Looking to get good at the Office suite

sports_brah

sports_brah

sports_brah

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As I get closer to graduating, I'm looking to constantly improve my skills.

I've noticed that a lot of places want proficiency in the Office suite, something that I have only ever used on a casual basis for essays, presentations and occasional spreadsheets.

Is there any recommended resources that will allow me to get a genuine proficiency in the suites, in particular excel, outlook and word?

My university runs a few courses but they are few and far between.


Failing a lack of recommended resources, what particular areas in these programs should I focus on?

Thanks! :)
 
I always assume when I see this on a job role spec that it means 'applicant can type'.

Other than being able to create basic formulas in Excel what else would be required?
 
Being able to mail merge is often a big plus although it all does tend to be related to what job it is, obviously.
 
Spunkey said:
I always assume when I see this on a job role spec that it means 'applicant can type'.

Other than being able to create basic formulas in Excel what else would be required?
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I'm also wondering about this, as there seems to be different versions of what they want.

Ranges from working knowledge (which I'm guessing is basic use), to proficiency and effective use to "extremely capable" or "advanced".

I've got a few months and I would very much like to get to a high level.
 
Or you could learn a useful skill. Just write "awesome with all windows products" on your CV and have done with it.
 
Doesnt this depend on what you want to do? There is so much you can do that its a bit like being 'really competent' at 'computers'.

Do you want to be proficient at jazzy presentations and mail merge? Or do you want to produce complex databases linked to SQL backends in Access? Do you want dynamic pivot tables fed from external data sources? Are you looking to write macros? etc etc. The possibilities are almost endless.

When companies simply require 'competence in Office' its usually vague enough to mean the sort of ability that pretty much anyone here would have anyway, ie typing letters and basic Excel.
 
For that sort of role, it'll be all about Excel. Any idiot can write a winword document or put a naff powerpoint presentation together. But Excel skills take some time to acquire, and the ability to be able to get a dump of raw data from some sort of database/application and slice/dice it in Excel is really REALLY useful.
 
I've seen some jobs where 'advanced Excel skills' means being able to run a vlookup.

If you want to go into business then learn how to create & use lookups, pivot tables, charts, if statements (sumif, countif, etc) & formatting. These are the building blocks that all your other knowledge will be based on. Learning the syntax for formulae is probably the biggest hurdle. After that most of your learning comes from seeking to solve specific problems.

If you want to be fancy then learn how to embedd objects into Word & PP, how to link files & data and how to troubleshoot issues (how to find source data, how to evaluate the steps of a formula).

All of my knowledge has been self taught and I'd class myself as an advanced user. That said, there is plenty I don;t know that would seem basic to someone else and I'm learning new stuff all the time.
 
[TW]Fox;23812210 said:
If you want a job with PWC making sure you can use Office is the least of your worries!
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How so? I'm fairly confident of my knowledge in my degree, I've started developing a lot more leadership skills, I'm presentable and have massive amounts of motivation.

However if you have any recommendations for high(er) level graduate skills you think I should acquire, I would love to hear them. Everyone I know is in the same boat as myself so of limited use.

Mr^B said:
For that sort of role, it'll be all about Excel. Any idiot can write a winword document or put a naff powerpoint presentation together. But Excel skills take some time to acquire, and the ability to be able to get a dump of raw data from some sort of database/application and slice/dice it in Excel is really REALLY useful.
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Excel does seem the most challenging, any particular topics I should google for?

Lynda seems to do a lot of office tutorials so I'll have to see if I can get my paws on some.
 
WillyNelson said:
I've seen some jobs where 'advanced Excel skills' means being able to run a vlookup.

If you want to go into business then learn how to create & use lookups, pivot tables, charts, if statements (sumif, countif, etc) & formatting. These are the building blocks that all your other knowledge will be based on. Learning the syntax for formulae is probably the biggest hurdle. After that most of your learning comes from seeking to solve specific problems.

If you want to be fancy then learn how to embedd objects into Word & PP, how to link files & data and how to troubleshoot issues (how to find source data, how to evaluate the steps of a formula).

All of my knowledge has been self taught and I'd class myself as an advanced user. That said, there is plenty I don;t know that would seem basic to someone else and I'm learning new stuff all the time.
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Thanks for the advice, I'll give them a read up. :)
 
I think Microsoft do a certification - Microsoft Office Specialist, not sure if its any good but might be worth a look.
 
Really depends on the type of job.

My first job competency in excel meant having more than 2 fingers.

In my current job, the "competency in excel" requirement means being able to create external dynamic data-base links within pivot tables & having advanced VBA writing skills.

Learn how to do all of the basic formulae, learn how to use pivot tables, graphics/tables, calculated fields, basic data imports & you will most likely be miles ahead of the average office monkey.
 
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