Yes, You Should Learn Microsoft Excel to Expand Career Options

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Microsoft Excel, as some might say, holds the world of data on its back. It’s used in nearly every office job to perform a wide variety of functions to streamline business operations. It isn’t just used for data entry; functions, pivot tables, and macros are some advanced use cases for Excel that many companies look out for when hiring. So, as you can already imagine, advanced Excel knowledge and skills can help set yourself apart from those who use it for simple data organization. However, where should you start in this journey? We can help.
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Why Learn Excel?

Why should you learn Excel? Microsoft Excel experience and knowledge are great accompaniments to specific job qualifications. In our highly digitized world, data is king, and data analysis software is the king’s army.
Many companies look for Excel skills when hiring for jobs. Specific qualifications can vary widely. Some places might only need simple data entry experience, while others might need experience with pivot tables. In any case, deeper knowledge of Excel can boost your hiring potential across all industries.
Even if the job doesn’t specifically call for Excel experience, you can still find ways to use it to improve your work. The software has a lot of flexibility in its uses, and when used creatively, the sky is the limit as far as what it can do.
 

Key Excel Skills to Practice

Going beyond the standard usage of cells and inputting data, you’ll want to learn more about these things you can do in Excel.
  • Basic Functions & Formulas. These functions and formulas help you get more out of data without having to manually do certain math equations. Functions and formulas include SUM, AVERAGE, VLOOKUP, and IF statements.
  • Data Formatting & Organization. Formatting and organization helps keep data easy to read, so that you don’t get lost looking for what you need.
  • Pivot Tables & Charts. Pivot tables help summarize large datasets by organizing and analyzing data efficiently, while charts provide clear visual representations of trends and patterns. Think pie charts and graphs! These tools make data-driven decision-making easier.
  • Advanced Formulas. Functions like INDEX/MATCH (an alternative to VLOOKUP for better data retrieval), nested IFs (handling multiple conditions in a formula), and array formulas (processing multiple values at once) allow for complex calculations and data analysis.
  • Macros & Automation. Macros, powered by VBA (Visual Basic for Applications), automate repetitive tasks like data formatting, report generation, and calculations, improving efficiency and reducing errors.
 

Resources for Learning Excel

Depending on the route you want to go, there are plenty of resources that will help you learn these things in Excel, and more.
For free resources, researching on YouTube is the way to go. There you’ll find a wide variety of videos on Excel, its basic and advanced functions, and visual guides to help you improve your skills. Click here to go to YouTube for Excel tutorials.
A simple Google search can also give you plenty of articles and checklists you can learn from.
For paid resources, check out Udemy courses and LinkedIn Learning for structured lessons that might go in depth more than the free resources might. You’ll also get personalized support from professionals who know what they’re doing.
 
Ready to put your Excel skills to the test? Get in touch with us about available jobs that require Excel!