MVP Certification

[Zone]

This is off-topic, but I'd like to look into getting certified as an MS MVP
in Excel. Anyone willing to offer any tips? Thanks, James

 

[Bernie Deitrick]

James,

It's not a certification - it is a reward, from MS, usually after you:

1) Post a couple thousand high-quality responses in the public newsgroups
2) Write and publish a series of Excel books
or
3) Run a high-traffic Excel help site on the web

HTH,
Bernie
MS Excel MVP

 

[Guest]

There is no such thing as a certified MVP. We get dragged into the net,
kicking and screaming and making sacrifices to as many minor dieties as we
can think of to prevent the pending catastrophe. Nothing seems to help.
MVPs are selected by Microsoft, usually (I think) by nomination by others.
More to read about it here: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpawardintro

Are you perhaps thinking of obtaining MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist)
certification in Excel? If so, there are some good books such as the Step By
Step series put out by Microsoft that will prepare you very well for the test
required to obtain that certification.

 

[Guest]

It isn't a certification - it is mostly a reward/recognition for
contribution in various communities associated with the particular software
under which it is awarded.

http://mvp.Support.microsoft.com/

see the second link MVP Award for more information.

 

[Zone]

Bernie, Thank you for the info. I'm working on #1! I'll have to make a
decision on #2 vs. #3.
James

 

[Guest]

Here is what Microsoft says...

Q9: How can I become a Microsoft MVP?

A9: Individuals are nominated for the MVP Award by their peers or by
Microsoft, based on their contributions during the previous year to offline
or online technical communities. Each nominee's contributions are then
compared to the other candidates' contributions for the same year to
determine who will receive the award.

Nominees are chosen from traditional and emerging community venues,
including public news groups, forums, third-party Web sites, user groups,
book authors, event speakers, Web boards, blogs, and wikis. Current MVPs
reside in over 90 countries, write in 30 languages, and share their expertise
in over 90 Microsoft technologies.

*** So keep posting. Play nice. And even if you never get there have fun
along the way.

 

[Zone]

Thank you. And to think I came here willingly! I'm not sure whether I'm
facing the right direction to worship the minor dieties. (Presumably that
excludes BG, who evidently would be a major one.) I don't know about the
MOS thing, but your info is very helpful to me.
Regards,
James

 

[Zone]

Thank you, Tom. I will check it out. James

It isn't a certification - it is mostly a reward/recognition for
contribution in various communities associated with the particular
software
under which it is awarded.

http://mvp.Support.microsoft.com/

see the second link MVP Award for more information.

 

[Zone]

Very good info. Thank you, Jim. It is all about give-and-take, isn't it?
Of course, I'd be here anyway, what with my Excel addiction and all. But I
figured, what the heck, why not look into getting some credit for it?
Regards, James

 

[Guest]

Just as a note: I haven't been published, at least not in anything that
actually pays money in many, many years. No one in their right mind would
say that my site is high-volume, although I do help moderate one of the
largest privately held websites with a very active Microsoft support forum.
That seems to be where I got my 'rep' - at last count, over a period of 8
years, I've got something like 42K postings in their various forums: not all
in Microsoft support, I diversify and assist with computer builds, hardware
problem diagnosis, host a couple of 'social' forums, help out in our Wireless
Internet Service Providers forum and of course, get to slap the occassional
rowdy member up side'o'da'haid, in a virtual manner, of course.

 

[Guest]

So what's the URL?

--
Regards,
Tom Ogilvy

Just as a note: I haven't been published, at least not in anything that
actually pays money in many, many years. No one in their right mind would
say that my site is high-volume, although I do help moderate one of the
largest privately held websites with a very active Microsoft support forum.
That seems to be where I got my 'rep' - at last count, over a period of 8
years, I've got something like 42K postings in their various forums: not all
in Microsoft support, I diversify and assist with computer builds, hardware
problem diagnosis, host a couple of 'social' forums, help out in our Wireless
Internet Service Providers forum and of course, get to slap the occassional
rowdy member up side'o'da'haid, in a virtual manner, of course.

 

[Zone]

Oh, great, just when I googled the coordinates for San Jose to face the
minor dieties (there must be a compass around here somewhere). Should I
face in your direction instead? Seriously, <g> thanks for the info. James

 

[Jon Peltier]

You mean "and/or", not "or"!

- Jon

 

[Guest]

http://www.DSLreports.com and the Microsoft support forum is at
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/microsoft hosted by 2 MVPs, MSeng and Auggy
along with MVP quality guy (just not prolific poster) called Kramer. At last
count there were between 30 and 40 MVPs who are long time members of the
site, quite a few of them in the Security forum and in that MVP group.
You'll find me around the site under the nick name of 2kmaro.

Ok, the sales pitch: http://www.dslreports.com/about they do get mentioned
from time to time; were just selected this month (Aug 07) as one of PC
Magazine's Top 100 'Classic' sites. No account required to post, basic
accounts are absolutely free. Not much else like it around: the site is
entirely the result of custom coding by its owner, Justin Beech, an Aussie
transplanted to NYC.

 

[Guest]

Editorial correction: PC World, not PC Magazine's Top 100 Classic sites. Got
some decent mention in Consumer Reports not too long ago also.