Congrats to all VMware by Broadcom vExpert 2024

A big congratulation to all the vExpert accredited for year 2024 that is announced! This year we have a total of 1226 vExperts and you can find them here. Those who didn't make it or miss the application, fear not. The 2nd application period will be in Jun 2024. You will have time to make up if you are missing some activities to proof your worth.

I am fortunate enough to be part of list. Also as a vExpert Pro helping with the application was not easy. 

Having been assessing the applications with many other Pros, here are some of the do's and don'ts when applying:

1. Don't be lazy and submit your past application details as it is. Assessment for vExpert for the year look at your past contribution to the VMware community over the last 6-12 months. If you are just submitting as it is, your activities will be unlikely be recent at all.
2. Provide evidence of your contribution. Do not just state them. It will be impossible to verify what you say. If it is a blog please provide the URL. If it is in VMTN, provide the thread wherever possible. Often I see people putting their VMTN, but has no activities.
3. Show your effort and your skills of reporting. By reposting advocacy post are not an activities. Everyone can do that. Everyone can be vExpert that way. We look at contribution not contributing by posting other's content. If your blog article copies from somewhere else, that doesn't add up.
4. Is that work you do part of your job? If it is, that is not community effort. Can you tell your boss you do not want to post one article into your company's site? That would mean a work related article.
5. Check your reference. Do not just happily place a VMware employee as your reference and hoping it will grant you vExpert. That person will be contacted to ask for your work contribution. It will do you more harm and help if he or she say you didn't or have left the company. Which means, there is no way to verify.
6. Provide evidence of your contribution to the community. Not your own self development work. Stating all your certifications you have with VMware is not a community contribution. I have seen applications with tons of certifications but no activities.

Lastly, the vExpert accreditation is to reward someone who have contributed to the community for the past year. A reason this is a yearly program. It does not mean you got it this year you will continue to be rewarded every year. If there is at any time no contribution, there will be no accreditation. But you do not lose the year you have achieve it. It carries on from the day you regain that title.