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expired Posted by CleverCheetah1749 â€Ē May 16, 2022
expired Posted by CleverCheetah1749 â€Ē May 16, 2022

Microsoft: Complete a Challenge and Receive a Microsoft Certification Exam

(Valid thru 6/21)

Free

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Update: This very popular offer is still available.

Microsoft.com offers a Microsoft Certification Exam for Free when you Complete One Challenge within the Microsoft Build Cloud Skills Challenge May 2022.

Thanks to Community Member CleverCheetah1749 for finding this deal.

Instructions:
  1. Go to Microsoft Build Cloud Skills Challenge May 2022
  2. Complete one challenge of your choice by June 21
    • To complete a challenge, finish all of the modules in the selected challenges Microsoft Learn collection.
  3. By June 30, a free exam credit will be applied to your Microsoft Learn account
  4. Redeem your exam credit to take a Microsoft Certification Exam by December 31, 2022.
Eligible Exams:
  • AI-102: Designing and Implementing a Microsoft Azure AI Solution
  • AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure
  • AZ-220: Microsoft Azure IoT Developer
  • AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions
  • DP-420: Designing and Implementing Cloud - Native Applications Using Microsoft Azure Cosmos DB
  • MS-600: Building Applications and Solutions
  • PL-100: Microsoft Power Platform App Maker
  • PL-200: Microsoft Power Platform Functional Consultant
  • PL-300: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst
  • SC-200: Microsoft Security Operations Analyst
  • SC-300: Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator

Editor's Notes

Written by qwikwit | Staff
  • About this offer:
    • Exams typically cost $150+. For example, exam AI-102 currently costs $165.
    • Challenge ends June 21 at 4PM UTC
    • Limit one free certification exam per person.
    • Free exam will be credited to your Microsoft account by June 30. Credit can be redeemed to take one Microsoft Certification Exam at a Pearson Vue testing center or online testing by December 31, 2022.
    • Refer to the official rules for more details.
    • Refer to the forum thread for additional information.

Original Post

Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Update: This very popular offer is still available.

Microsoft.com offers a Microsoft Certification Exam for Free when you Complete One Challenge within the Microsoft Build Cloud Skills Challenge May 2022.

Thanks to Community Member CleverCheetah1749 for finding this deal.

Instructions:
  1. Go to Microsoft Build Cloud Skills Challenge May 2022
  2. Complete one challenge of your choice by June 21
    • To complete a challenge, finish all of the modules in the selected challenges Microsoft Learn collection.
  3. By June 30, a free exam credit will be applied to your Microsoft Learn account
  4. Redeem your exam credit to take a Microsoft Certification Exam by December 31, 2022.
Eligible Exams:
  • AI-102: Designing and Implementing a Microsoft Azure AI Solution
  • AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure
  • AZ-220: Microsoft Azure IoT Developer
  • AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions
  • DP-420: Designing and Implementing Cloud - Native Applications Using Microsoft Azure Cosmos DB
  • MS-600: Building Applications and Solutions
  • PL-100: Microsoft Power Platform App Maker
  • PL-200: Microsoft Power Platform Functional Consultant
  • PL-300: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst
  • SC-200: Microsoft Security Operations Analyst
  • SC-300: Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator

Editor's Notes

Written by qwikwit | Staff
  • About this offer:
    • Exams typically cost $150+. For example, exam AI-102 currently costs $165.
    • Challenge ends June 21 at 4PM UTC
    • Limit one free certification exam per person.
    • Free exam will be credited to your Microsoft account by June 30. Credit can be redeemed to take one Microsoft Certification Exam at a Pearson Vue testing center or online testing by December 31, 2022.
    • Refer to the official rules for more details.
    • Refer to the forum thread for additional information.

Original Post

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Top Comments

SirMarvinHaggler
532 Posts
260 Reputation
The real sleeper exam here is SC-200: Security Operations Analyst. You're guaranteed a job — a well paying remote job — if you get it.

Other winners:

AZ-400: DevOps, but only if you already have an IT background. I wouldn't take/trust a new person to break down those silos without knowing why they exist.

PL-300: PowerBI. Tableau and similar is all the rage - this could get you started.

PL-100/200: Power Platform. PowerApps are hit or miss, but building portals for Dynamics365 could be a great selling point in an interview (assuming that's in the material). Beyond that, Power Automate is **amazing** — but you need to know what you're doing to really take advantage of it. I have a dev background, so it all made sense to me, but without that it's â€Ķa bit more uphill. The cert might teach you how to use connectors and APIs, but it won't teach you "when and where".
babygdav
3904 Posts
1239 Reputation
Almost all big companies use ai resume screening of applications due to volume.

Resumes lacking the keywords don't even get human review, so it's just a cold-war game of artificially rising bars made up mostly by hr that don't completely understand who they need.

(E.g. Bachelor's on most jobs = meaningless piece of paper because you're many jobs use what you've learned to do in school??
Almost always on the job training, so degree's artificially keep the poor and marginalized out... You know who...)

Eligible exams include:
AI-102: Designing and Implementing a Microsoft Azure AI Solution
AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure
AZ-220: Microsoft Azure IoT Developer
AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions
DP-420: Designing and Implementing Cloud - Native Applications Using Microsoft Azure Cosmos DB
MS-600: Building Applications and Solutions
PL-100: Microsoft Power Platform App Maker
PL-200: Microsoft Power Platform Functional Consultant
PL-300: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst
SC-200: Microsoft Security Operations Analyst
SC-300: Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator

Not bad.
Azure, DevOps, Security Ops even Power BI jobs can all top $100k salaries easily.

https://www.payscale.com/research..._BI/Salary

Although that's just starting out as a newbie.
Anyone with 5+ years experience ought to be able to get $300k+ at top companies today due to the absurd covid lack of workers driving even Wal-Mart store manager jobs $200k (latest wsj, 2 yrs training program)
babygdav
3904 Posts
1239 Reputation
Getting a job doesn't mean keeping a job ,)

But any cloud or security newbie will get a catch without too much difficulty because the lack of people in this field who isn't working is killing businesses.

Especially with Wal-Mart paying up to $200k for store managers.... https://www.google.com/amp/s/www....1652619602

And the army boosting bonuses to $50k + free everything including college....

Too many well paying opportunities right now for those not studying much, so MS, Google, etc are rolling out free certificate programs just to try and make up the need on the low end of the IT scale.

The need in Silicon LA alone is https://www.builtinla.com/jobs

Not to mention tons and tons more in Silicon Valley.

....

Many careers can crack $100k within 10 years. Ups truck driver to manager, Wal-Mart 2 year manager program, T-Mobile customer service to cs manager, real estate, car salesman, etc.

Don't think IT is the only way.

But if you want work from home, which means you can be in Paris while wfh programming, IT is the hot sector that can pay amazing.

Now some even squeeze the wfh by overenjoyment. Instead of working 1 wfh job, some smart ones find multiple lazy as the Zootopia Sloth positions, and work them simultaneously in 8 hours a day.

So not only the first job, J1, but also J2.

Some top managers can even juggle J3, J4 etc. Some of these are being paid as a retainer just to stand by in case a company needs their expertise, some of these are true top manager type jobs where you can schedule your own meetings, free times, etc.

So if j1 pays $200k, j2 pays $100k, j3 pays $50k etc, you get the idea. Wfh and get paid a crap load for just 8 hours or less a day.

It'll take a few years, but anyone can work their way to slothhood....

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May 16, 2022
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May 16, 2022
1,282 Posts
Joined Dec 2009

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May 16, 2022
532 Posts
Joined Nov 2013
May 16, 2022
SirMarvinHaggler
May 16, 2022
532 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank SirMarvinHaggler

Quote from Teck0427 :
IMO, azure certifications are worthless
It depends on what you want to do. AWS and GCP could be equally as worthless in the wrong environment.

If anything, it gives you a starting point in your career for cloud administration or architecture. There's also DevOps, Windows Server, SQL Server, and ML/AI certs available (the latter being the hot buzzword right now)
3
May 16, 2022
532 Posts
Joined Nov 2013
May 16, 2022
SirMarvinHaggler
May 16, 2022
532 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank SirMarvinHaggler

Quote from artDecoPC :
I still don't know what people use these for...
In some places, they're used to justify raises, promotions, etc. For example, I worked for a govt entity and taught an employee how to use SQL and PowerBI. They had zero background in data administration, IT, etc. Within *months*, they became so good at it that they received requests for reporting across the state.

They wanted to shift his role to data admin and increase the pay, but he had nothing on paper to justify the change (its govt, after all). I suggested an MS cert and, lo and behold, that was all the justification required.
4
1
May 16, 2022
3,904 Posts
Joined Feb 2013
May 16, 2022
babygdav
May 16, 2022
3,904 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank babygdav

Quote from artDecoPC :
I still don't know what people use these for...
Almost all big companies use ai resume screening of applications due to volume.

Resumes lacking the keywords don't even get human review, so it's just a cold-war game of artificially rising bars made up mostly by hr that don't completely understand who they need.

(E.g. Bachelor's on most jobs = meaningless piece of paper because you're many jobs use what you've learned to do in school??
Almost always on the job training, so degree's artificially keep the poor and marginalized out... You know who...)

Eligible exams include:
AI-102: Designing and Implementing a Microsoft Azure AI Solution
AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure
AZ-220: Microsoft Azure IoT Developer
AZ-400: Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions
DP-420: Designing and Implementing Cloud - Native Applications Using Microsoft Azure Cosmos DB
MS-600: Building Applications and Solutions
PL-100: Microsoft Power Platform App Maker
PL-200: Microsoft Power Platform Functional Consultant
PL-300: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst
SC-200: Microsoft Security Operations Analyst
SC-300: Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator

Not bad.
Azure, DevOps, Security Ops even Power BI jobs can all top $100k salaries easily.

https://www.payscale.com/research..._BI/Salary

Although that's just starting out as a newbie.
Anyone with 5+ years experience ought to be able to get $300k+ at top companies today due to the absurd covid lack of workers driving even Wal-Mart store manager jobs $200k (latest wsj, 2 yrs training program)
5
8
May 17, 2022
532 Posts
Joined Nov 2013
May 17, 2022
SirMarvinHaggler
May 17, 2022
532 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank SirMarvinHaggler

The real sleeper exam here is SC-200: Security Operations Analyst. You're guaranteed a job — a well paying remote job — if you get it.

Other winners:

AZ-400: DevOps, but only if you already have an IT background. I wouldn't take/trust a new person to break down those silos without knowing why they exist.

PL-300: PowerBI. Tableau and similar is all the rage - this could get you started.

PL-100/200: Power Platform. PowerApps are hit or miss, but building portals for Dynamics365 could be a great selling point in an interview (assuming that's in the material). Beyond that, Power Automate is **amazing** — but you need to know what you're doing to really take advantage of it. I have a dev background, so it all made sense to me, but without that it's â€Ķa bit more uphill. The cert might teach you how to use connectors and APIs, but it won't teach you "when and where".
12
May 17, 2022
503 Posts
Joined Aug 2013

This comment has been rated as unhelpful by Slickdeals users.

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May 17, 2022
103 Posts
Joined Jun 2021
May 17, 2022
bhala_bhagat
May 17, 2022
103 Posts
I am not sure but looks like all negative comments driven by some prejudice towards Microsoft.

Knowledge is power! And knowledge of Azure or in fact any Cloud is top notch skill in this Era. I have seen people doubling their income after learning cloud.

Why cloud is necessary?
Back in 2016 - I worked on project where we needed App Server, DB Server, SMTP Server and so forth. It took weeks to get these all wrapped up since we were on-premise and didn't have our step into Cloud.

With Azure, all these can be wrapped up in hours and at max couple days.

Other benefits are immense too. Much better security, usability, scalability(globally), reliability, manageability insures ideas get shaped into products and products get to market much sooner.

So nay-sayers - please make use of these free resources. Back in a days we used to pay for Training, Certification and when company is making effort to help people grow - why do some of us have negative attitude?
Last edited by bhala_bhagat May 16, 2022 at 06:33 PM.
May 17, 2022
103 Posts
Joined Jun 2021
May 17, 2022
bhala_bhagat
May 17, 2022
103 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank bhala_bhagat

Quote from SirMarvinHaggler :
In some places, they're used to justify raises, promotions, etc. For example, I worked for a govt entity and taught an employee how to use SQL and PowerBI. They had zero background in data administration, IT, etc. Within *months*, they became so good at it that they received requests for reporting across the state.

They wanted to shift his role to data admin and increase the pay, but he had nothing on paper to justify the change (its govt, after all). I suggested an MS cert and, lo and behold, that was all the justification required.
I switched from non-IT to IT after spending 8 months of learning Microsoft SQL Server, T-SQL, and then became certified. Went from state minimum to decent living with help of this journey.

There is no short cut to success.
3
May 17, 2022
103 Posts
Joined Jun 2021
May 17, 2022
bhala_bhagat
May 17, 2022
103 Posts
Quote from artDecoPC :
I still don't know what people use these for...
To know more.
2
May 17, 2022
103 Posts
Joined Jun 2021
May 17, 2022
bhala_bhagat
May 17, 2022
103 Posts
Quote from Teck0427 :
IMO, azure certifications are worthless
You must be living somewhere in Amazon or Sahara where there is no internet.
2
2
May 17, 2022
3,904 Posts
Joined Feb 2013
May 17, 2022
babygdav
May 17, 2022
3,904 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank babygdav

Quote from metvsyankee :
So you are saying if I somehow pass the SC-200 exam I will be guaranteed a job. even if I search up the answer on google when taking it?
Getting a job doesn't mean keeping a job ,)

But any cloud or security newbie will get a catch without too much difficulty because the lack of people in this field who isn't working is killing businesses.

Especially with Wal-Mart paying up to $200k for store managers.... https://www.google.com/amp/s/www....1652619602

And the army boosting bonuses to $50k + free everything including college....

Too many well paying opportunities right now for those not studying much, so MS, Google, etc are rolling out free certificate programs just to try and make up the need on the low end of the IT scale.

The need in Silicon LA alone is https://www.builtinla.com/jobs

Not to mention tons and tons more in Silicon Valley.

....

Many careers can crack $100k within 10 years. Ups truck driver to manager, Wal-Mart 2 year manager program, T-Mobile customer service to cs manager, real estate, car salesman, etc.

Don't think IT is the only way.

But if you want work from home, which means you can be in Paris while wfh programming, IT is the hot sector that can pay amazing.

Now some even squeeze the wfh by overenjoyment. Instead of working 1 wfh job, some smart ones find multiple lazy as the Zootopia Sloth positions, and work them simultaneously in 8 hours a day.

So not only the first job, J1, but also J2.

Some top managers can even juggle J3, J4 etc. Some of these are being paid as a retainer just to stand by in case a company needs their expertise, some of these are true top manager type jobs where you can schedule your own meetings, free times, etc.

So if j1 pays $200k, j2 pays $100k, j3 pays $50k etc, you get the idea. Wfh and get paid a crap load for just 8 hours or less a day.

It'll take a few years, but anyone can work their way to slothhood....
5
2
May 17, 2022
2,499 Posts
Joined Oct 2009
May 17, 2022
coffeeduck
May 17, 2022
2,499 Posts
All of these comments of 100k+, I most be doing something wrong on my resume b/c I'm not getting any hits with my job apps 😭
May 17, 2022
8,447 Posts
Joined Feb 2012
May 17, 2022
4u2c
May 17, 2022
8,447 Posts
Quote from invsblwmn :
Going to using mine to clone glow in the dark puppies.
Looking forward to seeing Glowing Puppies magnetically stuck to fire hydrants.
1

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May 17, 2022
1,145 Posts
Joined Aug 2008
May 17, 2022
kristofen
May 17, 2022
1,145 Posts

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Quote from coffeeduck :
All of these comments of 100k+, I most be doing something wrong on my resume b/c I'm not getting any hits with my job apps 😭
Message me if you'd like some feedback.
1

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