If you’re thinking about getting Microsoft Office certified, you may be wondering how a credential can benefit your career. Here’s a list of benefits to consider as you weigh your career options.
1. Employers around the world recognize Microsoft credentials.
Because of their global recognition, Microsoft Office certifications can make it easier to get hired, advance into a more senior position within your company, launch a career, or switch a career.
To give you an idea of the demand for Microsoft Office-trained professionals, we conducted a search on Glassdoor for “Microsoft Office specialist jobs” in the US. As of October 2022, the results yielded over 63,000 job listings in which employers prefer candidates with Microsoft Office credentials or experience [1]. Jobs spanned industries like insurance, banking and finance, marketing, health care and medicine, and talent solutions. Job titles include Office 365 Support Specialist, Human Resources Specialist, Accounts Payable Specialist, and Sales Compensation Specialist.
2. Certifications correspond to industry-defined roles.
By preparing for and passing a certifying exam, you will be learning software skills to solve many of today’s real-world business challenges. Nigel Frank’s 2022 Careers and Hiring Guide: Microsoft Business Applications Edition shows that of the 1,000 Microsoft Business Applications professionals surveyed, 30 percent experience “improved and increased industry knowledge,” 38 percent experience “increased efficiency” at their jobs,” and 21 percent reported the “ability to perform complex tasks more confidently” [2].
3. Maintaining your certification keeps your skills current.
Microsoft Office certifications are periodically updated to reflect businesses’ evolving needs. To maintain your certification, you’ll be learning the latest technology skills employers are looking for and demonstrating your commitment to career development. The Microsoft Business Applications Guide shows that 26 percent of survey participants reported “more trust” from employers, and 20 percent reported “transferable industry skills” [2].
4. You could command a higher salary.
According to the Microsoft Business Applications Guide, 68 percent of survey participants said their salaries increased when changing jobs with Microsoft credentials as a factor [2].
Payscale reports that the average Microsoft Office Specialist salary in the US is $57,000. Among the Microsoft Office Specialist jobs that Payscale lists with average salaries above $57,000 are: Senior Marketing Data Analyst ($100,000) and Sharepoint Administrator ($78,907) [3].
