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David Wenkel
College Student, Columbia College of Missouri
Microsoft Office Specialist
With a bachelor's degree in one hand and Microsoft certifications in the other, soon-to-be graduate David Wenkel is getting well prepared to enter the business world.
As a senior at Columbia College in Missouri, majoring in business administration with an emphasis in management information systems, Wenkel recognized early on the benefits of validating his technical skills by getting certified. "Certification gets your foot in the door so you actually have the chance to prove your skills," he explains.
Wenkel first began proving his skills by completing his Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification, which made him eager to pursue other certifications that could further his career. While a student at McHenry County College, he discovered Microsoft Office Specialist certification and noticed that the requirements to pass the Microsoft Word 2000 exam closely corresponded to the objectives of a required word processing course he was taking.
When he asked Department Chair Gaye Boland if Microsoft Office certification could replace the course, she agreed. Wenkel passed the exam and became the first student at Columbia College to receive credit for Office certification. "Microsoft Office certification saved me time and money, and I received college credit for my skills-all at the same time," he says.
Boland now encourages all her students to become Microsoft certified by giving them the option of taking a certification exam instead of her final exam. "I am comfortable replacing my final exam-even my course-with Microsoft Office certification because it is an excellent indicator of one's expertise with the program," she says. "In addition, the students will have a valuable certification to present to employers that proves their abilities."
Along with his studies, Wenkel also works for TekSystems, an information technology (IT) recruiting company that matches employee skills with companies looking for IT technicians. He has noticed that demand for his skills has definitely increased because of his certifications.
As Wenkel nears graduation, he will add more certifications to his list of credentials, including Microsoft Excel and Microsoft OutlookŪ 2000. Wenkel feels confident Microsoft Office Specialist certification will continue to give him an edge in his career. "Since I don't yet have the experience to validate my skills, certifications prove I have the skills to get the job done," he says.
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