Announcing Microsoft Applied Skills, the new credentials to verify in-demand technical skills

Thank you for sharing your perspective! It's completely valid to feel that broad, comprehensive expertise is crucial in the IT field—there’s no substitute for deep, hands-on experience. The idea behind these smaller certifications or applied skills tracks is to provide an option for professionals who might want to sharpen specific skills or stay updated on niche areas that are constantly evolving.

While it might not be essential for every professional, for some, it could be a way to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to learning or to stand out in a competitive job market. These tracks are just one of many tools available, and they might suit different people in different ways.

Your suggestion to integrate these into a more comprehensive certification path is a great idea—it would certainly add more value and make them more meaningful in the broader context of career development. Your feedback is important and helps shape how these programs can be improved to meet the diverse needs of IT professionals.