Skills initiative Frequently asked questions - Microsoft
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Skills initiative
Frequently asked questions
September 2020
1Table of Contents
Overview ................................................................................................................................................................................ 4
Helping people impacted by COVID-19 learn the skills for in-demand roles in a more digital economy .................................... 4
General info ........................................................................................................................................................................... 5
What is Microsoft’s new skilling commitment? ..................................................................................................................................................... 5
What type of skills training will be offered, and what type of jobs will they help with? ...................................................................... 5
Is there a centralized place where people can go to access these newly available tools and resources? ..................................... 6
How will this help people who have lost their job due to COVID-19 in the short term? ..................................................................... 6
What’s the difference between Microsoft Learn and LinkedIn Learning? Why do you have two separate platforms? ........... 6
How were these learning paths selected? ............................................................................................................................................................... 6
LinkedIn Learning .................................................................................................................................................................. 7
What is LinkedIn Learning? ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
How much does LinkedIn Learning usually cost? ................................................................................................................................................. 7
What courses are available on LinkedIn Learning? .............................................................................................................................................. 7
What happens at the end of this year – will LinkedIn Learning cost money again? .............................................................................. 7
Microsoft Learn ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7
What courses are available on Microsoft Learn? .................................................................................................................................................. 8
How much does Microsoft Learn cost? .................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Learning paths ....................................................................................................................................................................... 8
What is a learning path? ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
What pathway would you recommend to the average worker? .................................................................................................................... 8
What are the differences between paths on LinkedIn Learning and Microsoft Learn? ......................................................................... 8
Do I need a LinkedIn account to access the free learning paths on LinkedIn Learning? ..................................................................... 9
What languages are the learning paths available in? ....................................................................................................................................... 10
When will LinkedIn Learning become available in more languages? ......................................................................................................... 10
What is GitHub Learning Lab? .................................................................................................................................................................................... 10
How long will this content be available on LinkedIn Learning and Microsoft Learn? ......................................................................... 10
If I’ve started a learning path, how long do I have to complete it? ............................................................................................................ 10
Get certified ......................................................................................................................................................................... 10
What is the difference between a LinkedIn Certificate of Completion and a Microsoft Certification? ......................................... 10
How does the certification process work? ............................................................................................................................................................. 11
What is the benefit of getting Microsoft certified? ........................................................................................................................................... 11
Who qualifies for the discounted exams? ............................................................................................................................................................. 11
How much does the exam cost? ............................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Do I need a Microsoft account to access the discounted Microsoft Certification exam? .................................................................. 11
Do I need a Microsoft Certification profile to access the discounted Microsoft Certification exam? ........................................... 11
Which certification exams available at a discount? ........................................................................................................................................... 11
How many certifications can be taken at the discounted price? .................................................................................................................. 12
When can I schedule a discounted exam and when does it need to be taken? .................................................................................... 12
Where do I schedule an exam? .................................................................................................................................................................................. 12
Do I have the option to take the scheduled exam in person or online? ................................................................................................... 13
2I am having trouble scheduling my exam. Where can I get support?........................................................................................................ 13
What languages are certification exams available in? ...................................................................................................................................... 13
Can I reschedule my exam appointment from this offer if I need to? ....................................................................................................... 13
Are there age restrictions on the certification offer? ........................................................................................................................................ 13
For nonprofits and workforce agencies ............................................................................................................................ 14
How will the nonprofit offering work? .................................................................................................................................................................... 14
What are the additional resources provided to me to best use this content to support learners? ............................................... 14
Can I still use this learning content if I didn’t receive a grant from Microsoft Philanthropies? ....................................................... 14
Can nonprofits and/or workforce agencies purchase Microsoft certification exams at this discounted rate? .......................... 14
Can non-profits cover the cost of the $15 certifications for job seekers? ................................................................................................ 14
How would I recommend a learning path to a beneficiary? .......................................................................................................................... 14
3Overview
Helping people impacted by COVID-19 learn the skills for in-demand roles in a more digital
economy
COVID-19 has created a global economic crisis, forcing tens of millions of people around the world out of work.
Some of the jobs lost will not come back, or at least not fast enough to meet demand. Those that do come
back will look different, requiring more digital skills as companies race to change the way they work to respond
to and recover from the pandemic. Other jobs will become more “tech-enabled,” requiring job seekers to have
some level of digital fluency to be able to pursue them.
In the post-COVID world, all people–especially those from the hardest hit industries and the most vulnerable
communities–will need to learn new skills to rejoin the workforce prepared for technical and tech-enabled roles
that will be in even greater demand going forward.
We have a responsibility and an opportunity to help.
Microsoft has been committed to closing the skills gap for decades, but now is the time to accelerate efforts
and build partnerships that help job seekers worldwide reskill and rejoin the workforce.
That’s why Microsoft has committed to help 25 million people worldwide who have lost their job due to
COVID-19 to reskill for in-demand roles in a more digital economy.
4General info
What is Microsoft’s new skilling commitment?
Microsoft is announcing an ambitious goal to help skill 25 million people who have lost their job due to the
COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In Australia, our ambition is to reach 500,000 Australians who are looking to
reskill or upskill during this time.
To achieve this, Microsoft and LinkedIn have a three-part strategy:
First, we’re taking immediate steps to help people whose jobs have been impacted by the pandemic and who
want to reskill to pursue an in-demand role in a more digital economy. We are:
• Using data to identify in demand skills and jobs: Using data to understand the most in-demand roles,
sharing that data with governments and using it ourselves to identify the training resources we provide
• Offering free access to learning paths and comprehensive resources to help people develop the
skills for in-demand jobs: Creating a repository of free learning content from across Microsoft Learn,
LinkedIn and GitHub that supports learning paths needed for these in-demand roles
• Connecting skills to opportunities through certifications and job seeker tools. Providing low cost
access to industry recognized certifications, and free access to powerful job-seeker tools that will help
people get hired once they have the skills and certifications.
While these resources are broadly available online to millions of people around the world, we recognize that
some job seekers will need additional support on their journey. We’re therefore also providing $15 million in
grants to help nonprofit organisations enable this initiative for people who need it most.
Second, in addition to providing governments with rich data and analytics so that they can better understand
the issues, we’ll use our voice on employment and training public policy issues around the world.
Third, while there is a need for immediate action to support job seekers, we know we need a holistic approach
to learning and skilling that that supports other groups too. Later this year we’ll focus on employers. This
includes making available a new product—built on Microsoft Teams—that will help employers skill and upskill
new and existing employees as people begin to return to work and as the economy adds jobs.
By the end of this year we’ll expand our focus beyond job-seekers and employers, to focus on students and
steps to ensure that they can develop the future ready skills they will need to thrive in the roles of tomorrow.
What type of skills training will be offered, and what type of jobs will they help with?
Based on the data about in-demand roles, LinkedIn Learning and Microsoft Learn will offer ten role-based
learning paths, along with three foundational skill learning paths. These ten roles are:
1. Software developer
2. Sales development rep
3. Project manager
4. IT administrator
5. Customer service specialist
6. Digital marketer
7. IT support/help desk
58. Graphic designer
9. Financial analyst
10. Data analyst
LinkedIn Learning will also offer access to four foundational skill learning paths:
1. Job seeker
2. Critical soft skills
3. Digital transformation
4. Allyship and inclusive conversations
For each of these ten roles, job seekers will have access to rich content from LinkedIn Learning’s library of
collaborative courses, all taught by industry-expert instructors, allowing the job seeker to move through the
content with ease and demonstrate their learning with a certificate of completion. Job seekers who have
completed the LinkedIn Learning pathways or are interested in engaging in technical skilling and certification
on Microsoft technologies will be also be able to easily access rich content from Microsoft Learn aligned to the
role-based learning paths. Developed to help our customers quickly learn Microsoft products and prepare for
certifications, Microsoft Learn is available free of charge and will continue to be free of charge in the future.
Is there a centralized place where people can go to access these newly available tools and
resources?
Yes, job seekers can visit aka.ms/newdigitalskills to begin pursuing in-demand technology skills for free today.
How will this help people who have lost their job due to COVID-19 in the short term?
We’re shining a light on the skills and jobs that are in demand, giving people free access to learning paths to
develop the skills that are needed, and helping them demonstrate they have these skills. We hope this
comprehensive approach will help people find jobs in an increasingly digital economy.
What’s the difference between Microsoft Learn and LinkedIn Learning? Why do you have two
separate platforms?
LinkedIn Learning is an online learning platform that helps professionals learn relevant skills to achieve their
goals, with a library of 16,000+ courses taught by expert instructors. Microsoft Learn trains learners on
Microsoft products and technologies for specific technical jobs and was initially created to assist Microsoft’s
customers and partners to learn our technology.
How were these learning paths selected?
These ten roles were determined based on data from the LinkedIn Economic Graph. The Economic Graph is a
digital representation of the global economy based on over 690 million members, 36,000 skills, 50 million
companies, 20 million open jobs, and 90,000 schools. In short: It’s all the data on LinkedIn. Through mapping
every member, company, job, and school, LinkedIn is able to spot trends like talent migration, hiring rates, and
in-demand skills by region. These insights help LinkedIn connect people to economic opportunity in new ways.
And by partnering with governments and organisations around the world, LinkedIn helps them better connect
people to opportunities.
6LinkedIn leveraged data and insights from the Economic Graph to identify jobs that have the greatest number
of job openings but also pay a liveable wage and can be obtained by reskilling on LinkedIn Learning for people
with various backgrounds- majority of which are attainable for those without a four-year degree. These jobs
not only have the greatest number of job openings now, but the Economic Graph data also shows which jobs
have had steady growth over the past four years.
Based on this criteria, we identified 10 in-demand jobs globally that are relevant in today’s economy and
accessible to those seeking employment, as well as three horizontal skills that are widely in demand that we’ve
formed into learning paths available via LinkedIn Learning, giving individuals and governments a compass for
where to begin.
LinkedIn Learning
What is LinkedIn Learning?
LinkedIn Learning is an online educational platform that helps people discover and develop business,
technology-related, and creative skills through expert-led course videos. With a catalogue of over 16,000
courses, and 60+ new courses released every week, LinkedIn Learning provides high-quality, relevant, and up-
to-date courses taught by real-world practitioners, located across the globe. Drawing on insights from millions
of members, LinkedIn Learning personalizes course recommendations at scale and surfaces relevant learning
content to each employee based on their connections. This international learning library is available in the
languages offered as a part of the Learning Paths – English, Spanish, German, French, – as well as Japanese,
Mandarin and Brazilian Portuguese.
How much does LinkedIn Learning usually cost?
LinkedIn Learning is available as a Premium subscription and costs $29.99 USD a month for a monthly
subscription, plus taxes, however with our new Skills commitment we are making the 10 free role-based
learning paths and 3 horizontal learning paths across 4 languages (EN, FR, ES, DE) free through the end of this
year.
What courses are available on LinkedIn Learning?
Over 16,000 expert-led, online courses and video tutorials are available on business, technology and creative
topics and disciplines.
What happens at the end of this year – will LinkedIn Learning cost money again?
Content on LinkedIn Learning will be free through March 31, 2021. After that, it can be accessed, along with all
other LinkedIn Learning content by purchasing a LinkedIn Premium subscription.
Microsoft Learn
Microsoft Learn is a free, interactive, hands-on training platform that helps people develop in-demand technical
skills related to widely used Microsoft products and services including Azure, Microsoft 365, Power Platform,
Microsoft Dynamics, and more.
7Microsoft Learn has self-paced learning paths that combine short step-by-step trainings, browser-based
interactive coding and scripting environments, and task-based achievements to help learners advance their
technical skills and prepare for Microsoft Certifications. With 3.9 million registered accounts, Microsoft Learn
offers over 225 learning paths, more than 1000 modules and is localized in dozens of languages. Microsoft
Learn is great for individual users to advance their skills, as well as organisations that want to create curated
employee training paths. Trainings are aligned to 35 Microsoft Certifications and shows you are keeping pace
with today’s technical roles and requirements.
Whether onboarding new employees, providing tools for managers to promote learning by their team
members, or learning in the flow of work, this new product integration will provide a seamless experience to
employees who need to quickly skill or reskill to be successful in their roles.
What courses are available on Microsoft Learn?
We provide role-based training and learning paths for Azure developers, solution architects, and
administrators. We also provide role-based training and learning paths for Microsoft Power BI, PowerApps, and
Dynamics.
We're working to expand the platform to many other Microsoft products and services.
How much does Microsoft Learn cost?
Microsoft Learn is a completely free, open training platform available to anyone who has an interest to learn
about Microsoft products.
Learning paths
What is a learning path?
In order to acquire skills necessary for a new role, we’ve designed learning paths that walk you through lessons
in order to master these skills. Everyone comes with prior skills, and you should map your skills to the role
you’re interested in pursuing. Mapping your skills will enable you to start the learning path at the appropriate
level in the progression. You are welcome to start the progression earlier to review skills you have already
acquired.
What pathway would you recommend to the average worker?
For any professional, a career pivot is dependent on the individual’s personal interests and strengths. If you’re
not sure where to start you might even watch a course within each path to get a sense of if it’s something
you’d like to spend more time learning. Whether you are a retail associate, flight attendant, or bartender, you
have foundational transferable skills in soft skills such as communication, empathy, and leadership. The most
natural transitions will be roles that leverage those same skills, which might be a customer service specialist or
sales development rep.
What are the differences between paths on LinkedIn Learning and Microsoft Learn?
The LinkedIn learning paths will help you gain the foundational and role-based skills for in-demand jobs. For
each of these ten roles on LinkedIn Learning, job seekers will have access to rich content from LinkedIn
Learning’s library of collaborative courses, all taught by industry-expert instructors, allowing the job seeker to
move through the content with ease and demonstrate their learning with a certificate of completion.
8Microsoft Learn’s self-paced learning paths help you advance your technical skills using Microsoft technologies.
Access short step-by-step trainings, browser-based interactive coding and scripting environments, and task-
based achievements. You can also earn an industry- recognized Microsoft Certification aligned to roles at a
discounted rate for a limited time to validate to employers you have the skills required.
Do I need a LinkedIn account to access the free learning paths on LinkedIn Learning?
You do not need an account to view the learning paths- these are visible to all, regardless of if you are a
LinkedIn member. However, if you want the badge of learning path completion, you need to have an account.
In order to obtain a free LinkedIn account, all you need is a name and email address. Please direct job seekers
to click on the “sign in” button if they are interested in setting up a LinkedIn account, and follow the prompts
to set up a new account.
9What languages are the learning paths available in?
The majority of the training on LinkedIn will be available to millions of people on a global basis in English,
Spanish, French, and German. Job seekers comfortable working in one of these four languages will be able to
access this content through opportunity.linkedin.com immediately, regardless of where they live.
In addition, Microsoft Learn content will be fully or partially available in Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Simplified
Chinese and Korean.
When will LinkedIn Learning become available in more languages?
We are exploring ways to localize the LinkedIn Learning content in a number of additional languages through a
AI translation plug-in from Microsoft Edge, we expect to have more information about these additional
languages in 30-60 days.
What is GitHub Learning Lab?
GitHub Learning Lab provides free hands-on, guided learning experiences to help both aspiring and
experienced developers learn how to build software, collaborate in teams, code securely, and more.
It is a bot-based learning tool that uses repositories to teach technology, coding, Git, and GitHub via 100+ real
life, demo-based modules developed by and for the community.
Whether students, hobbyists, consultants, enterprise professionals, partners, or executives taking their first
steps in software development or trying to learn more skills, we help provide developers with the resources
they need to pursue a role in the digital economy.
How long will this content be available on LinkedIn Learning and Microsoft Learn?
Learning paths on LinkedIn Learning will be available no cost through the end of March 2021. Specific courses
may be subject to change.
Microsoft Learn has self-paced learning paths that are free now and in the future.
If I’ve started a learning path, how long do I have to complete it?
There is no time limit for completion of learning paths on Microsoft Learn.
LinkedIn Leaning paths will be available at no cost through the end of March 2021 with updated or revised
content to be added as needed. Specific courses may be subject to change. All paths on LinkedIn Learning will
need to be completed by that date.
Get certified
What is the difference between a LinkedIn Certificate of Completion and a Microsoft
Certification?
After job seekers complete a LinkedIn course or learning path, they receive a certificate of completion which is
automatically generated when their learning has been completed. LinkedIn Learning certificates are not
accredited, do not validate skill proficiency as a result of taking the course(s), and are not endorsed or
recognized by third parties. These certificates of completion are not the same as certifications from third parties
that are industry-recognized (for example, Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals), which have more rigorous
10exams that one must pass in order to validate skill proficiency. Microsoft Certifications are industry recognized
credentials on Microsoft products and technologies that are validated by third parties.
How does the certification process work?
If a job seeker decides to engage in technical skilling on Microsoft’s products and technologies on Microsoft
Learn, they will be able to claim their exam discount after they have completed the selected certification
pathway. In order to receive the discount (cost per exam is US$15), job seekers will have to attest that they
have been unemployed, furloughed or otherwise disrupted by COVID-19. Participants will have the ability to
schedule an exam between September 2020 and December 31, 2020, and exam takers will have until March 31,
2021 to complete the exam. Learn more at https://aka.ms/skillscert.
What is the benefit of getting Microsoft certified?
Microsoft Certifications give you a professional edge by providing globally recognized industry-endorsed
evidence of skills mastery, demonstrating your technical abilities to perform well in a job. Microsoft
Certifications reflect today's cloud-focused jobs, helping you to get hired, stay ahead, be productive faster, and
receive the recognition you deserve. When you pass a Microsoft Certification exam, you’ll earn your Microsoft
Certification badge and have the ability to share your certification online with your professional network and
unlock your career potential.
Upon earning a certification, 23% of Microsoft certified technologists reported receiving up to a 20% salary
increase. What’s more, certified employees are often entrusted with supervising their peers—putting them on
the fast track for a promotion. —2017 Pearson VUE Value of Certification white paper.
Who qualifies for the discounted exams?
Job seekers who can attest that they have been unemployed or furloughed due to COVID-19 qualify for a
discounted exam. Self-attestation will be available later this year in September 2020 and can be done upon
scheduling exam.
How much does the exam cost?
Certification exams are available at a discounted price of USD15 for a limited time (approx. $22 AUD).
Do I need a Microsoft account to access the discounted Microsoft Certification exam?
Yes, you will need to have a Microsoft account to access the discounted Microsoft Certification exam. If you
already have a Microsoft Certification, please use the same Microsoft account linked to access the discount.
Do I need a Microsoft Certification profile to access the discounted Microsoft Certification
exam?
Yes, you will need a Microsoft Certification profile, using a Microsoft account, to access the discounted exam. If
you do not already have a Microsoft Certification profile, you will be prompted to create one when you
schedule your exam.
Which certification exams available at a discount?
Below are certification exams available at a discount.
11Certification name Certification exam
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals Exam AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals Exam DP-900: Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals*
Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals Exam AI-900: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals*
Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals Exam PL-900: Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals
Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals Exam MS-900: Microsoft 365 Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate Exam AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator
Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate Exam AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate Exam AZ-500: Microsoft Azure Security Technologies
Microsoft Certified: Power Platform App Maker Associate Exam PL-100: Microsoft Power Platform App Maker*
Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Associate Exam MS-700: Managing Microsoft Teams
Microsoft 365 Certified: Security Administrator Associate Exam MS-500: Microsoft 365 Security Administration
Microsoft 365 Certified: Developer Associate Exam MS-600: Building Applications and Solutions with
Microsoft 365 Core Services
Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate Exam DA-100: Analyzing Data with Microsoft Power BI
*Exam coming soon.
How many certifications can be taken at the discounted price?
Job seekers may claim one discounted exam per person.
If your job seeker undertakes the exam and does not pass, please apply to MEGT to be considered for an
additional exam voucher.
Patrick Whatley | eLearning Administrator
MEGT (Australia) Ltd
T: (03) 9871 6180
patrickwhatley@megt.com.au
When can I schedule a discounted exam and when does it need to be taken?
Eligible participants will be able to schedule a discounted exam between September 2020 and will have until
December 31, 2020. Exam takers must complete scheduled exam appointments by March 31, 2021.
Where do I schedule an exam?
Discounted certification exams can be scheduled on Microsoft Learn, on the exam page for the selected exam,
starting September 2020.
12Do I have the option to take the scheduled exam in person or online?
Exams available through this offer will only be made available online. Additional details about scheduling an
exam will be shared in September 2020.
I am having trouble scheduling my exam. Where can I get support?
You can get help through the Microsoft Certification Support Forum. A moderator will respond in one business
day.
What languages are certification exams available in?
Certification exams for this offer are available in seven languages: English, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Japanese,
Spanish, French, German.
Can I reschedule my exam appointment from this offer if I need to?
Yes, you will be able to reschedule your exam appointment if there are appointments available before the offer
period ends. You must follow the rescheduling requirements in place when you register for the exam. At a
minimum, you will need to reschedule the appointment before your original exam appointment time passes.
Are there age restrictions on the certification offer?
The exam offer is restricted to adults who are 18 or older.
13For nonprofits and workforce agencies
How will the nonprofit offering work?
Microsoft Australia has selected three nonprofits that we will work with to further extend the skills initiative.
These nonprofit partnerships will be announced later this year.
What are the additional resources provided to me to best use this content to support learners?
Microsoft Australia is supporting nonprofit MEGT to provide additional, “hands-on” support to nonprofits and
workforce agencies interested in using this curriculum. This includes additional training and tactical advice. To
access this support, please get in touch with:
Patrick Whatley | eLearning Administrator
MEGT (Australia) Ltd
T: (03) 9871 6180
patrickwhatley@megt.com.au
Can I still use this learning content if I didn’t receive a grant from Microsoft Philanthropies?
Yes. This is public content that we hope nonprofits across the world can use as you help job seekers impacted
by COVID-19 learn the digital skills they need to get back to work.
Can nonprofits and/or workforce agencies purchase Microsoft certification exams at this
discounted rate?
No, the discount certification is only available to individuals who have been unemployed, furloughed or
otherwise disrupted by COVID-19.
Can non-profits cover the cost of the $15 certifications for job seekers?
Yes, nonprofits and workforce agencies can cover the cost of the Microsoft certification fee, at their discretion.
The individual job seeker will need to pay upfront when registering for the certification exam and nonprofits /
workforce agencies can reimburse job seekers using their systems.
How would I recommend a learning path to a beneficiary?
As a workforce agency, we expect that you have the best sense of your beneficiaries’ skills. We recommend that
you evaluate where your beneficiaries are in their career journey, their interests, and the open roles in your
market and combine those into a recommendation.
For information on learning paths, as well as some career case studies, please visit: aka.ms/newdigitalskills
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