Microsoft Office Certificates Atlanta, GA

Microsoft Office is a popular and widely used set of computer programs with a range of uses in business and industry. It includes software for word processing, accounting, data analysis, email and meetings, and creating presentations, among other purposes. Learning Microsoft Office, or even any of the software within the suite, makes a professional better qualified for many different careers and better positioned to work within many different industries.

Bill Gates founded the Microsoft Corporation in 1975. With the rise of the personal computer, the need for intuitive operating systems emerged. Microsoft initially cornered the market with MS-DOS in the early 1980s, followed by the Windows operating system in 1985. You may be surprised to learn that the first version of Microsoft Office had its debut more than 30 years ago, in 1990. It included Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, which remain two of the most popular Microsoft programs today. Later in the 1990s, Gates anticipated that the internet (until then mostly limited to government and the military) would soon become much more popular, ultimately transforming everyone’s daily lives. Over time, Microsoft modified Windows to become more focused on internet use. The company also created its own browsers. Ultimately, the company even entered the market through its popular email client, Microsoft Outlook. Even through all these evolutions, the programs in the Microsoft Office suite remained the company’s most popular and versatile software.

Professionals across a vast range of industries and careers use Microsoft Office to perform many different functions. The two most popular Office programs are Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. Word processing is one of the earliest functionalities offered by personal computers, even going back to software within MS-DOS in the early 80s. Today, computer word processing is vital for everything from business letters to notetaking to drafting of items to be posted online. Microsoft Word remains the standard software that most people use for word processing. Similarly, Microsoft Excel is hugely popular and industry-standard software in any field that involves processing numbers. This includes not only accounting and finance, but any career or industry that uses data analysis. It can also be useful for personal budgeting and other non-work functions. The Microsoft Office suite also includes the Microsoft Outlook email client, the presentation software called Microsoft PowerPoint, and the database processing software Microsoft Access.

Why Become Certified in Microsoft Office?

Microsoft Office is a versatile and popular suite of programs that are used by individuals in a vast range of careers and industries. Software within Microsoft Office are typically the industry-standard products within their respective categories of programs. And while everyone’s resume may say that they are “proficient in Microsoft Office, ” having a certificate will make it possible for you to demonstrate that you truly are an expert in the Office software product or products that are industry-standard in your particular field.

Earning a certificate in Microsoft Office will allow you to demonstrate your skills to potential employers or clients. It will also provide a comprehensive education in the field, which can prepare you for a certification exam as well. You’ll get access to expert instructors, as well as practice critique and collaboration with your peers. With many certificate programs, you’ll also have access to career mentoring and feedback on your career materials, as well as networking events. Unlike some other skill sets, you can’t really make a demo reel or portfolio with Office, so having a certificate helps sell your qualifications to employers or clients who would like evidence of your skills before hiring you.

What You’ll Learn While Becoming Microsoft Office Certified

The primary skills you will learn when doing a certificate or certification in Microsoft Office include the main software that makes up the Office Suite. These include the world’s most popular word processing program, Microsoft Word, as well as the industry-standard accounting and finance program, Microsoft Excel. It may also involve learning the presentation software you’re probably familiar with, Microsoft PowerPoint. You may even explore the capabilities of the Microsoft Outlook email client, or the specialized database program called Microsoft Access.

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is the industry-standard word processing software across many different fields. The advantages of Word include a wide range of formatting options, as well as the ability to save in several different file types for different functions. Almost anyone who works sitting at a desk will have to use Microsoft Word at some point in their career, so knowing how to use it well can help one stand out—both for that skill itself and for what they can achieve using the program.

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Excel is the software within the Microsoft Office suite that employers are most eager for workers to be skilled in. That’s because it is a powerful data processing tool, especially for accounting, budgets, purchasing, and essentially any function that involves finance. The program also helps professionals process other kinds of data such as statistics, business projections, and customer data, among others.

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is the industry-standard software for creating visual aids to accompany presentations. In fact, it was so groundbreaking and has become so popular that it’s kind of like “Kleenex”: the brand name has become the name that people use for the whole category, even when the product they’re using isn’t actually from that brand. A “PowerPoint” just means a digital slideshow, regardless of the software used to create it. But PowerPoint itself remains the vital, industry-standard program to learn. Studies have shown that presentations are significantly more effective when accompanied by well-chosen visual aids, and PowerPoint is a powerful way to make that happen in any industry.

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook is a popular email and calendaring client. While Microsoft and Google are both highly competitive in this field, Outlook is standard for many businesses and industries because of how well it integrates with the rest of the Microsoft suite. This is especially the case now that many companies use Microsoft Teams, which works in tandem with Outlook, as a platform for remote meetings through video conferencing.

Microsoft Access

You may not have heard of Microsoft Access, because it is less common in many industries than the others listed above. However, if you want to become a fully qualified Microsoft Office user, it’s still important to learn Microsoft Access along with the other software in the suite. This rarer skill can be a key qualification for roles that heavily involve data processing.

Microsoft Office Industries in Atlanta

The key industries in the Atlanta area include transportation, professional and business services, education, healthcare, government, manufacturing, construction, tech, leisure and hospitality, and financial services.

The transportation and logistics industry has various uses for Microsoft Office. Microsoft Excel can be used in this industry for tracking and adjusting budgets, creating timetables, allocating resources, and entering data to plot. Clerks in the transportation and logistics industry use Microsoft Word for professional communication about business and operations, internal reports and memos, legal documents, and correspondence. Many businesses within the industry of logistics and transportation also use Microsoft Outlook for their email communications and for calendaring purposes. For product presentations, training sessions, and other important meetings, individuals in this industry will likely want to use Microsoft PowerPoint. In addition, some organizations may use Microsoft Access to store, analyze, and report business data.

Microsoft Office is a widely used tool in professional and business services. Many organizations use Microsoft Outlook for their calendars and email. Professionals in many roles within these fields use Microsoft Word for internal and external communication, report writing, documentation, and other word processing needs. In accounting and finance positions within professional and business services, Microsoft Excel is essential for budgetary and purchasing operations. They may also use Microsoft Access for data processing purposes. Many meetings in the professional and business services field depend heavily on the power of visual aids offered by making slideshows in Microsoft PowerPoint.

In education, teachers and professors extensively use Microsoft PowerPoint to create slideshow presentations to accompany their lectures and lessons. Students and educators alike use Microsoft Word to produce written materials such as handouts, assignment sheets, study guides, reports, and essays, among other documents. Those who are involved in accounting and purchasing for educational institutions will rely heavily on Microsoft Excel. Many of these institutions use Microsoft Outlook for their email and calendaring purposes as well. Schools and universities may also use Microsoft Access to manage student data.

In the healthcare industry, data management is extremely important, so Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Access are key programs for professionals in that industry. This is especially the case for the support staff who make doctor’s offices and hospitals run smoothly. Departments from billing to purchasing use Microsoft Excel in these contexts. They also need Microsoft Word for drafting business-related documents, and many of these institutions use Outlook for email as well. Presentations of new medical findings may be supported by visual aids in the form of a PowerPoint slideshow as well.

In government, Microsoft Office is a critical software suite to be able to use. Microsoft Word is vital for word processing of official documents, including legal papers, memos, speeches, and policies. Any department that processes government funding will need to use Microsoft Excel. Policy presentations are often accompanied by PowerPoints showing charts and graphs of the policy’s projected effect. Some government organizations also use Outlook and Teams for professional purposes. They may also use Access for data storage and processing.

Professionals in the manufacturing industry need to be familiar with the Microsoft Office suite as well. In addition to common uses like accounting, the manufacturing industry needs to use Microsoft Excel to track production, monitor processes for safety purposes, and identify which products are popular and which need improvement. It can also help assess whether workers' processes are effective and determine how they can be improved. As in other industries, Microsoft Word is also important for creating internal and external documents and communications.

Similarly to the manufacturing industry, the construction industry uses Microsoft Excel for functions beyond finance and accounting. Excel is useful for tracking inventory, monitoring processes, and identifying what practices are effective, among other functions. Microsoft Word is needed for internal and external communications, contracts, and work plans as well.

The tech industry uses Microsoft Word for professional communications, as well as drafting of microcopy and other written elements of apps. It’s also used for technical writing and creating documentation to accompany programs and devices. Accounting, budgeting, and purchasing departments use Microsoft Excel heavily. In some cases, Data Analysts may use Excel or Access for data processing as well. Innovators might also create PowerPoints to help them sell or demonstrate new ideas to investors or stakeholders.

In leisure and hospitality, advertising professionals use Microsoft Word to draft sales and marketing copy for accommodations and attractions. It’s also used for professional communications, drafting rules and policies, and creating legal documents. As in most other industries, finance-related departments heavily rely on Excel as well. A PowerPoint presentation might also accompany the introduction of proposed new products or attractions.

Microsoft Excel is vital in the financial services industry above all. This program is useful for processing any numerical data, but it’s especially well suited for anything that has to do with money in any form. If you want to work in financial services, you will absolutely need to be familiar with Excel. You’ll also want to pick up Microsoft Word, for internal communications and memos as well as customer-facing documents.

Microsoft Office Careers in Atlanta

Microsoft Excel is a Highly Desirable Skill for Many Finance-related Careers in Atlanta, Including Accountant, Financial Analyst, Investment Analyst, Retail Manager, Sales Manager, Cost Estimator, and Purchasing Analyst. an Accountant Prepares Financial Documents for a Company and Takes Care of Their Bookkeeping. in Atlanta, This Role Typically Pays an Average of $65,000 a Year, or Between $45,000 and $85,000. Financial Analysts Use Data for the Purpose of Identifying Business Opportunities and Evaluating the Success of Financial Endeavors. in Atlanta, This Role Typically Pays an Average of $75,000 a Year, or Between $55,000 and $105,000. an Investment Analyst is a Type of Finance Professional Who Analyzes Data to Make Investment Recommendations to Clients. in Atlanta, This Role Typically Pays an Average of $90,000 a Year, or Between $60,000 and $175,000. Responsible for Managing a Retail Business, Retail Managers Need to Keep Track of Profits, Losses, and Overall Financial Data. This Role Typically Pays an Average of $60,000 a Year in Atlanta, or Between $35,000 and $115,000. Sales Managers Are in Charge of the Sales Department for a Business, so They Need to Track the Performance of Different Salespeople and Products. in Atlanta, This Role Typically Pays $80,000 a Year on Average, or Between $40,000 and $165,000. Cost Estimators Collect and Analyze Data to Discover How to Make a Process or Product More Cost-effective for a Company. in Atlanta, This Role Typically Pays About $130,000 a Year, or Between $120,000 and $140,000. a Purchasing Analyst is a Career That Involves Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Company’s Purchasing Decisions. in Atlanta, This Role Typically Pays $75,000 a Year on Average, or Between $50,000 and $110,000.

In Addition, Excel is Useful for More Advanced and Abstract Roles Such As Data Analyst, Economist, Statistician, and Operations Research Analyst. a Data Analyst Has the Career Role of Analyzing Large Quantities of Data for the Insights They Can Provide. This Can Include Summarizing and Visualizing the Data As Well, and Office is Useful for All of These. in Atlanta, This Role Typically Pays About $80,000 a Year, or Between $55,000 and $125,000. the Career of an Economist is One That Involves Large-scale Analysis of How the Economy Works, Including a Wide Range of Possible Research Topics and Methods. This Role Typically Pays $100,000 a Year, or Between $75,000 and $130,000, in Atlanta. a Statistician Specializes in Generating and Analyzing Statistics. in Atlanta, This Role Typically Pays an Average of $100,000 a Year, or Between $85,000 and $125,000. the Job of an Operations Research Analyst is to Analyze Data About a Company to Make Recommendations to Leadership About Future Practices, Policies, and Procedures. This Role Typically Pays About $75,000 a Year in Atlanta, or Between $45,000 and $125,000.

Other Roles That Would Find Knowledge of Microsoft Products Useful Include Administrative Assistant, Project Manager, Office Manager, Desktop Publisher, Digital Marketer, and Quality Analyst. in Atlanta, an Administrative Assistant, Who Helps Companies and Offices Stay Organized and on Top of Their Administrative Processes, Makes About $55,000 a Year, or Between $35,000 and $80,000. a Project Manager is in Charge of Planning and Executing Multiple Projects Within a Single Company’s Business Processes. in Atlanta, This Role Typically Pays an Average of $95,000 a Year, or Between $65,000 and $140,000. an Office Manager Has a Similar Role to an Administrative Assistant, but Typically Has Broader Organizational Duties. Holding This Role in Atlanta Typically Pays About $55,000 a Year on Average, or Between $40,000 and $85,000. a Desktop Publisher’s Role Involves Using Computer Software to Design and Format Various Printed and Digital Materials, Which Can Range from Brochures or Magazines to Online Content. This Role Pays About $50,000 a Year on Average in Atlanta, or Between $30,000 and $80,000. a Digital Marketer Works on Online Marketing Campaigns, Including Designing, Managing, and Reviewing Them. in Atlanta, This Role Generally Pays About $65,000 Yearly on Average, or Between $40,000 and $105,000. a Quality Analyst, Who is Responsible for Auditing a Company’s Products and Processes to Find Opportunities for Improvement, Will Make Approximately $60,000 a Year in Atlanta, or Between $40,000 and $100,000.

These Skills Might Also Be Helpful to a Construction Manager, Human Resources Manager, Office Clerk, and Software Developer. a Construction Manager, Who is in Charge of Operations on a Construction Site, Makes Around $90,000 a Year in Atlanta, or Between $60,000 and $135,000. a Human Resources Manager is in Charge of Personnel for a Business, Which Involves a Lot of Tracking Data. This Role Pays Around $85,000 a Year on Average, or Between $60,000 and $130,000, in Atlanta. an Office Clerk is a Generalist in Office Operations, Which, in Atlanta, Pays Approximately $70,000 a Year, or Between $55,000 and $95,000. the Specialty of a Software Developer is to Code and Test Software. in Atlanta, This Role Typically Pays Approximately $110,000 on Average a Year, or Between $75,000 and $165,000.

Should You Pursue a Certificate or Certification

As You Consider Earning a Certificate or Certification in Microsoft Office, You May Find Yourself Confused About the Difference Between the Two, Since They Sound so Similar. so What’s the Difference Between a Certificate and a Certification? a Certificate is Granted by a School or Institution to Signify That a Student Has Completed a Course or Program There. It Represents the Completion of the Program, Not an Assurance of a Specific Level of Skill. by Contrast, a Certification is an External Document, Typically Representing That the Student Has Passed an Exam Administered by a Recognized Board in the Field, Which Prominent Institutions Have Agreed to Accept As Significant. in Other Words, a Certificate Shows That You Have Studied a Subject, While a Certification Serves As Evidence That You Have Attained a Specific Level of Mastery in It.

Now That You Know the Difference, You May Be Wondering Which One of the Two, a Certificate or a Certification, Would Be the Best Choice for You. Because Certificates Come at the End of an Educational Program, They Are Typically a Good Option for Those Just Getting Started in the Field. If You Need to Learn the Craft As Well As Get Credentials in It, You’ll Probably Want to Pursue a Certificate Program First. However, If You Are Already a Seasoned Professional and Want to Improve Your Career Prospects by Providing Concrete Proof of Your Skills, Pursuing a Certification Would Be Beneficial. Want to Do Both? Good News—a Certificate Program is Often Sufficient to Prepare a Student for a Certification Exam As Well. However, If You’re Looking to Get a Certification Out of Your Certificate Program, You’ll Likely Need to Put More Time and Effort into It Than You Would Otherwise, to Ensure You Become Properly Qualified to Show Mastery.

Top Microsoft Office Certificate Programs in Atlanta

Microsoft Office is an Extremely Popular and Broadly Used Suite of Programs That Are Employed by Individuals in a Wide Range of Careers and Industries. the Software Within Microsoft Office is Typically Found to Be the Industry-standard Product Within Its Respective Category of Software Function. and While Anyone’s Resume Can Say That They Are “proficient in Microsoft Office, ” Having a Certificate Will Allow You to Demonstrate That You Truly Are an Expert in the Use of the Office Software Product or Products That Are Industry-standard in Your Particular Field. Having a Certificate Helps Sell Your Qualifications to Employers or Clients Who Would Like Evidence of Your Skills Before Hiring You.

Ed2Go: Microsoft Office Specialist Associate Certification Training

At the Atlanta Ed2Go Training Center, Professionals Can Pursue This Course If They Are Ultimately Seeking to Gain a Microsoft Office Specialist Associate Certification. the Course is Designed to Prepare Students for the Certification Exam. Instruction Covers Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Each Unit Begins with the Basics of the Program, so No Previous Experience is Required. Then, the Unit Progresses to Intermediate and Advanced Functions of the Software, Followed by a Skills Assessment to Evaluate the Student’s Progress. This System Ensures That the Student is Ready for the Official Certification Exam by the Time They Complete the Program.

There Are No Prerequisites for This Program. the Instructional Materials Needed for the Course Are Provided When the Student Enrolls. Students Have Access to Expert Instructors When They Have Questions or Need Feedback. As a Complement to This, the Student Advising Team Can Help with Career-related and Job Market Preparation Questions.

ONLC Training Centers: Office 365 Power User

The Office 365 Power User Training is One of Many Office Courses Available at ONLC Training Center’s Atlanta Location. However, It is the Most Comprehensive Program for Quickly Becoming Effective at Using Various Microsoft Office Programs. This Includes the File Sharing System OneDrive for Business and the Email Client Outlook. the Course Covers How to Make the Most of Outlook by Using the Planner, To-Do, and Flow Features. Students Also Discover How to Use Teams Effectively As a Remote Collaboration Tool.

No Prerequisites Are Necessary for This Course. It is Also Available Live Online.

General Assembly: Excel Bootcamp

The Excel Bootcamp at General Assembly’s Atlanta Location Provides Students with In-depth Knowledge of the Most Vital Skills Available in Excel. It Begins with the Program’s Terminology and Navigation. Students Then Learn About Formatting and Data Organization Within the Program. the Course Covers Conditional Formatting, Formulas, and Hiding and Grouping. Students Work with Formulas, Math Functions, Logical Functions, Reference Functions, and Text Functions. They Learn How to Use Filling and Defined Names. They Also Explore More Recent Additions to the Program Such As PivotTables. Students Discover Charts, Trendlines, and Secondary Axes. the Course Wraps up by Exploring the Program’s Auditing Tools.

General Assembly Provides Career Guidance to Its Students. It Also Hosts a Variety of Networking and Career Advancement Events for Students and Graduates.

NYC Career Centers: Microsoft Office Fundamentals Bootcamp

The Microsoft Office Fundamentals Bootcamp at NYC Career Centers Provides an Introduction to Several Important Microsoft Programs. It Begins with Excel, a Unit in Which Students Learn How to Use Formulas, Charts, and Tables. They Also Discover Excel’s Workflow, Including the Formatting of Workbooks and Worksheets, As Well As Some Simple Hotkeys to Keep Things Running Smoothly. with PowerPoint, Students Learn How to Incorporate Different Types of Content into Their Presentations, Including Text, Tables, Photos, Icons, Charts, and Shapes. Then They Explore the Most Important Techniques and Tools for Success in Using Microsoft Word. the Course Wraps up with Instruction on How to Make the Most of Email and Calendaring in Microsoft Outlook.

This Course Has No Prerequisites. You’ll Get Access to an Experienced Instructor in a Small Class Format. Software and Remote Setup Assistance Are Included with Enrollment in the Course.

Noble Desktop: Complete Microsoft Office Bootcamp

The Complete Microsoft Office Bootcamp at Noble Desktop Includes PowerPoint, Outlook, Word, and Excel.

The PowerPoint Unit Begins with Slide Layouts, Plus Adding and Adjusting Content on a Slide. Students Discover How to Work with Diagrams, Shapes, Objects, Tables, and Charts. They Also Learn to Add Transitions to Their Presentations. They Then Learn How to Design Custom Themes, Add Animations, and Incorporate Video. They Explore How They Can Build and Customize Charts, As Well As Bring in Tables from Excel. the Unit Wraps up with How to Manage an Extended, Complex Show and How to Collaborate with Others on Your PowerPoints. with Outlook, Students Learn How to Set up Rules and Search Folders, Manage Complex Scheduling, Organize Contacts, and Track Exchanges. Then, They Discover How to Configure Mail Accounts and Do Advanced Filtering.

In the Word Unit, Students Learn How to Navigate and Format Documents. They Discover How to Work with Tables and Bullet Points, As Well As Lists and Citations. They Also Add Images to Their Word Files. Next, They Explore Working with Multiple Documents and Tracked Changes, Creating Reference Tables, Using Forms, and Doing Mail Merges. at the End of the Unit, They Wrap with Learning How to Make Custom Style Sets and Templates.

The Course Dives More Deeply into Excel Than Any Other Program. It Begins with Functions and Formatting, As Well As Workbook Management Tools. Students Learn How to Turn Their Data into Line, Column, and Pie Charts. They Discover How to Split and Join Text, Validate Data, and Name Particular Ranges in Their Sheets. in a Bit of Coding, They Also Learn How to Use Logical Statements and Database Functions. Then They Learn How to Summarize Data Using PivotTables, and How to Combine Multiple Charts into One. the Course Wraps up with Cell Management, Date Formatting, Advanced Functions and Analytical Tools, As Well As How to Use Macros for Reporting.

Noble Desktop is Known for Its Expert Instructors and Small Class Sizes. It Offers One-on-one Mentoring and a Proprietary Workbook Along with Your Enrollment. Students Also Get Comprehensive Career Services.

Ledet Training: Microsoft Excel Bootcamp

In the Microsoft Excel Bootcamp from Ledet Training, Students Learn to Use Excel Tables, Create and Modify Workbooks and Worksheets, and Manage Worksheet Data, Including Reorganizing and Summarizing It. They Learn How to Combine Data from Multiple Sources and Analyze Alternative Datasets. They Explore PivotTables, Learn How to Print and Share Their Workbooks, Use a Single Formula Across Multiple Worksheets, and Consolidate Data. Students Discover How to Perform Iterative Calculations and What-if Analyses. the Course Covers the Use of the Scenario Manager, As Well As Financial Functions and Data Filtering.

Students Also Learn to Work with Shapes, Charts, and Objects, As Well As Text. They Discover Tables, Styles, Templates, and Conditional Formatting. They Learn the Advanced Functionalities of PivotTables and Auditing Skills Such As Tracking Formulas, Precedents, and Dependents. the Course Covers How to Link to External Data, Protect Internal Data, Use Track Changes, Work with Macros, and Integrate Excel with Word to Export Data.