MCSE starts to lose its shine

Microsoft certification is losing its appeal among employers, with average salaries for Microsoft-certified professionals levelling out.

The value of certification has come under the spotlight, as a new study for the Microsoft Certified Professional magazine shows average base salaries for Microsoft-certified systems engineers (MCSEs) are down seven per cent on last year.

"The demand for Microsoft certification has definitely gone down," said Abigail Whittaker, recruitment consultant for IT recruiter Robert Walters.

"A lot of candidates think they can do an MCSE and walk into a job - that's not the case. Today it's more about experience, and customer-facing skills and personality."

"We encourage our members to have a breadth of skills, including business skills," said Robin Jones, education officer at the Institution of Analysts and Programmers.

"My intuition tells me that employers are getting a bit leery of the idea of manufacturer-specific training."

Mark Harrison, IT manager at IT recruiter Plexian, urges Microsoft to increase the focus on practical experience to raise standards.

"It should take more responsibility to make sure its products are supported by 'skilled' rather than 'qualified' professionals," he said.

Microsoft marketing manager Sarah Foxall says the software giant has addressed criticisms and "raised the bar" with the introduction of Windows 2000 MCSE.

"In particular, it uses real-world scenario questioning and includes some design components. It's more than just administering and managing a network."