{"id":2268,"date":"2024-02-13T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-02-13T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/education\/blog\/2024\/02\/13\/how-college-students-are-landing-their-dream-jobs-with-ai-credentials\/"},"modified":"2025-12-18T22:39:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T06:39:25","slug":"how-college-students-are-landing-their-dream-jobs-with-ai-credentials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/education\/blog\/2024\/02\/how-college-students-are-landing-their-dream-jobs-with-ai-credentials\/","title":{"rendered":"How college students are landing their dream jobs with AI credentials"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p id=\"isPasted\">If you had told 14-year-old Ashley Masters that one day she would be giving a speech in front of an audience of more than 500 people, she would not have believed it, \u201cI had absolutely no confidence when I walked into high school,\u201d she admits. However, things would change after she earned her first Microsoft Certification as part of a required class.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ashley would go on to compete in two Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) U.S. National Championships. She also won first place nationwide for Word and Excel at a Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) competition. During her senior year, she received an invitation to become a Student Ambassador for the 2018 <a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.moschampionship.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about MOS World Championship\">MOS World Championship<\/a>, and it was there that she addressed a room full of participants from 52 different countries.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"earning-verified-expertise-for-in-demand-jobs\">Earning verified expertise for in-demand jobs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After she won her first competition with the FBLA, <strong>she was offered a full-time job at just 15 years old<\/strong>, \u201cThankfully, my dad and my grandpa drove me to work every day for the month and a half that I didn\u2019t have my driver\u2019s license and I was able to work at that job for almost two and a half years. And so, before I left for college, I got two and a half years of real-world experience and started building my confidence and my network.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Then, at age 19, Ashley landed her dream job at Microsoft<\/strong>, working full-time while she continued her education at Washington State University. She would later graduate with a master\u2019s degree in business administration.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>In college, a lot of my friends would say \u2018How do you set yourself apart during an interview?\u2019 or even on a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 because some people don\u2019t even get to do the interview. You have to find what sets you apart, and Microsoft Certification is exactly that.<\/p>\n<cite>Ashley Masters, MBA, Student Ambassador, 2018 MOS World Championship\u00a0<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Ashley is now part of a growing number of students, educators, workers, and employers who have recognized the significant impact of certifications, not just during interviews but throughout a person\u2019s entire career, leading to more recognition, improved job satisfaction, and better performance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You, too, can become job-ready and future-proof by unlocking essential skills in data, AI, and other in-demand skill sets. Go to <a title=\"\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about Microsoft Learn\" href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Microsoft Learn<\/a> to start expanding your skill set today and visit <a title=\"\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about Microsoft Credentials\" href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/credentials\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Microsoft Credentials<\/a> to get your skills validated.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a89b3969 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fFz6L9ZJgYk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Watch the YouTube video<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"employers-are-putting-skills-first\">Employers are putting skills first<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/pulse\/job-market-future-all-skills-heres-what-four-experts-say-aneesh-raman\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about Recent LinkedIn data shows\">Recent LinkedIn data shows<\/a> that around 1 in 5 jobs in the U.S. no longer require a 4-year degree. Employers are realizing that they can tap into much larger talent pools by screening for the skills they need rather than the degrees an applicant has earned. This <strong>skills-first approach values what a candidate can do and their willingness to learn above all else<\/strong>, and it has allowed forward-thinking companies to access millions of alternatively skilled workers to fill job roles. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/education\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/01-Microsoft-Education-college-student-laptop-conference-room.jpg\" alt=\"A college student working on a laptop in a conference room.\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>A college student working on a laptop in a conference room. Microsoft certifications are a great way for new graduates to stand out when pursuing jobs.\u00a0<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Certifications are an especially great way for new graduates to stand out from other candidates with similar educational backgrounds when pursuing their dream jobs. The certification badge provides benefits for an applicant, including:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tangible proof of meeting industry standards. &nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Demonstration of commitment to continuous learning.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Higher earning potential due to validated experience. &nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A certificate tells the world that the person is a problem solver, which is precisely what companies are looking for. Bruce Beuzard IV became the <a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/us.moschampionship.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about MOS U.S. National Excel Champion\">MOS U.S. National Excel Champion<\/a> in 2019 and he applied for his first job as a Data Center Technician at Amazon Web Services that same year. He got the job, and soon word of his expertise got around. When his manager asked Bruce if he could help solve a problem they had been working on for months, he happily accepted. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Within a few hours, <strong>he built a complex Excel worksheet that helped the company save $3M in labor costs that year, solidifying Bruce\u2019s position as an Excel superstar<\/strong>. Like Ashley, Bruce attributes the opportunities he\u2019s had to his certifications. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>If you\u2019re in a position where these certifications are being offered to you for free, and teachers are willing to teach it to you for free, take it. I promise you, that one certification sets you worlds apart.<\/p>\n<cite>Bruce Beuzard IV, 2019 MOS U.S. National Excel Champion<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-can-students-build-ai-skills\">How can students build AI skills?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>LinkedIn released their\u202f<a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/economicgraph.linkedin.com\/research\/future-of-work-report-ai\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about Future of Work Report\">Future of Work Report<\/a>\u202fand found that new AI tools have the potential to lighten workloads and help professionals focus on the most critical parts of their job. For students, this report demonstrated the potential impact on the future of work where the skills required for many jobs have changed by 25% since 2015, with that number expected to reach at least 65% by 2030. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/education\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/02-Microsoft-Education-college-student-laptop-dorm.jpg\" alt=\"A college student sitting on a bed in a dorm room and working on a laptop.\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>A college student sitting on a bed and working on a laptop. As the demand for AI-related skills in the workforce grows, Microsoft continues to support building AI literacy and preparing students for the future.\u00a0<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/training\/student-hub\/?wt.mc_id=fsi_gtm_blog_wwl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about how Students can acquire new AI skills\">Students can acquire new AI skills<\/a> on their own time using <a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about Microsoft Learn\">Microsoft Learn<\/a>, the free online platform. Microsoft Learn offers a comprehensive array of learning paths and Microsoft official learning modules covering a wide range of topics, from fundamental concepts to advanced applications. This includes courses on machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and reinforcement learning. For academic institutions AI learning is integrated through <a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/training\/educator-center\/programs\/msle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about Microsoft Learn for Educators (MSLE)\">Microsoft Learn for Educators (MSLE)<\/a>. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>There is an abundance of varied and adaptable AI learning paths that students can take to harness the potential of AI and use it to create these incredible applications that have a real impact on the world. AI is quickly becoming one of the most valuable resources for self-determination and long-term success.\u201d <\/p>\n<cite>Christina Thoresen, Director of Worldwide Education Industry Sales Strategy at Microsoft <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Students and education leaders can explore a <a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/aka.ms\/AIforEducatorsLearningPath\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about collection of AI learning pathways\">collection of AI learning pathways<\/a> based on their career choice and personal goals. As the demand for AI and data related skills in the workforce grows, Microsoft continues to support building AI literacy and provide AI-related training courses to help prepare students for the future. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/education\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/03-Microsoft-Learn-data-and-AI-learning-path.jpg\" alt=\"Diagram of Data and AI learning path and certifications. \" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Students can explore a collection of Data &amp; AI learning pathways on Microsoft Learn based on their career choice and personal goals.\u00a0<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"setting-students-up-for-success-in-the-real-world\">Setting students up for success in the real world<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tyler Millis, a software developer and a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, had amassed an impressive 47 technology certifications by the time he finished high school and the title of <a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.moschampionship.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about Microsoft Office Specialist World Champion\">Microsoft Office Specialist World Champion<\/a>. According to Tyler, this was way more than any of his colleagues at MIT, \u201cI think the more students know about these programs, these certifications, these competitions, the better.\u201d &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many universities have recognized the real-world value of certifications and are now including them in their curriculum. Moreover, many certifications have international recognition, allowing students to compete in the global job market and explore opportunities worldwide. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Having such an asset provided for the students is an advantage to us that other courses don\u2019t have. I\u2019ve personally been offered job positions on the condition that I attain certain Microsoft certificates, demonstrating how advantageous it is to have them.<\/p>\n<cite>Kayden Anderson, Student, Australian Catholic University<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Ready to take your learning to the next level? You, too, can become job-ready by unlocking essential skills in data, AI, and other high-value areas. Check out <a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about Microsoft Learn\">Microsoft Learn<\/a> to start expanding your skill set today and visit <a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/en-us\/credentials\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\" Click to go to Microsoft Credentials\">Microsoft Credentials<\/a> to get your skills validated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more by exploring these additional resources and staying up to date with the latest trends: &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Start your AI learning journey at the\u202f<a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/training\/student-hub\/?wt.mc_id=fsi_gtm_blog_wwl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about Microsoft Learn Student Hub\">Microsoft Learn Student Hub<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Claim free\u202f<a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/aka.ms\/A4shub?wt.mc_id=fsi_gtm_blog_wwl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about Azure for Students benefits\">Azure for Students benefits<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/power-platform\/admin\/try-powerapps-dynamics-365?wt.mc_id=fsi_gtm_blog_wwl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about Sign up for free trial licenses\">Sign up for free trial licenses<\/a>, and build low-code and no-code analytics solutions, by using\u202fMicrosoft Power Platform apps.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you\u2019re an educator or a faculty member who wants to bring AI skill-building to your students, visit <a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/learn.microsoft.com\/training\/educator-center\/programs\/msle\/?wt.mc_id=fsi_gtm_blog_wwl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about Microsoft Learn for Educators Program - Applied Skills\">Microsoft Learn for Educators Program &#8211; Applied Skills<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Microsoft and Certiport, a Pearson VUE business, are actively involved on a global scale in engaging with customers for licensing and deployment opportunities related to certifications in educational institutions, including schools and campuses. Learn more about the <a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/certiport.pearsonvue.com\/Certifications\/Microsoft\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about Microsoft Certification offerings available through Certiport\">Microsoft Certification offerings available through Certiport<\/a>. &nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compete in <a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.moschampionship.com\/.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about Certiport\u2019s Microsoft Office Specialist Championships\">Certiport\u2019s Microsoft Office Specialist Championships<\/a>, one of the largest IT competitions. &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Explore the <a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/certiport.pearsonvue.com\/Certifications\/Microsoft\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about Microsoft Office Specialist and Microsoft Certified Fundamentals certifications\">Microsoft Office Specialist and Microsoft Certified Fundamentals certifications<\/a>. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ai-in-education-brings-opportunity-to-life\">AI in education brings opportunity to life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At Microsoft, we are committed to making sure AI systems are developed responsibly and that equitable opportunities are created for all students. Join us for\u202f<a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/aka.ms\/MicrosoftReimagine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to learn more about Reimagine Education\">Reimagine Education<\/a>\u202fon Wednesday, March 6, 2024, to explore insights from global education innovators who will share next practices on education equity, security, and workforce readiness in the era of AI. Select the time that works best for you and save it to your calendar\u2014either\u202f<a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/aka.ms\/reimagine-education-event1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to add this to your calendar\">9:00 AM PT (UTC-8)<\/a>\u202for\u202f<a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/aka.ms\/reimagine-education-event2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Click to add this to your calendar\">6:00 PM PT (UTC-8)<\/a>. Together we can reimagine education. &nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you had told 14-year-old Ashley Masters that one day she would be giving a speech in front of an audience of more than 500 people, she would not have believed it, \u201cI had absolutely no confidence when I walked into high school,\u201d she admits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":440,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ms_queue_id":[],"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"_classifai_error":"","_classifai_text_to_speech_error":"","_alt_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"audience":[150,152],"content-type":[326,155],"product":[],"topic":[166,184,167],"coauthors":[231],"class_list":["post-2268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","audience-educators","audience-parents-caregivers","content-type-education-trends","content-type-news","topic-ai-in-education","topic-career-readiness-skills","topic-higher-education"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How college students are landing their dream jobs with AI credentials | Microsoft Education Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how AI credentials and Microsoft certifications help college students land their dream jobs. 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