So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu

Published 12 July 07 06:03 PM

This past year has been an amazing ride for the developer certification program.  In the year prior, we launched the new generation certification program.  This year, we have seen how the program impacts you and the community at large in very practical terms.  As we have observed some of the positive and negative effects of the program, we have added clarification where needed, and revised the program components where needed.  Additionally, we have continued innovating with regard to our bag of tools - everything from new question types to community based question development.  All in all, I am pleased with the progress we have made in improving the value of Microsoft developer certifications.

That said, it is time for me to move on to a new role.  I'll still be at Microsoft, but will be leaving Microsoft Learning on Friday, July 13.  I'm not completely disappearing into the cloud – I'm joining the MSDN Magazine team as Editor-in-Chief – so I will probably have a chance to meet even more of you at various events.  It has been a pleasure to work with so many of you over this past year, and I look forward to seeing what you all will make of the certification program as it continues to evolve.  In the end, all of you, as the face of Microsoft certification, determine the "value proposition" to employers, and subsequently to future generations of developers.  I wish you all the best.

I will continue to post technology-related topics on this blog - and will post a link to my successor's blog just as soon as he/she is announced.

by hdierking
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Comments

# trikah@microsoft.com said on July 12, 2007 9:24 PM:

I won't. I just won't.

# Ben Scheirman said on July 12, 2007 10:50 PM:

Nice Willy Wonka reference!

I'm really happy for you, Howard.  I look forward to seeing what you accomplish in your new role.

# Robert Williams said on July 13, 2007 11:17 AM:

Well Howard, we wish you all the best and look forward to reading the articles you'll be in charge of at MSDN Magazine.

Thanks for all the work you've done here.

Good Luck!!!

--

Robert Williams

# Alfred Myers said on July 13, 2007 12:49 PM:

Congratulations!

# Deepak said on July 14, 2007 9:02 AM:

All the best to you for your new role. I hope that your idea of involving community in certs does very well, and we get to see more of your creative thinking in MSDN magazine.

# trikah@microsoft.com said on July 20, 2007 11:33 PM:

I still won't accept this. It's crap. MSDN or no MSDN.

HOward, I miss you!!!!!!

# "So, a booth babe and a geek walk in to a bar..." said on July 20, 2007 11:46 PM:

MSL: -1 Dierking. Our great Howard Dierking, who is, in fact, old enough to drive , left us to be a fancy

# Noticias externas said on July 21, 2007 12:27 AM:

MSL: -1 Dierking. Our great Howard Dierking, who is, in fact, old enough to drive , left us to be a fancy

# There and Back Again said on October 19, 2007 9:05 PM:

Well, that might be a little overly-dramatic, but all you folks that have been following this blog for

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About hdierking

I am currently the Editor-in-Chief for MSDN Magazine. I joined Microsoft in 2006 as a product planner with the certification team at Microsoft Learning. Prior to that, I spent my career as a developer and later as an architect. My main technology passions include pretty much anything on language theory, agile development, and service-oriented architecture.
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