Microsoft Excel is one of the software that you must be familiar with. The software is widely used in the world of work for various business purposes. Few companies make mastery of Excel one of the qualifications for job applicants. It relates to several data management job positions, from simple to complex. Therefore, Microsoft Excel skills can be a plus when you apply for a job. You can improve your skills by continuing to learn Microsoft Excel. To make learning Microsoft Excel easier and faster, know the features, basic formulas, and the following guides.
The importance of Microsoft Excel skills in the world of work
Microsoft Excel allows its users to format, manage, and calculate data in the spreadsheets provided. Data management using software such as Excel will make it easier for data analysts and other users to view and read data.
Its ease of data processing makes Excel widely used for various types of businesses. Reporting from techtarget.com, the software is used for business analysis, human resource management, operational management, and performance reports. Users can organize data in spreadsheets using graphing tools, pivot tables, and formulas.
Learning Microsoft Excel is very important considering its functions are widely used in the world of work. Companies use it for various business purposes, including:
- Business Analysis Business
- Data collection and verification
- Entering and storing data
- Business strategy analysis
- Employee performance reports
- Administration
- Management Account management
- Office Administration
- Accounting and budgeting
Microsoft Excel features you must know.
Before learning Microsoft Excel further, You also have to know the various features provided by the software. Excel’s features will help you create the required data more efficiently. Here are some features that are important to know.
1. Get started quickly
When you open Excel, you can choose a template that can be customized with the data you want to create. Provided templates, such as budgets, calendars, forms, and other reports.
2. Analyze data instantly
The quick analysis feature allows you to convert data into charts or tables in just two steps or even less. You can review it first before applying the desired format, either in the form of a graph or chart.
3. Fill in data fields quickly
Is a feature like a data assistant that can complete your work quickly. After the system detects your position, this feature will rapidly follow the pattern and enter other data.
4. Make the correct chart
Excel has the most suitable chart recommendation feature for your data. You can choose a recommended chart and review its appearance before determining the most suitable one.
5. Excel Functions
Learning Microsoft Excel can be started by knowing its function features. You can find functions in the categories of mathematics and trigonometry, statistics, engineering, logic, and more.
6. Online document storage
Excel has accessible online document storage features, such as OneDrive or your Microsoft 365 service. So you can work more effectively. You can check data anywhere and anytime.
Basic Microsoft Excel formulas for beginners
You can start by learning Microsoft Excel by knowing some basic formulas first. Learning basic formulas is important for beginners to process simple data. Once you get used to it, it will be easier for you to process more complex data. Here are some basic formulas for learning Microsoft Excel that you should know.
1. SUM
When learning Microsoft Excel, the most common formula you should know is SUM. SUM is used to add up the numbers in the data in specific cells. For example, if you want to add up the numbers in cells A1 to A20, the formula used is:
=SUM(A1:A20)
2. MAX and MIN
Excel uses this MAX formula to display the highest number in a series of cells. Instead, MIN is used to find the lowest number. If you want Excel to display the highest and lowest numbers for a year, pay attention to where the cells that contain the data are located. For example, B1 to B12, then:
=MAX(B1:B12)
=MIN(B1:B12)
3. AVERAGE
You can learn Microsoft Excel by using the AVERAGE formula to calculate the average. This formula is almost the same as using SUM. You just enter the first cell and the last cell that is cold on average:
=AVERAGE(A1:A12)
4. IF
IF is one of the basic formulas that you must know when learning Microsoft Excel. The formula plays certain logic or analyzes true/false data. For example, if you want to find employee data that exceeds performance standards or not, you can use the formula:
=IF(B3>80;”ACCEPT”;”NOT ACCEPTED”)
Complete syllabus to learn Microsoft Excel in 7 days
1. Get to know Microsoft Excel
- Buy a Microsoft Excel license on the website or in a computer store.
- Opening the Excel software, to start with the same as other Windows programs.
- Understand the Ribbon tab that provides various shortcuts for commands (Command) in Excel, such as creating a new document, printing a document, and others.
- Understand worksheets, such as rows, columns, sheets, and workbooks.
- Avoid working with complex formulas with many variables.
- As much as possible, use the formula that has been provided.
2. Doing arithmetic operations
You can start learning Microsoft Excel by understanding simple arithmetic operations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
- Create Excel sheets.
- Enter data in a worksheet.
- When performing calculations with arithmetic operations, you can start with the equals symbol (=).
- You can enter the data cell you want to calculate, for example, =A2+B2, then press enter to get the result.
- Format data in Excel (bold, align numbers, etc.).
3. Validate data in Excel
Data validation is an essential part of learning Microsoft Excel to help avoid errors. Following are the validation features provided by Excel.
- Data validation.
- Data filters. This feature allows you to match the data with the desired criteria.
- Create and ungroup data groups. Groups allow you to view and hide unnecessary details from a column or row.
- Add images to a spreadsheet. The command to add an image is located on the Insert tab.
4. Excel formulas and functions
In the process of learning Microsoft Excel, formulas and functions play an essential role in data collection in the form of numbers.
- Number
- Function v lookup
- Function Time and date
- Function String functions
5. Using Excel logical functions
If you’ve already learned Microsoft Excel related to basic formulas and functions, it’s time for you to understand the slightly more complicated part. Logical operations can help you make decisions when executing procedures, including:
- IF
- AND
- NESTED IF
- NOT
- FALSE
- OR
- TRUE
6. Creating charts in Excel
The following syllabus in learning Microsoft Excel for beginners is to create charts that represent data in visual form. The types of charts that you can choose are:
- Pie Chart
- Bar Chart
- Column Chart
- Line Chart Combo Chart
7. Creating a budget with an Excel template
Learning Microsoft Excel next is managing more complex budget data. You can use Excel to create personal budgets and record income and expenses. When making it, you need to pay attention to several necessary components, such as:
- Projected
- Budget
- Actual income Actual
- expenses
You need to learn Microsoft Excel regularly to be able to master it. Not only that, but you also need to practice the various functions and formulas that Excel has. Mastering Excel can be among the most sought-after skills by many companies in multiple industries. Good luck!