Should I sit for the MOS Excel Master exam?

[dmartin35]

I have been using Excel for many years and have become quite good at it (if I do say so myself). I will be starting a new job search and wonder if these certifications are meaningful to anyone. I have received feedback from "they are useless" to "it couldn't hurt".

I always have trouble explaining my proficiency in Excel when people ask.

What do you all think?

David

 

[corquando]

Yes.

There are always at least three ways of doing things in Excel (as in all MSOffice products) - the quick way, the way you've come up with and the MS way. Studying for the exam teaches you the MS way, which if nothing else is good for expanding your perspective and understanding of the application's capabilities. I have sat for MOS/MCAS in Excel, Word and Outlook for 2003, 2007 and 2010. I actually learned relatively little new/usable stuff but got a whole lot of "Oh, that's why they do it" which greatly assisted in my VBA programming skills.

The alphabet looks good on a resume, too.

 

[dmartin35]

Thanks Corquando. I got the MS study guide so I would know what they specifically test for. Not a lot of new information, but I have learned some things I have never used before.