5 reasons for cross-training to Dynamics – and how to get started
Looking for a career change? Now is a great time to get into the technology sector! If you’re already in it, why not use your existing expertise to learn some of the most sought-after skills on the job market? Microsoft technologies are an avenue worth exploring for anyone looking to learn something new. In particular, there is a lot to be gained by cross-training to Dynamics.
Who should consider cross-training to Dynamics?
First things first… Who is this article for, and should you even keep reading? If you have no interest in coding, there is no way you could enjoy a career in Microsoft Dynamics, right?
Wrong! Helping companies to make the best out of their Microsoft Dynamics solutions involves a wide variety of professionals. Yes, some of them focus on coding and programming – but many others don’t.
By cross-training to Dynamics from your current role, you will be able to pick from a wide variety of career paths. You could become a business development expert specialised in selling Microsoft Dynamics solutions. You could be a project manager or a business analyst. You could even become a Dynamics practice lead.
But what is Microsoft Dynamics anyway? To make it simple, it’s Microsoft’s set of Business applications. It includes Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. If you’d like to know more, check out the official Microsoft Dynamics website.
Working in the Dynamics sector can involve a wide array of tasks, including helping companies to select the right solution for their business, gathering their requirements and designing a solution which will meet their business needs, customising the Dynamics applications so they will match the customers’ requirements, training their employees so they know how to use the product, providing support and troubleshooting services, or even training and mentoring other Dynamics consultants.
So what are some of the roles from which cross-training to Dynamics makes the most sense?
- Consultant specialised in another ERP or CRM system (such as Oracle ERP, Epicor Prophet 21, Netsuite…)
- Business Analyst
- IT project manager
- Developer, programmer or technical consultant specialised in other Microsoft technologies
- Accountant or finance consultant
- IT support consultant or IT system administrator
- Sales professional specialised in IT solutions
If you don’t see your current role on this list, it doesn’t mean that cross-training to Dynamics is not for you. If the idea interests you, keep on reading!
Why should you consider a career as a Dynamics consultant?
- Learn skills which are in high demand on the job market
Microsoft Dynamics is an area in which the demand for skilled professionals is extremely high. This gives you an edge from the start: the skills you are about to learn are very attractive to employers. It means that as you gain experience, you will have many opportunities to find and apply to roles which really interest you. It also means that it’s a sector which offers great earning potential.
- Work with a solid, well-established technology
Microsoft is, as we all know, a well-established leader in the technology sector. By learning to work with Microsoft technologies, you are investing your time and efforts into strong products with a bright future. This is particularly true of Microsoft Dynamics.
- Gain exposure to the latest progress in software technology
Microsoft have been investing a lot of effort into improving the performance of their Microsoft Dynamics solutions. Because of this, working with Dynamics products is a great opportunity to have an early exposure to the latest technologies – for instance, Microsoft have been putting a lot of effort into AI research, the results of which have been integrated into their Dynamics products.
- Benefit from a wealth of professional tools and a great professional community
Dynamics being a Microsoft technology also means that it will be easy for you to find the professional tools you need in order to do your job right. There are also many online training courses you can explore if you want to develop and update your skills. Dynamics also benefits from a great community of professionals.
- Begin a rewarding career
A career in Dynamics gives you opportunities to work with companies of all kinds, from SMEs to world leaders. It also offers a variety of career prospects and choices, none of which are final, and the flexibility to choose which skills to develop as you learn more about the product.
Finally, it is simply, a rewarding and stimulating career which will encourage you to constantly learn. There are many viable career development options available to you, from expanding your skills into various areas to building your leadership experience towards a Practice Lead or Director role. Microsoft Dynamics is also an area where both freelance and permanent employment are viable options, which offers a lot of flexibility in the way you can organise your career path.
How to cross-train to Dynamics
If you are working for a Dynamics Partner, your employer might be willing to help and encourage you to become a Dynamics consultant. If so, they can provide you with access to appropriate training material and resources – even, perhaps, with a mentor.
If your employer isn’t able to help you, there are other ways of accessing the training material and resources you will need. Many training courses are available online, and it is easy to self-train and get certified while remaining in your current role.
In order to cross-train to Dynamics, you will need to follow these steps:
- Research the different Microsoft Dynamics products and career paths to find the one that is right for you.
- Familiarise yourself with the Dynamics market and with the professional resources which are available to you. Our Microsoft Dynamics Readiness guide has a lot of useful advice and links which will help you with this.
- Start taking Microsoft Dynamics training courses and prepare for your first certification exam. If you want access to free Microsoft Dynamics training, contact us – we can help.
At 365 Talent Portal, we support professionals who are interested in cross-training to Dynamics. If this is a career path you are considering, click the below button and register with us. It’s free, and we have tons of guides and resources which will help you on your way to becoming a Dynamics consultant.
365 Talent Portal is the online platform that enables thousands of Microsoft Dynamics consultants to improve their technical, consulting, and soft skills, as well as advertise their profiles whenever they choose to look for work. This profile gives Microsoft Dynamics partners and end-users instant, direct access to the consultants if they want to be contacted. With a network spanning 114 countries, 365 Talent Portal allows companies to search for consultants based on their detailed skills, rates and available dates, to find the best consultants for their projects. Companies can find and employ them on a very low cost model on either a freelance or permanent basis, without incurring the hefty fees typical of recruitment agencies.
To find and hire excellent Dynamics resource, please go to 365talentportal.com or email [email protected] or call us on +44 2071 931 455 (UK) or +1 415 800 4263