How to Build Your Career around SharePoint

The number of SharePoint users is increasing exponentially and according to the Microsoft, around 200 million users are deploying SharePoint solutions rest are looking forward towards it. The escalating popularity of SharePoint solutions is a sign that the technology has a brighter future and it will be a great career option for the IT professionals. 

Organizations are constantly searching for a professional SharePoint Development Company to effectively augment content management processes. SharePoint is a collaborative portal that simplifies teamwork, document management and collaboration across the platforms. 

The growing demand of Microsoft SharePoint solutions encouraging IT professionals for finding a successful role in the SharePoint world. 

Since SharePoint holds a broader scope and size therefore, it needs more experts to work on different structures, features and technologies hence, giving a great career platform for the ones who are interested. 

In this blog, you will explore how to build career around SharePoint. So let’s dive deep to know the tricks to kick-start your career in the SharePoint world. 

Below are a few essential steps to accelerate your career around SharePoint. 

1.Discover Your Job Role

SharePoint is a vast service and allows you to explore among various SharePoint career options.  Just like any other field, you can also choose a job role in SharePoint. Apart from SharePoint developer, you can also be a SharePoint consultant, analyst, manager, engineer, trainer or administrator. 

The responsibilities of a SharePoint developer include, designing and customizing SharePoint pages, sites and other components. The duties of a SharePoint Architect are planning, organizing and controlling the SharePoint deployments. Moreover, if you want to be a SharePoint engineer, then your responsibility will be fixing technical bugs in SharePoint. Also, SharePoint consult performs other tasks like supervising and documenting new SharePoint projects. 

Every job role is entirely different from each other and demands different types training, skills and aptitudes.

2. Evaluate your Skills

When you are done with deciding SharePoint career option, the next thing to do is evaluate your skills. You can evaluate your knowledge, skills, expertise, and areas of interest, future goals, and things like that. After analyzing your skill sets, and chosen field, you can set your direction to move forward in the SharePoint field. 

3. Choose a Professional Role

After analyzing your core strengths, expertise, and skills. Now you are required to carefully select a professional role. It either can be a technical role or a research-oriented role. For example, if you want to pursue your career on a technical side, then you can undergo training sessions to be a SharePoint administrator, developer or an architect. 

Keep in mind that these roles are only suitable for the ones who have practical knowledge related to Microsoft Windows networking services and other technologies that include Windows, SQL, and IIS Server. In case, if are looking to choose a research-oriented job, then there are more choices to select from. You can be a SharePoint trainer, analyst, and consultant. 

4. Get to Know SharePoint Basics

Learn some basics of SharePoint, before specializing in any SharePoint field. You can get the basic SharePoint knowledge from various online platforms. Right now, there are two SharePoint versions available in the industry. The latest SharePoint version is SharePoint 2016 however, the old one was SharePoint 2013.

Also, you can learn from many online SharePoint courses for beginners. If you are more interested in IT functions then, you can learn basic user support and troubleshooting skills through different training programs. In case, if you are looking for a way to get some insights regarding various SharePoint roles, then Microsoft Office Specialist certification exam is a good way to get started. 

5. Get the Right Training

No matter what SharePoint field you select to peruse your career. It is important to get the right training as per your selected field. For example, if you want to lead your career as a SharePoint manager or consultant, then you must get the training session for SharePoint manager or consultant. Such training programs help you to continue your career in your desired SharePoint field. 

6. Get the Formal Certifications

At some point in your career, you will be required to certify your skills as a SharePoint expert. Microsoft recently launched SharePoint certifications that you should get in order to be an authentic SharePoint professional. Keep in mind that in order to get the Microsoft SharePoint certificate, you first need to qualify Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification. 

7. Apply Your Knowledge Practically

It’s great to get the relevant SharePoint certifications to continue your career, but you also need to apply the knowledge practically. If your company also uses SharePoint then you can discuss with your manager about your interest in SharePoint and do some work practically on that. 

PRO TIP: understand your organization’s SharePoint administration, operations and activities to successfully execute your role. 

8. Send Your Resume to Companies Using SharePoint

If you are working in a company that is no longer using the upgraded SharePoint system, then it’s worth sharing your resume to the organizations using updated SharePoint system. You can search online about the companies who are using the latest SharePoint models so that you can apply and easily play your role as a SharePoint professional. 

9. Plan to Move Forward

Once you are all done with the basic training and certifications, then you must plan to move forward your career. If you want to work technically then keep update yourself with the latest technologies needed to run SharePoint. Similarly, if you want to play a managerial role then keep learning new techniques and gain experience on that plan to be an experienced SharePoint consultant, trainer or analyst. 

Wrapping Up

Remember, you cannot achieve success overnight, career needs dedication, motivation and patience. Keep working hard in your direction, keep updating yourself with the latest happenings in your desired field, and get practical knowledge to apply in a practical environment. All of the above tips will surely help you to set your career in your chosen SharePoint field. 

Author Bio – Usman Ahmed works as the Digital Marketer at a Washington, D.C. based software Development Company. He is an experienced marketer and passionate about the latest technologies. He comprises a broad experience and frequently writes on topics related to mobile apps, Blockchain technology, SharePoint, E-commerce, and others.