Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) are technical community leaders who are awarded the prestigious Microsoft MVP Award for voluntarily sharing their real-world expertise. The Microsoft Award is given by Microsoft to recognize the community work of technical people who advocate and promote Microsoft technologies.
Being a former 14-time Microsoft MVP and a former Microsoft Regional Director, let me share my experience with the Microsoft’s MVP award including how to become an MVP, its benefits, and the activities involved to receive the award.
Let me be clear, the Microsoft MVP Award is not a job. Microsoft MVPs do not get paid for their work. The award criteria, its benefits, and its nomination process may change anytime.
Note: Microsoft MVP should not be confused with C# Corner MVP. A C# Corner MVP is the person who is contributing to the C# Corner website. Learn more here, How to Become a C# Corner MVP.
How did I become a Microsoft MVP?
I started C# Corner in Dec 1999 when Microsoft introduced the alpha version of its C# language. I knew at that time that this language will change the way we write code, and here we are. 20 years later, C# has become one of the most popular and loved programming languages in the world.
Prior to C# Corner, I was sharing my C++, MFC, ATL, COM, and DCOM code via Mindcracker.com, which is a code-sharing website no more. By 2003, C# Corner had already become one of the popular online communities.
In 2005, I got a message from the MVP Lead from India, who thought I was living in India. He asked me if it was OK for him to nominate me for the Microsoft MVP Award. Later that year, I was a Microsoft MVP.
That said, I did not do all this community work to receive the MVP award. Heck, I didn't even know what Microsoft MVP is at that point. I do community work because that's what I love to do. That’s who I am.
What is the Microsoft MVP Award?
The Microsoft MVP Award is an annual award given by Microsoft to outstanding community leaders who share their passion for Microsoft products and technologies with the community. The person must show leadership, community spirit, and demonstrate a positive impact and influence within the technical community.
The Microsoft MVP Award is for the contributions over the past year through various communities in forms of writing, blogging, speaking, and hosting events focused around Microsoft technologies. In simple terms, the Microsoft MVP Award is given to community leaders who are speaking, taking and spreading the word about Microsoft technologies.
MVP Award Trophy with rings for each year. I’ve been awarded Microsoft MVP Award for 14 consecutive years from 2005 – 2018.
So, what does a Microsoft MVP look like?
A Microsoft MVP is a community leader and expert in Microsoft technologies who educates, promotes, and motivates other community members and spreads the word about new exciting technologies.
Photo setup at the Microsoft MVP Summit.
What is the key factor for the MVP award?
Besides being a passionate community leader and influencer, the key factor criteria for being awarded a Microsoft MVP is the size of the impact you make in the developer community. In other words, you may people benefit from your community activities. The activities are writing and sharing technical articles or blogs, speaking at meetups and conferences, and managing conferences or events. Contributions towards Microsoft products and feedback may also count towards your community contributions.
- If you write articles/blogs, how many people read those articles and blogs.
- If you speak at a conference or event, how many attendees attend your sessions.
- If you share your knowledge via a Webinar or a Podcast, how many people join your sessions.
- If you publish a free eBook to the community, the number of books that are downloaded.
- If you have a personal blog and publish blogs each day, but no one reads your blogs, the chances of being awarded the Microsoft MVP are very slim to none.
Microsoft Regional Directors and MVPs at MVPs Dinner Party.
Is there any exam for the MVP award?
NO. There is no exam for the MVP award.
Do MVPs get paid?
NO. MVPs do not get paid. As a matter of fact, MVPs do not even get any discounts on Microsoft products.
I frequently ran into people at speaking events and conferences asking me for deals on Microsoft products and services. One of the most frequently asked questions by friends and families was, “Can you get me a deal for a Surface Book or Surface Laptop??"
NO! I can’t even get a deal on a mouse.
How do I apply for the Award?
Only an existing Microsoft MVP or a full-time Microsoft MVP can nominate you for the MVP award. If you think you have enough contributions to the community over the past 12 months, you may reach out to a Microsoft employee or an existing MVP to nominate you.
How do you get an MVP Award?
To get an MVP award, you need to start sharing your expertise with community members such as speaking at local user groups, chapters, and conferences, writing articles/blogs, replying to technical questions on various forums, and organizing community events.
Once you feel like you’ve enough contributions over the past year, you may reach out to a local Microsoft FTE or an existing MVP to ask you to nominate you for the MVP award.
What are the benefits of being a Microsoft MVP?
Let me start with this: If your goal is to get benefit from the award, then you may be the wrong person for the award. The award is to recognize your community contributions.
Microsoft MVP Certificate
Microsoft MVP Award
However, there are certain direct and indirect benefits you receive along with the Award.
- A certificate from Microsoft
- Some goodies - Wallet, Pen, etc.
- MSDN/Azure/LinkedIn subscriptions and benefits
- Invitations to MVP annual conferences and events
- Options to participate in early adoption programs
- Interaction with product managers and teams working at Microsoft
- Interaction with other fellow MVPs
One of the key benefits I like about being a Microsoft MVP is that you are seen as a thought-leader and influencer in the space, and you also get to meet experts from all around the world and expand your professional network.
Microsoft MVPs at a reception.
Microsoft Regional Directors and MVPs at C# Corner Dinner Party.
Microsoft MVPs are like a family where you hang out with other MVPs, discuss technologies, and have fun.
Scott Hanselman and Mads Torgerson at a Dinner Party.
Mahesh Chand and Mads Torgerson at MVP Summit.
You also meet and interact with Microsoft employees who are building products. For example, if you’re a Microsoft MVP in Visual Studio, you may get a chance to meet the team who is actually building the product.
3Ms (Magnus, Mahesh, and Mads) at a Dinner Party.
Other indirect benefits could be related to jobs. If you’re looking for a job, there may be some MVPs who themselves or their company may be hiring. It is all about professional networking and the potential is unlimited.
Govind RamachandranPosted Mar 19, 2022, 10:40 PM
Can someone help me become MVP , Can someone nominate me ?
Ivan MartinezPosted Apr 20, 2021, 5:53 PM
Good afternoon, could you send me the link to be able to nominate in the mvp c # program
Rikam PalkarPosted May 30, 2020, 3:47 AM
seems like a nice experience to being an MVP
Mahesh JoshiPosted May 11, 2020, 4:59 AM
Thank you, Mahesh sir for sharing your such nice information with us.
Safyan YaqoobPosted Jan 7, 2020, 11:09 AM
Interesting! helpful knowledge about MVP
Subbarao APosted Jan 7, 2020, 2:42 AM
Thank you Mahesh for sharing good information on MVP.
Piyush PansuriyaPosted Jan 6, 2020, 11:03 PM
Very Helpful.! Thanks for sharing..
Sourav Kumar DasPosted Jan 6, 2020, 10:37 PM
Nice and useful article Sir.
Farhan AhmedPosted Aug 17, 2019, 12:50 PM
Hi Mahesh sir i have 105 articles and 31 blogs. I have 2 MVP from csharpcorner. Am i eligible for Microsoft MVP. Please let me know. what do i do?
N Ramu RaoPosted Dec 1, 2017, 8:40 PM
Post blog 55 around on topic SCCM and viewer reach upto 1500. Advice on same how to get the MVP award.
Tushar DikshitPosted Oct 6, 2017, 7:33 AM
Thank you Sir for this post. Very Helpful.
Anil JhaPosted Jul 5, 2017, 12:50 AM
How many professionals get Microsoft MVP award a year, one or more than one?
Abhijit KakadePosted May 4, 2017, 7:13 AM
Thanks Mahesh for sharing.
Bikesh SrivastavaPosted Jul 28, 2016, 8:04 AM
Good article to achieve target
Shridhar SharmaPosted Sep 23, 2015, 12:51 PM
Thank you for sharing sir.
Rajendra TripathyPosted Aug 4, 2014, 11:44 AM
Mahesh -Truly you are a great person. Giving the proper guidance & suggestions..
Jeetendra GundPosted Sep 16, 2013, 8:36 AM
Thanks realy helpfull for me..
Naveed ZamanPosted May 25, 2013, 1:40 PM
thanks%20its%20helpfull%20and%20now%20i%20will%20try%20for%20that.
Ravi ShekharPosted May 6, 2013, 2:13 AM
Thank you so much sir for this article
Supreet TarePosted Apr 26, 2013, 6:14 AM
Something I must try now :) Thank you for the detailed article
Suthish NairPosted Apr 25, 2013, 1:28 AM
SBC you got nominated 4 times as MVP now...?
Ibrahim ErsoyPosted Sep 23, 2010, 6:14 AM
If you're not selected MVP and then dont say bad words or make critics about MVPs and MVP Programme,if you do you better take your words back or change career :) Dont make critics about MVPs or MVP Programme.Its serious!
Maheswaran ShanmugamPosted Nov 30, 2009, 3:52 AM
Really good information
Nikhil KumarPosted Nov 28, 2009, 6:09 AM
As i know about you from C-sharpcorner and other sites you have a mountain of knowledge i really thankfull to you ... Thanks a lot for sharing these realy words... Your's Nikhil
Mahesh ChandPosted Jan 5, 2008, 9:38 AM
On your MVP award for 2008.
SB ChatterjeePosted Aug 13, 2007, 1:09 PM
Mike & Mahesh - I don't have intention of abandoning the community. I have lived in this neighborhood for ~ decades and know a lot of people in the industry. I am putting together a transition with other volunteers. Yes, we are very much our own with the user group and its events and we have done very well with it. Some stats: membership list increase from ~1000 to ~1400 in ~3 years. All events (10/yr) have an average attendance of ~50 per event. All sponsored and never a mandatory charge for attending an event. I am peeved more on the process/procedure of MSFT's MVP/RD awards, especially the RD program. Perhaps, I'll blog about it at a later date. Anyways, I need to move on, perhaps focus more on the Groove community which I enjoy more (been with them since 2001). With thanks, SBC
Ibrahim ErsoyPosted Aug 12, 2007, 8:53 AM
thats a great blog Mr Chand,thank u for sharing your knowledge ;) i think i must write some articles and go on blogging :))
Mike GoldPosted Aug 10, 2007, 7:00 PM
Hi SB, I always found user groups a great way to network, make contacts and friends. If you are the administrator of the group, don't you have access to setting up the meetings, decide who will talk at them? I always thought you could basically run your own show. I used to live in Connecticut (Fairfield), and would have been happy to join a .NET group if I new it existed. Also Connecticut does a lot of .NET work, particularly in the financial industry. I would think the CT .NET Admin would be a good place to be. -Mike
SB ChatterjeePosted Aug 9, 2007, 4:37 PM
This will be last month administering the CTDOTNET group. I am bit pissed off with the lack of Microsoft's acknowledgement of our group and my 3-year effort in putting it all together for the Connecticut. .NET community (add to that ~3 years of Microsoft Groove community support).
Mahesh ChandPosted Aug 9, 2007, 10:01 AM
But I would not give up on community support just b/c MS does not recognizes your efforts. I didn't start the community effort to get something in return. I started because I like to do it and it gives a good feeling that your hard work is making somebody else's life easier. Sometimes its hard to get started without any motivation and these awards and prizes are nothing more than motivational factor. Any way, you know where to find me if I can be any help.
SB ChatterjeePosted Aug 8, 2007, 10:21 PM
Many thanks for your kind offer of passing my credentials and community achievements to MSFT for a MVP award but I would like to pass on it. Before, MSFT bought Groove Networks, I had spent 4 years (2001-2005) in the Groove user community supporting it and enjoying every minute of it (GN was very poor back then and couldn't afford to give out certificates, pen, free software and subsidized conferences). Regardless, we felt gratitude and felt accepted in most cases.
Mahesh ChandPosted Aug 8, 2007, 9:19 AM
I agree. We (C# Corner) wasn't recognized until last year when MVP Lead from INDIA contacted me and eventually passed my name to MVP Lead, USA. I guess it's more R&D Microsoft folks are lacking. They are more concentrated on WA area and West Coast. East Coast community leaders are getting less recognition. Feel free to send me an email to mahesh AT c-sharpcorner DOT com with your community work URL, your email, and profile link. I will pass it to the right folks at Microsoft.
SB ChatterjeePosted Aug 8, 2007, 7:54 AM
I am based in Connecticut (USA). I have been very active in the Microsoft developer community for a number of years. As a Groove community user & supporter for ~5 years and the .NET Developer community (~3 years at CTDOTNET.ORG). I find the acknowledgement from Microsoft severely short. I am old enough to know not to want rewards for community efforts but I see their lack of acknowledgement as a deterrent to other community supporters. Therefore, the community suffers.
Mahesh ChandPosted Aug 8, 2007, 5:41 AM
Lol .. made me laugh. Are you in US or India? Perhaps, we should start a section on Groove on C# Corner :-) and give it a try without your mysterious process.
SB ChatterjeePosted Aug 7, 2007, 1:22 PM
The awarding of MVPs or RDs is a very mysterious process.. I have been very active with the Groove community for over 5 years (top #forum postings) and also running a quite few very popular Groove workspaces (~ 70-80 members each) for the past years. Add to all this - running a fairly large .NET User group (www.ctdotnet.org). To date, no mention about MVP nor RD.. I was advised to - 'Align the moon and mars, stand on one foot holding an eye of a rattle snake in one hand and the hair of a Peruvian bat in the other. Then, chant "Groove is Good", three times then throw it all up into air. If this does not work, start over..." It is mysterious.. SBC