Skip to content
cognixia-logo-white-text
  • Contact
  • Profile
  • Approach
  • Companies

    Cognixia Approach Uncover skill gaps in your human capital, acquire agile training solutions, and plot your roadmap to a future-proofed workforce. Get Started Workforce Transformation Enterprise digital empowerment starts with a digitally-enabled workforce. Discover how Cognixia can deliver the right mix of skills to your talent. Transform Now Hire Skilled Talent Transform your talent acquisition…


    Know More
    Quick Link
    CompaniesCompanies
    Companies
    • Workforce Transformation

      Upskill your existing workforce with our digital training solutions Hire digitally native talent to solve your? digital needs Rewire by Cognixia Full team of industry veterans as trainers Customized training solutions to suit the needs of companies 24/7 support for learners anywhere in the world Course completion certification A globally-recognized certificate after course completion. Hands-on…


      Know More
      Quick Link
      Workforce TransformationWorkforce Transformation
      Workforce Transformation
    • Hire Skilled Talent

      Hire digitally native talent to solve your digital needs Skills Attitude Assessments Mindset Assessments Location Based To know more about JUMP Contact Us


      Know More
      Quick Link
      Hire Skilled TalentHire Skilled Talent
      Hire Skilled Talent
  • Individuals

    Upgrade Your Digital Skills Specialize your talents, learn new skills and stay indispensable to your organization with Cognixia’s upskilling programs. Learn More   ❱ Get Hired Fast-track your path to career growth with thousands of fresh opportunities and find the job you’ve always dreamed of. Learn More   ❱


    Know More
    Quick Link
    IndividualsIndividuals
    Individuals
    • Upgrade Your Digital Skills

      Enhance your digital skillset with our robust course offering Direct mentorship with experienced instructors Classroom, virtual, self-paced and hybrid learning modes Lifetime access to all training materials To know more on what course you should pick Contact Us


      Know More
      Quick Link
      Upgrade Your Digital SkillsUpgrade Your Digital Skills
      Upgrade Your Digital Skills
    • Get Hired

      Apply today to launch your digital career Apply Get Trained Location Based To know more about JUMP Contact Us


      Know More
      Quick Link
      Get HiredGet Hired
      Get Hired
  • Courses

    Dive into the latest technology frameworks and business paradigms to build a future-proofed career


    Know More
    Quick Link
    CoursesCourses
    Courses
    • Industry

      • Global Aviation
      • Global Automobile
      • Global BFSI
      • Global E-commerce
      • Global Food-tech
      • Global Healthcare
      • Global Media and Entertainment
      • Global Oil and Gas
      • Global Pharmaceutical
      • Global Telecommunication

      Know More
      Quick Link
      IndustryIndustry
      Industry
    • Application Development

      • Python v3.7
      • Self-Paced Python Developer Training
      • Self-Paced Java Programming Training

      Know More
      Quick Link
      Python v3.7Python v3.7
      Application Development
    • Big Data and Analytics

      • CouchDB
      • Self-Paced Analytics with R
      • Self-Paced Big Data Hadoop Administrator Training
      • Self-Paced Big Data Hadoop Developer Training

      Know More
      Quick Link
      Cassandra DeveloperCassandra Developer
      Big Data and Analytics
    • Business Intelligence

      • QlikView
      • Microstrategy

      Know More
      Quick Link
      MicrostrategyMicrostrategy
      Business Intelligence
    • Cloud and DevOps

      • Cloud Development Professional Training
      • Advanced Ansible Training
      • DevOps Training
      • Advanced DevOps Training
      • GCP- Google Cloud Platform
      • DevOps Plus Training
      • Cloud Computing with AWS Training

      Know More
      Quick Link
      DevOps Plus TrainingDevOps Plus Training
      Cloud and DevOps
    • Cyber Security

      • Cyber Crime and Cyber Security Training
      • Self-Paced Linux Administration Training

      Know More
      Quick Link
      Cyber Crime and Cyber Security TrainingCyber Crime and Cyber Security Training
      Cyber Security
    • Development

      • Docker and Kubernetes Bootcamp
      • FULL Stack (MEAN) Developer Training
      • Google Certified Android App Development Training
      • Blockchain Training
      • Apache Spark & Scala Training
      • Big Data Hadoop Administrator Training
      • Big Data Hadoop Developer Training

      Know More
      Quick Link
      Docker and Kubernetes TrainingDocker and Kubernetes Training
      Development
    • Internet of Things

      • Internet of Things Security Expert Training
      • IoT Analytics Training
      • Internet of Things (IoT) with Amazon Web Services (AWS)
      • IoT Security Training
      • Self-Paced Internet of Things
      • Azure IoT

      Know More
      Quick Link
      Internet of Things (IoT) TrainingInternet of Things (IoT) Training
      Internet of Things
    • ITIL® and IT Service Management

      • ITIL® 4 Awareness
      • ITIL® Service Operations
      • ITIL® Foundation (v3, 2011)
      • ITIL® 4 Foundation
      • ITIL® Service Design

      Know More
      Quick Link
      ITIL® 4 FoundationITIL® 4 Foundation
      ITIL® and IT Service Management
    • Java/J2EE

      • Web Services
      • Spring Cloud
      • Node.js
      • Angular.JS
      • Spring Boot

      Know More
      Quick Link
      Spring BootSpring Boot
      Java/J2EE
    • Machine Learning and Analytics

      • Tableau Training
      • Machine Learning, AI, & Deep Learning Training
      • Machine Learning with Python and R
      • Advanced Machine Learning with Deep Learning Training
      • Machine Learning with Python Training

      Know More
      Quick Link
      Machine Learning with Python TrainingMachine Learning with Python Training
      Machine Learning and Analytics
    • Management

      • PMP Training
      • Certified Scrum Master Training
      • Six Sigma Black Belt Training
      • Six Sigma Green Belt Training

      Know More
      Quick Link
      PMP TrainingPMP Training
      Management
    • Microsoft Technologies

      • AZ-300: Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies
      • AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator
      • AZ-103: Microsoft Azure Administrator
      • AZ-101: Microsoft Azure Integration & Security
      • AZ-100: Microsoft Azure Infrastructure & Deployment

      Know More
      Quick Link
      AZ-104: Microsoft Azure AdministratorAZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator
      Microsoft Technologies
    • Mobile

      • Self Paced Android App Development

      Know More
      Quick Link
      React NativeReact Native
      Mobile
    • Web Technologies

      • React.js
      • Knockout.js
      • JavaScript & Ajax
      • HTML5 AND CSS3
      • Ember.JS
      • Backbone.js

      Know More
      Quick Link
      HTML5 AND CSS3HTML5 AND CSS3
      Web Technologies
  • Events


    Know More
    Quick Link
    EventsEvents
    Events
    • Master Class


      Know More
      Quick Link
      Master ClassMaster Class
      Master Class
    • Webinars


      Know More
      Quick Link
      WebinarsWebinars
      Webinars
    • Workshops


      Know More
      Quick Link
      WorkshopsWorkshops
      Workshops
  • Resources


    Know More
    Quick Link
    ResourcesResources
    Resources
    • Blog


      Know More
      Quick Link
      BlogBlog
      Blog
    • Tech News


      Know More
      Quick Link
      Tech NewsTech News
      Tech News
  • About

    Mission To bring about a shift in the mindsets of people and enterprises through future-proofed, digitally-ready talent solutions. We shape the future by grooming the next generation of disruptors, innovators and leaders and aim to bridge the global supply/demand gap in the number of digital-ready professionals who are skilled in the technologies of tomorrow.


    Know More
    Quick Link
    AboutAbout
    About
    • Awards

      Cognixia creates some of the most comprehensive and relevant online learning experiences for professionals in nearly every field imaginable. And we’re proud to be recognized for the passion and dedication that we bring to thousands of lives.


      Know More
      Quick Link
      AwardsAwards
      Awards
    • Careers

      Apply for a dream career at Cognixia. Join our global team of thought leaders and educators as we transform people and companies. Think you could add something we have missed? Why not submit your CV and a covering letter?


      Know More
      Quick Link
      CareersCareers
      Careers
    • Our Culture

      Disciplined in performance Responsive in approach Passionate to achieve Competitive to succeed Industrious from start to finish


      Know More
      Quick Link
      Our CultureOur Culture
      Our Culture
    • Locations


      Know More
      Quick Link
      LocationsLocations
      Locations
    • Referrals

      Success tastes best when shared. Tell us about a friend, colleague or a family member, who might be interested in pursuing a career in digital technologies or transforming their workforce.


      Know More
      Quick Link
      ReferralsReferrals
      Referrals
  • Contact
  • Cart
  • Profile
Search Courses
banner

How to Convince Your Manager to get you a Microsoft Certified

HomeResourcesBlogHow to Convince Your Manager to get you a Microsoft Certified
August 29, 2022 | Microsoft, Podcast
Read Time: 15:00

Hello everybody and welcome to the Cognixia podcast!

If this is your first time tuning in to our podcast, we welcome you to the Cognixia podcast. In this podcast, every week, we discuss a topic related to one of the emerging digital technologies in some depth, helping our listeners from all over the world learn something new or get started on the path to learning something new. For our existing listeners, welcome back peeps, we are so glad to have you back! Whether you’re a new listener or have heard us before, thank you for tuning in today, we have an exciting episode ahead.

We keep telling you how our training courses can be useful to you and how they can help you validate your skills as well as move ahead in your career. However, for a lot of our listeners, yes, you know who you are, we are talking about you, you also need to convince your managers to get you certified. A lot of companies offer upskilling and skill development opportunities to employees where the employer covers the cost of the training to a certain value. Not all companies offer this to their employees, but it is a growing trend seen among employers now. Here, the employee would have to present a case for why they should get certified or trained in the particular skill, how it would help them, how it would benefit the organization, and why should the organization invest in this particular training for the particular individual. Sometimes, even when the employer does not offer this perk, they might be open to reimbursing some costs incurred by the employee in upskilling if it makes business sense and would help the company realize significant benefits from having a trained, skilled resource on their payroll. Now this entire process begins with convincing your manager to get you certified and it is never a cake-walk, usually. You need to be thoroughly prepared with the case you wish to present and rebuttals and all your points in place when you go to talk to your manager about getting you certified. This is exactly what we will talk about in today’s episode of this podcast – How to convince your manager to get you Microsoft certified, with a special focus on Microsoft Certified Cloud Administrator.

To begin with, we would like to say that an enterprise cannot maximize its return on technology or process without having the right people in the right places. In any organization, its people are appreciating assets, but they often don’t get seen as such. If the people are not nurtured as appreciating assets, their skills will depreciate and the organization, as a result, will suffer. If an organization has truly understood the power of investing in its people, they have unlocked one of the organization’s most powerful assets that would never let them down.

So, let’s imagine you are an aspiring cloud administrator, you know the fundamentals of cloud computing. Your organization uses Microsoft Azure as its primary cloud computing platform. You have been working with implementing, managing, and monitoring your organization’s Azure environment, including tasks that involve virtual networks, storage, compute, identity, security, governance, etc. Now, you want to learn some more in the same area of expertise and want to validate your skills & expertise in the field. You look for training and certification that could help you in this regard. You find that Microsoft Azure has an official Microsoft Certification exam for this – the AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator, after clearing which you will get the credentials of a Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator.

Now, you have a path, a direction in which you want to walk. So, you look up the prerequisites for this certification. To be eligible for the AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator certification exam, you need to be familiar with operating systems, networking, servers, and virtualization. You also need to have experience using PowerShell, Azure CLI, the Azure portal, and the Azure Portal Manager templates. Some of these you already have, and some you can acquire with the proper training. You spend some time doing your research, and you’ve found the perfect training provider that offers the training exactly the way you need, covering everything you need to know to ace the Microsoft Certification exam, the cost is reasonable. Now you need to convince your manager to support you in getting this Microsoft Certification. What do you do?

Let’s mix things up, and begin with what you SHOULD NOT do. Refrain from doing these, and you will thank us.

  1. Do not mention anything related to your salary or paychecks. Your salary would increase with time with your appraisals according to your performance and other factors, you may or may not be happy with how it is growing, but this is NOT the time to discuss that or even bring that up. This is the time to show your worth, not state your worth. There is a difference and you need to be on the right side of that difference when presenting your case.
  2. If you were planning to open your case with something like, “62% of unsatisfied employees are likely to be looking for new opportunities and would leave their job soon”, STOP! Delete those lines from your pitch NOW! This, let’s be honest, is a subtle threat and is not going to work in your favor at all. But if you want to convince your boss you will be leaving soon or would like to get fired soon and you are not someone your company should invest in, go on, use it. Otherwise, don’t.
  3. Do not go in with a sense of entitlement that the company should pay to train and upskill you. You could be the best employee in the entire company bagging all those Employee of the Year awards and being your manager’s favorite resource, but putting forth your case with a sense of entitlement is not going to help you here. Don’t get us wrong, we are all for employee training and are 100% on your side, but being humble and making a genuine case for yourself would be more helpful than going with a sense of entitlement that the company should pay for your training.
  4. Even if the request is not approved and your manager is not convinced to get you Microsoft certified or your company refuses to pay for your training, don’t get all negative and angry. Do not lose your cool at work or hold it against your manager. Explore other ways of pursuing your certification dreams or discuss with your manager what you can do instead. Every manager would want their team to be better and do better, work with them on this and find a way. As for the certification, you can pursue it by yourself, if possible, or save for it, or take up EMIs – simply put, explore other options.
How to Convince Your Manager to get you a Microsoft Certified

Now that we have covered the Don’ts, let’s go toward the Dos.

What should you do to convince your manager to get you Microsoft Certified?

  1. Build your business case

    To make a decision, especially about spending a sizable amount of money on one resource, there has to be a business case to justify the expenditure. So, present that to your manager or your learning and development team rep or your HR, whoever is the decision-maker here, maybe even all of them. One very important thumb rule to follow would be – Know Your Audience, then build and present your case accordingly. Rest, you are all wise people, you know what to do.

  2. Show your manager the bigger, better picture

    It is a possibility that your manager is convinced that the current situation is the best and that everything is functioning in the best way it could. Show your manager how the landscape is constantly evolving and how a little help from adequate training & upskilling would help you improve your skills, enabling you to keep up with changing times. Portray things in the light of how this would benefit the team. Focus on the positives instead of dwelling on what would happen if he doesn’t agree.

  3. Weigh everything on driving positive business outcomes

    Every manager and every decision maker would hold getting positive outcomes for the business in the highest stead. So, give your manager exactly that. Elaborate on the impact you could have not just on the team outcomes but also on the wider business outcomes. This would require some thorough homework – don’t beat around the bush or be vague when presenting this. Don’t quote some random company and some study that seems completely alien to your case. Calculate the actual impact you could have and present as real numbers as possible. Nothing talks like numbers do. If you need a little help, ask the training provider you have in mind to provide you with some points that you can use to present your case, they usually talk to a lot of learners and participants who work in roles similar to yours and might be able to help you with some useful information.

  4. Be ready with your rebuttals

    When we say rebuttals, we don’t mean you go in a full-blown debate champion mode and argue your case to the bitter end. But be prepared to get some counter-arguments, some objections, some questions, and some apprehensions about what you are asking for. How about we help you a little bit here? Let us tell you some of the common questions you could be asked and what you could say in response to them:

    • How do you know this Microsoft training provider is good?

      Learn everything there is to know about the training provider you have chosen and be prepared with the points about what makes the best in the market as well as why you have chosen that particular training provider over others.

    • The price is too high? Can’t you find a free course somewhere?

      Do your research well, and check out what is the usual price range for the top training providers in the market for this course. Since it is an official Microsoft Certification exam, the exam voucher would also have a fixed cost that you can find online, note that down. Keep all these numbers handy. Highlight to your manager why free training wouldn’t be able to offer the same quality and benefits that paid training would. Choose a training provider that is an authorized Microsoft Partner to get the best quality training at the best price, and highlight this authorized partner bit to your manager as well.

    • We don’t have the budget this year, maybe next year?

      Technology evolves rather quickly and by next year the world would have reached a whole different level altogether. But you don’t have to say that as bluntly. So, tell your manager about the opportunity loss as well as the other losses they would incur by not having a Microsoft Certified resource on board. Stick to the benefits for the business rather than the personal benefits here.

    • We don’t need you wasting hours behind a book when you could get actual work done

      The best possible solution to this is to look for a training provider who delivers its sessions online, preferably on the weekends. This way your learning and training do not interfere with your day-to-day work life and you can balance everything. Tell your manager that you will focus on your learning over the weekends, while during the work hours you will focus on your work, assure them that your work will not be affected in any way. If you feel it would be appropriate, you can even add that you will be able to do even better at your existing tasks as you learn about the best practices & better ways of doing things. You can also add that you will teach your team members some things to help them grow and improve as well. You don’t want to portray yourself as the miraculous savior for the business but focus on the case at hand.

    • If you need training, maybe you aren’t a good fit for this job.

      Nobody likes being told this, let’s face it, but can you help it? Now it depends on you how you proceed with this one. You could look for another organization that deserves you and your effort better than your existing one or you can continue pursuing your quest to convince your manager to get you Microsoft Certified. If you choose to do the latter, we would recommend talking about points like how you are good at what you do currently, highlight your achievements and accomplishments at work, and then elaborate on how it could get better – the bigger picture, provide valuable insights into areas they didn’t have access to earlier, how you could help overcome the current pain points the team faces, etc. Read the situation and proceed accordingly, we would say.

  5. Highlight your loyalty and commitment to the team & the company

    One of the biggest concerns most organizations have is that they will invest in your skill building and then you would quit your position to move to another organization, thereby laying waste the entire expenditure that was made on the resource. Assure your manager that you are fully committed to the team and the company, and have no intention of taking the first exit out of the company the moment you get your certificate. And then stick to that commitment. Every resource that does this, makes it difficult for a hundred other resources behind them to get any support for their dreams and initiatives. Ask for support if you see a career with the organization and live to the commitment you make.

  6. Present a post-training plan

    What happens once you are trained and certified? Now that you are a Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator, what do you do? This is your chance to shine, to show the miracles you will perform equipped with that certification you are fighting for, so showcase that. Talk about how you will help the team members, how you will focus on improving the processes, productivity, efficiency, the effectiveness, how you will be better placed to accomplish which tasks in your roles and responsibilities, and how you will be better equipped to take on additional responsibilities and be an invaluable asset to the company.

These are the six key Dos and the four key Don’ts we have for you. So, now you know what you need to do to convince your manager to get you Microsoft Certified, don’t you?

This is where we would like to tell you about Cognixia’s AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator training and certification course. Cognixia is a Microsoft Silver Partner and offers the complete portfolio of Microsoft Certification programs per the official exam outline. Our training sessions are 100% instructor-led, online, and live and are conducted over the weekends so they do not interfere or overlap with your weekday work life. You also get full access to all the learning material via the LMS, and we do provide the official certification exam voucher to you so you can take the exam, then go on to be a Microsoft Certified professional. So, if you’re interested to get started, do reach out to us.

With that, we come to the end of this week’s episode of the Cognixia podcast, hope you found it useful. Come back next week for another interesting episode of the Cognixia podcast and keep sending us your feedback and suggestions for the podcast. Until then, happy learning!

 

Tagged Microsoft
  • Share
  • LinkedIn
  • FaceBook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • RSS

Post navigation

〈 Top 10 ways to embrace automation with ITIL 4
Being Agile vs. Doing Agile – What’s the Difference? 〉
  • Share
  • LinkedIn
  • FaceBook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • RSS

Related Courses

Leading SAFe® 5.1 Training  (SAFe® Agilist Certification)
Leading SAFe® 5.1 Training (SAFe® Agilist Certification)
Professional Scrum Master – Level II
Professional Scrum Master – Level II
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Machine Learning & Deep Learning
Machine Learning & Deep Learning

Recent Posts

Top five cloud trends in 2023
Top five cloud trends in 2023
Overcoming supply chain security challenges with CISSP
Overcoming supply chain security challenges with CISSP
The computer failure that brought US flights to a stop
The computer failure that brought US flights to a stop
Learning AWS Cloud Computing
Learning AWS Cloud Computing

Get future Insights

Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on our latest opportunities, courses and events.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Cognixia Logo
4th Floor, Collabera House,
Gotri, Sevasi Road, Vadodara,
Gujarat, 390021
+91-7227048672
  • LinkedIn
  • FaceBook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
Courses
  • Cloud and DevOps
  • Internet of Things
  • Development
  • Management
  • Mobile
Companies
  • Workforce Transformation
  • Hire Skilled Talent

Individuals
  • Upgrade Your Digital Skills
  • Get Hired
Resources
  • Blog
  • Tech News

About

  • About
  • Awards
  • Referrals
  • Careers
  • Locations

Support

  • Contact
  • Site Map

  • US United States
  • Globe Global
  • Cognixia-iso
  • Refund Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2023 Cognixia. All rights reserved
×
Occasional Offer
Cognixia Special Offer