In our recent post we have already discussed two areas of Microsoft skills that are sometimes confused with each other: Microsoft 365 and (Microsoft) Office 365. If you want to build your career as an IT professional around Microsoft products, you are probably already familiar with the differences and similarities in that respect. Today, let us have a closer look at career options and further educational possibilities depending on your current level of expertise.
The job market for Microsoft skills (Microsoft 365/Office 365)
When you research the job market for positions that involve Microsoft 365 skills, these are the type of job offers you might find (depending on your skill level and location):
- Microsoft 365 Administrator
- Microsoft 365 Developer
- Microsoft 365 Architect
- IT Support Specialist Level 2 – Microsoft Cloud (Office 365/Azure)
- IT Support Technician
- Windows Systems Admin – Microsoft Cloud
- Cloud Technical Expert
Since Office 365 is used in all kinds of job descriptions, there is an even broader range of options, some of them naturally being in similar areas as the above.
- IT End User Support Specialist
- Office 365 – Exchange Online-Consultant
- Office 365/ Exchange engineer
- Technology Support Specialist
- Junior Desktop Support
- Office 365 Delivery Engineer
- Associate UC Support Engineer
- Office 365 SharePoint Onboarding Engineer
- Technical Engineer / Help Desk
- SharePoint Developer (Office 365)
The T-shaped Microsoft expert
We have already addressed the generalist and specialist approach with regards to Microsoft skills. While there can be advantages as well as disadvantages associated with either option, there is also a third: Professionals with this combination of skills are often referred to as “generalizing specialist” or “T-shaped“.
This means that this person is an expert/specialist in a single field (the vertical part of the “T”). The difference to a “regular” specialist is that this one also possesses the ability and sufficient knowledge to collaborate with other experts in other disciplines (the horizontal part of the “T”). In the context of recruiting, this is considered a very desirable trait in a potential future employee. Within the area of IT, the term “T-shaped” is also common for cross-skilled team members in the context of agile software development.
Back to the subject of Microsoft, this could mean that your expertise (vertical) falls under the Microsoft-related skills (Microsoft 365/Office 365), but that you are capable of collaborating with other IT professionals in different/related fields.
Develop your Microsoft expertise with TechSherpas 365 learning solutions
Whether you want to further your expertise in Microsoft 365 and/or Office 365 or just starting in the field, we at TechSherpas 365 are your competent partner with our Microsoft training courses and certification programs.
If you already do consider yourself a Microsoft 365/Office 365 expert but want to improve on the horizontal part of your T-shape, take a look at our course catalog to find the right learning solution for you.
Sources and further reading:
https://www.hrzone.com/hr-glossary/what-are-t-shaped-skills
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-shaped_skills
https://www.indeed.com
