Partner or End User? The Best Career Path for D365 Professionals Starting Out
If you’re beginning your career in Microsoft Dynamics 365, one of the first big questions you’ll face is whether to start with a Microsoft Partner or an End User.
It’s an important decision and the right answer depends on the kind of experience, pace, and learning environment you’re looking for. Both routes can lead to a successful D365 career, but they offer very different day-to-day experiences.
Below, we’ll explore what each path involves, the advantages and drawbacks of both, and how to decide which is right for you.
Working for a Microsoft Partner
Joining a Microsoft Partner means working within a consultancy that delivers D365 implementations, upgrades, and support for multiple clients across a range of industries. It’s a fast-paced environment that exposes you to a variety of systems and challenges early in your career.
Pros:
- Rapid learning curve: You’ll work on multiple projects, often across different sectors, gaining valuable experience with various Dynamics 365 modules and business processes.
- Structured training and certifications: Partners frequently invest in their consultants, offering Microsoft certification support and ongoing professional development.
- Exposure and networking: You’ll collaborate with experienced professionals and connect with a wide network of clients and technical experts.
- Accelerated growth: Because projects move quickly, your technical and consulting skills develop faster than in most end-user roles.
Cons:
- High intensity: The workload can be demanding, with tight deadlines and changing priorities.
- Limited long-term ownership: Once a project goes live, you typically move on, which means you may not see how the solution evolves over time.
Working for an End User
An End User role means joining an organisation that uses Dynamics 365 internally. Instead of delivering projects for clients, you’ll focus on supporting and improving one system for a single business.
Pros:
- Stability: You’ll work within one organisation and one D365 environment, offering more consistency and predictability.
- Depth over breadth: You’ll get to know the system and its business context in great detail, seeing the long-term results of your work.
- Business process insight: This environment helps you develop a deeper understanding of how technology supports strategy, operations, and growth.
- Balanced pace: Compared to consultancy work, end-user roles often provide a more regular schedule and work-life balance.
Cons:
- Slower initial growth: You may not gain exposure to as many different modules, industries, or projects early on.
- Less structured training: Unless it’s a large enterprise, formal learning opportunities may be more limited and self-driven.
Which Should You Choose?
Ultimately, the right path depends on your goals and personality.
If you’re eager to learn quickly, enjoy variety, and thrive under pressure, starting your career with a Microsoft Partner can be an excellent foundation. You’ll gain a broad skill set and strong consulting experience that can open many doors later.
If you prefer stability, enjoy refining systems over time, and want to see the long-term business impact of your work, an End User role might be the better fit. It allows you to become an expert in one environment and develop deep business understanding.
Final Thoughts
Many successful D365 professionals actually experience both paths during their careers, starting with a Partner to build wide technical and functional expertise, and later moving to an End User role to apply that knowledge in a long-term business setting.
At Shape It Recruitment, we help D365 professionals find the right opportunity for their goals, whether that’s rapid growth in a Partner environment or a stable, impactful role with an End User.
If you’re just starting out and want to talk through your options, get in touch with our team. We’re here to help you shape your D365 career.