsolicited advice.

Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email can not be acknowledged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton