How to become a Microsoft MVP

Are you passionate about Microsoft products and services? Do you love sharing your knowledge and expertise with the community? Do you want to be recognized as a leader and an influencer in your field? If you answered yes to these questions, then you might be interested in becoming a Microsoft MVP.

I often get asked how people can become a Microsoft MVP, in this blog post I am sharing my experience, I got from being a Microsoft MVP for 7 years and now working with Microsoft MVPs from inside Microsoft, on how you can become a Microsoft MVP.

Microsoft MVP stands for Microsoft Most Valuable Professional. It is a prestigious award that Microsoft gives to outstanding community leaders who actively support technical communities through unique, innovative, and consistent knowledge sharing. These community leaders have very deep knowledge of Microsoft products and services, or related open-source technologies, and they use their skills and influence to help others learn, build, and use these technologies.

Becoming a Microsoft MVP is not easy, but it is not impossible either. There are five simple steps that you need to follow:

1. Be an expert. You need to have a high level of technical expertise and experience in one or more Microsoft products or services, or related open-source technologies. You need to demonstrate your skills and knowledge through various online and offline activities, such as blogging, speaking, answering questions, creating content, organizing events, etc. You need to keep yourself updated with the latest trends and developments in your field of interest.
2. Be a leader. You need to show leadership and influence in your technical community. You need to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and best practices with others, promote inclusive and diverse activities, and advance social good and positive impact. You need to generate awareness and adoption of Microsoft products and services through authentic connections and engagement. You need to collaborate with other community leaders and Microsoft teams to support the growth and success of the community.
3. Be an advocate. You need to use your technical expertise and influence to advocate for the community and for Microsoft products and services. You need to provide constructive feedback and suggestions to Microsoft teams through official channels, such as GitHub, Tech Community, etc., or work on open-source extensions within the ecosystem. You need to help improve the quality and usability of Microsoft products and services based on your insights and experience.
4. Be consistent. One of the things I have seen is that people are highly motivated and creating and delivering content. However, after a couple of months they stop doing the work. Becoming a Microsoft MVP is not a sprint, it is a marathon, so make sure you keep doing the work consistently. Even if you don’t get awarded or you might need multiple applications, keep on doing the work. I think in my opinion, don’t just do the work to get the award, to the work to help others.
5. Be helpful and share. One thing all MVPs have in common is that they love to help others. The goal needs to be helping others by creating solutions and helping them out. Make sure you share the great content and work of yourself and others to get the visibility you deserve for your work. Collaborate with others on projects and get different perspectives.

If you think you have what it takes to be a Microsoft MVP, then you need to get nominated by a Microsoft employee or a current MVP. You will have to list all your contributions in the past year for the MVP committee to review your application. If you are selected, you will receive an invitation to join the MVP program and enjoy numerous benefits, such as early access to Microsoft products, direct communication with product teams, invitation to the Global MVP Summit, recognition letter, technical subscriptions, etc.

Becoming a Microsoft MVP is a rewarding journey that requires passion, dedication, and hard work. But it is also a fun and fulfilling experience that allows you to connect with other amazing people, learn new things, and make a difference in the world. If you are interested in becoming a Microsoft MVP, start today by doing what you love: sharing your knowledge and expertise with the community.

If you are a Microsoft MVP reading this blog, feel free to share your experience in the comments below.

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Tags: Microsoft, Microsoft MVP, Microsoft MVP Award, MVP