Making the most of Microsoft certifications
There are several ways you can go about looking for jobs that will use Microsoft Office certifications.
Dear Molly: I am taking computer classes at night--mostly related to Microsoft Office--and I am hoping to get a better job soon. But I am still not sure what kind of job I want to do. I was thinking about an internship somewhere to help me sort out my options. Any suggestions?
Molly says: Most internship programs out there are aimed at college students and recent graduates. Since you didn't indicate that you are in either category, I am going to assume that you are not. That means you need to find some other way to sample the array of jobs you might be qualified for once you're finished with your additional training.
You also didn't say that you want to become an IT techie guru--just that you are taking computer classes to get a better job. So, I am going to assume you aren't planning, at this point, to pursue a MCSE or anything that technical. If you work towards any certification, it sounds as though it would be the MOUS. (Also see my column on this certification.)
Visit Web sites that have information about internships, even if you don't qualify for many. Take note of the companies in your area that are offering them and write to them to see if they have temporary work or full-time permanent jobs. The fact that they are offering internships indicates they might be flexible in their hiring procedures. Here are two large internship-related sites: Internships.com and Jobweb.
Also check around your area for the regional offices or headquarters of large companies. These kinds of businesses often need people with extensive Microsoft Office skills. Ask them about internships or short-term assignments. Tell them you are looking around to see what kinds of jobs are out there before you make a definite decision.
You could also check with the office worker/temporary help agencies in your area. I mentioned some of those Web sites in yesterday's column. A lot of temporary help agencies are locally based, so to find them you need to scout the local business journal and check the telephone directories in the area. You can even find them on the Web if you search for temporary agencies. Here's the Web site of a national temp agency that places people with computer skills: SOS Staffing.
Molly Joss also writes the monthly Career Advisor column for ComputerUser magazine. Ask a career-related question at askmolly@computeruser.com.
