In the present world, technology is evolving at a blitzkrieg pace, bombarding the world with a plethora of gadgets, software, and apps that have enhanced human life on both a personal and professional scale. Microsoft Excel is one such incredible piece of software that, since its inception in 1985, has been instrumental in handling data and storing records, which is still used extensively today. It won’t be easy to find someone who has not heard of it or used it at least once in their lifetime, making it a mainstay in all businesses and one of the most well-known software applications worldwide. This is true for everyone, from small schools to top business organizations. This is a testament to the fact, despite the existence of various alternative spreadsheet software packages around the world, it has maintained its dominance for the past 38 years. It is highly doubtful that it will be replaced in the near future, given how widely it has been adopted and has a large user base.
It is no surprise that expertise in Microsoft Excel is still regarded as one of the most in-demand skills globally. As a result, if you want to upskill and arm yourself with Excel proficiency, there are numerous avenues for learning Microsoft Excel, such as enrolling in an MS Excel free course, which is one of the simplest and quickest ways to develop a thorough understanding of MS Excel and explore its many features. So, without further ado, let us learn more about Excel and how to become an expert in it, including how to achieve industry certification.
What is Microsoft Excel?
Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet software tool developed by Microsoft that is included in the Microsoft Office suite. Its key features assist firms in compiling all of their financial data into spreadsheets and performing computational operations utilizing functions and formulae.
Its primary application in the workplace is for business analysis, which involves importing vast volumes of data and organizing it in spreadsheets, followed by analyzing it to assist decision-making. MS Excel is an immensely versatile tool that may be used for a multitude of reasons, including accounting, financial reporting, performance analysis, and strategic analysis. It is also a fantastic project management tool and has additional uses for an account and human resource management.
How to become an Excel expert?
It is not an exaggeration to say that the current world runs on data, and organizations are exposed to a vast amount of data that necessitates the use of professionals to handle such sensitive material, making Excel skills a need for most professions.
Given the importance of Excel in many industries, how do you ‘Excel’ in mastering MS Excel? Excel contains a lot of functions, and not knowing how to use them properly can increase your manual labor and be daunting at times. However, becoming an Excel expert is not a difficult task because there are several tips and techniques available to assist you in learning the skills and becoming an Excel master in no time!
While many firms offer on-the-job Excel training, there are also numerous online digital platforms that offer Excellent training programs to assist you in obtaining a comprehensive understanding of Excel and its various functionalities. So, here are some Excel spreadsheet tips and methods to help you process data faster and more easily:
Time-saving tricks:
- To navigate more quickly, use shortcut keys:
MS Excel has a plethora of keyboard shortcuts, which can be used to save time when using your mouse.
For example:
- By simultaneously pressing the keys ctrl, shift, and #, you may change numbers into dates.
- Quickly switch between pages by pressing page up or page down in the top right corner of your keyboard while holding down the Ctrl key.
- Making drop-down selection lists
Lists can help you expedite your tasks and enhance the productivity of your workflows. Instead of typing values in, let users select them from a drop-down list.
- Mastering Pivot tables
A PivotTable is a simple, easy-to-use tool that can be used to condense huge amounts of data. Learning pivot tables can be a key differentiator for you, allowing you to explore numerical data in depth and analyze it in novel ways.
Formulas:
A formula in Excel is essentially a set of commands that are used to conduct mathematical operations. They usually begin with the equal symbol (=), and then the mathematical calculation is typed into the cell. In addition to formulae, there are also functions, which are Excel-defined formulas and shortcuts for commonly used formulas, allowing you to perform the task without having to construct it yourself from scratch.
- The SUM function- it is used to execute mathematical additions, with the fundamental syntax being SUM(number1, [number2], [number3]…). It saves time by decreasing keystrokes and is one of the most significant functions in Excel for multiplying large arrays of data.
- IF function- The IF function is used to investigate logical functions. In essence, the IF function is used to decide whether a condition is true or false, with one action executed in the true case and another in the false case. As a result, the IF function can transform a simple spreadsheet into an analytical tool. The IF syntax is IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false])
- VLOOKUP- The VLOOKUP function will revolutionize your productivity by allowing you to locate specific data and discover its corresponding value in the same or another row or column. VLOOKUP is used in a variety of search-related applications, such as locating a person based on their ID Number, and is analogous to looking for a person’s name in a phone directory.
The VLOOKUP syntax is VLOOKUP(lookup_value,table_array,col_index_num, [range_lookup])
Getting certified in Microsoft Excel:
Microsoft has a certification exam known as the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Excel exam that can be the ultimate validation to prove your proficiency in MS Excel because preparing for the exam helps you gain an in-depth knowledge of various MS Excel tools and applications.
Although Excel is utilized by many professionals in numerous industries and commercial contexts, many of them need certification that can authenticate their knowledge. Earning an industry-standard certification can authenticate your Excel abilities and expertise, proving your mettle in front of recruiters and setting you apart from the rest of your fellow rivals when seeking to land a specific job that requires Excel proficiency.
When it comes to applying for particular positions in firms, having a Microsoft Excel certification might become a prerequisite, and so having the Excel certification will assist you in progressing in your career and open doors to many opportunities. Earning the certification proves that you can manage spreadsheets, perform large-scale data analysis and calculations, apply formulas and functions, create pivot tables, run Macros, utilize VBA, and perform other activities.
While many people use self-study methods to get ready for the certification exam, enrolling in a course that offers MS Excel training can give you access to a well-structured curriculum that covers all the fundamentals and crucial ideas that will aid in your acquisition of an in-depth understanding of MS Excel.
