If you've read a newspaper lately, you know that hundreds and thousands of people are losing their jobs. These are regular people, like you and me, who get up one day and find that they don't have a reason to put on that suit, don't have anywhere to go. It's a situation that could happen to any of us, and the mere thought is panic-inducing.

That's why it's so important, always, but especially now, to find a way to keep yourself competitive and relevant to your employer. Why should your company choose you over someone else? Why shouldn't your position be made obsolete? The trick is to go that extra mile, do the extra work, and possess something that not many in the field have.

In the IT field, that means certifications. When you hold a Microsoft certification, you show your employer that you've gone above and beyond, that you are serious about your profession. You show them that you have drive and initiative, and that is something that no one can put a price tag on.

One of the major certifications in the field is the MCSA, or Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator certification. This certification proves that you have the skills needed to manage and troubleshoot system environments that run on the Windows operating system. This is one of the major certifications that IT employers look for when deciding who is qualified to lead their teams.

Even more impressive that the MCSA certification is the MCSE, or Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, certification. According to the Microsoft website, the MCSE certification proves your expertise in designing and implementing the infrastructure for business solutions that are based on the Windows 2000 server and other Windows server versions. This is the creme de la creme of Microsoft certifications for IT professionals, and a must-have for those who want to graze in the fields of top level management. With an MCSE certification listed on your resume, most employers would have a very hard time turning you down. Needless to say, it markedly improves your bargaining power as far as roles, responsibilities and pay.

In this economic climate, it is more important than ever to find a niche, something to hold on to that increases your value and input as an employee. Although IT continues to be a field with enormous growth, it is nonetheless worthwhile to have a bag of tricks at hand, just in case. A Microsoft certification might be just what you need to keep your job and grow with your company.