Adding your Microsoft certifications to your LinkedIn profile is a great way to showcase your technical skills and qualifications to potential employers and connections. LinkedIn provides a dedicated section for listing certifications, and adding Microsoft certs can boost your visibility and credibility as an IT professional.
Verifying your Microsoft certifications
Before adding your Microsoft certifications to LinkedIn, you’ll first need to verify them through the Certifications tool. Here’s how:
- Go to your profile and click on the “Add profile section” dropdown menu.
- Select “Licenses & Certifications.”
- Click the blue “+ Add certification” button.
- In the search bar, type “Microsoft” and select the appropriate certification from the dropdown results.
- Enter your Microsoft certification ID number and click “Verify certification.”
Microsoft will electronically authenticate your certification status. If successful, your certification will appear in the “Licenses & Certifications” section of your profile.
Manually adding Microsoft certifications
If for some reason you are unable to electronically verify your Microsoft certification through LinkedIn, you can manually add it by following these steps:
- Go to your profile and click “Add profile section.”
- Select “Licenses & Certifications.”
- Click the blue “+ Add certification” button.
- Type in the full name of your Microsoft certification and hit Enter.
- Fill in the other requested info like the certifying authority, issue date, and expiration date.
- Check the “This certification does not require proof” box and click “Save.”
Your unverified Microsoft certification will now be listed on your profile. Note that manual certifications won’t have the same visual indicator as verified ones.
Featuring your Microsoft certifications
Once you’ve added your Microsoft credentials to your LinkedIn profile, you can make them more prominent in a few ways:
- Add the certification names or acronyms after your name in the headline, e.g. “John Smith MCSA, MCSE.”
- Include the certifications in your Summary section along with details like when you earned them.
- List the Microsoft certs under your Employment entries for each relevant job.
- Attach a visual Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) badge image.
- Join relevant LinkedIn groups for Microsoft cert-holders.
Pro tip: You can also export your verified LinkedIn certifications to build a digital badge portfolio on platforms like Acclaim.
Benefits of adding Microsoft certs to a LinkedIn profile
Here are some of the top benefits of featuring your Microsoft credentials prominently on your LinkedIn profile:
- Increased visibility and exposure of your skills to recruiters and hiring managers
- Higher likelihood of being contacted about IT job opportunities
- Ability to connect and network with other Microsoft certified professionals
- Showcasing knowledge of specific Microsoft technologies like Azure, Dynamics 365, etc.
- Added credibility as an IT practitioner with proven Microsoft competencies
- Professional image as a skilled technologist invested in ongoing learning
Microsoft certifications that boost LinkedIn profiles
Not all Microsoft certifications have the same level of recognition and impact. Here are some of the top Microsoft credentials that add weight to a LinkedIn profile:
| Microsoft Certification | What It Validates |
|---|---|
| MCSE: Core Infrastructure | Skills in managing Windows Server infrastructure |
| MCSA: SQL Server | Expertise in Microsoft SQL Server and T-SQL |
| MCSE: Productivity | Proficiency in Microsoft 365 workloads like Exchange and SharePoint |
| MCSA: Dynamics 365 | Knowledge of Dynamics 365 apps like Sales, Marketing, and Field Service |
| MCSA: Office 365 | Ability to manage Office 365 services like SSO, Rights Management, and Teams |
| MCSA: Windows Server | Experience administering Windows Server infrastructure and workloads |
The Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) and Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) designations in fields like cloud, data, productivity, and apps & infrastructure are among the most valuable to promote on a LinkedIn profile.
Keywords to include with Microsoft certifications
To maximize the exposure of your Microsoft certifications on LinkedIn, be sure to use relevant keywords and phrases. Here are some examples:
- Microsoft Certified Professional
- Microsoft Certified IT Professional
- Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)
- Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA)
- Microsoft 365 Certified
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals/Administrator/Developer/Security Engineer
- Azure Certified
Including these industry-standard Microsoft certification keywords helps ensure your profile appears in more searches by recruiters and hiring managers.
Answering questions about Microsoft certs on LinkedIn
You may receive questions or comments about your Microsoft credentials listed on your LinkedIn profile. Here are some tips for responding:
- Provide details about the certification – the technologies and skills covered in the exams, number of exams required, etc.
- Share how long you prepared for the certification and the study methods/resources you used.
- Explain how you’ve applied the certification in your job roles and projects.
- Direct people to Microsoft’s certification website for more details on prerequisites, costs, and requirements.
- Offer advice to others pursuing the same Microsoft certification based on your experience.
Being responsive shows you are proud of your Microsoft accomplishments and happy to share your insights with others.
Promoting your profile and Microsoft certifications
Here are some tips to boost the visibility of your Microsoft certifications on your LinkedIn profile even further:
- Add a customized background photo highlighting your Microsoft credentials.
- Include links to your public certification verifications from Microsoft.
- List your Microsoft certifications under the Certifications section of your LinkedIn Learning profile too.
- Post status updates when you pass Microsoft certification exams to notify your network.
- Join LinkedIn Groups related to your specific Microsoft certs.
- Follow Company Pages for Microsoft and IT certification providers like Pearson VUE.
- Add the certifications to your résumé and SlideShare presentations.
The more you showcase and reference your latest Microsoft credentials, the more visible they will be to your connections and target audience.
Maintaining your Microsoft certs on LinkedIn
It’s important to keep your Microsoft certifications up to date on your LinkedIn profile. Here are a few maintenance tips:
- Renew your certifications before they expire to keep them current.
- Add new Microsoft certifications as you earn them over time.
- Remove any expired or inactive certifications so they aren’t misleading.
- Update the “Valid Through” dates if you recertify to extend your credentials.
- Edit certifications if you earn higher-level ones, like upgrading from MCSA to MCSE.
By diligently maintaining your Microsoft credentials on your LinkedIn profile, you can leverage them fully during your job search and career progression.
Conclusion
Including your Microsoft certifications on your LinkedIn profile makes them easily discoverable for recruiters, hiring managers, and technology leaders. Following these best practices for adding certs, optimizing keywords, engaging with your network, and maintaining your credentials will ensure you fully maximize their visibility and value on LinkedIn.
