MCT Success Story: Adrian Coleasa MCP Success Story
MCP Success Story
With almost two decades of experience in the information technology (IT) field, Adrian Coleasa is one of those people who thrives on continuing challenge. A few years ago, Coleasa's passion for technology and developing new skills led him to seek out Microsoft certification. He has found that Microsoft certification is as valuable to him as it is to a novice in the field.
Coleasa has seen many generations of computers during his extended IT career. He started as an operator on mainframe computers in Romania in 1985. After obtaining a degree in computer science from the University of Bucharest, he worked in various computer-related positions and then joined Regent House Printing and Publishing as a support engineer, Web designer, and site manager in 1998. At Regent House Printing, he learned most of what he needed to know on the job while working with a variety of technology.
Always interested in increasing his knowledge base, Coleasa decided he needed more. In 2000, he began studying at a local Microsoft Certified Technical Education Center and soon afterward took the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification exams.
In 2001, Coleasa started his collaboration with Genesys Software Romania, a Microsoft Certified Partner headquartered in Bucharest that offers consulting, training, and software solutions across industries. As a system engineer for Microsoft and Citrix solutions, he is in charge of everything related to the software infrastructure for Microsoft Windows-based solutions—quite a change from his support position in 1998.
Certification Opens Doors
Coleasa credits Microsoft certification with helping to open doors for him and further advance his career. "The whole process of certification is something that you can't avoid or afford to ignore if you are serious about your personal training and a career in IT," Coleasa says. Because Genesys is a Microsoft Certified Partner, Coleasa thinks that "at least part of the hiring decision was definitely influenced by my certifications."
At Genesys, Coleasa's certifications have continued to benefit him. "A large part of what I do presently is Citrix-related and, in this position, a solid grasp of Microsoft infrastructure is a must," he explains. In addition, he notes that "the decision to get into public key infrastructure and security-related projects was partially determined by the fact that I am certified and have skill sets that are formally confirmed by certification exams."
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According to Coleasa, certification helps him improve his job performance. He says he is able to address new and unforeseen issues that come up during the workday because he has a fundamental grasp of the underlying theory. His ability to respond to challenges is not lost on customers and colleagues who come to him with the "confidence that I will give them the right answer," he says.
Coleasa sees a shift in attitude toward him when a customer finds out that he is certified. "There is a whole new level of respect in the other person's eyes," he says. "This is very true for peers as well."
