Microsoft Office Certificates Baltimore, MD

Microsoft Office is a suite of useful software applications designed to handle multiple office-based tasks. These include apps for writing documents, creating spreadsheets, producing presentations, sharing information online, handling email, taking work notes, holding digital meetings, and even creating databases. Over the last 30 years, Office has become the go-to option for most businesses due to its unique and innovative approach.

In fact, Office has largely taken over the market since its debut in 1990, though open-source competitors have eaten into its share a little. Since consolidating into the Microsoft 365 name, Office has primarily been a subscription-based service, though some one-time purchases are available. These days, the internet has expanded Office into cloud-based storage options and made it an even more adaptable and beneficial platform for many people to use.

While it’s true that Baltimore's tech industry did take a recent hit with some job losses, it remains an important career hub for the Atlantic region. As one of the largest cities in the Northeast, it provides multiple high-earning professions in technology, programming, education, and even general office work. As a result, mastering Microsoft Office can provide you with a unique career boost by teaching you multiple useful programs utilized in many Baltimore industries.

But do you really need to get Microsoft Office certification or training certificates to find a great job in Baltimore? It definitely doesn’t hurt to diversify your portfolio and showcase your skills in more depth. That’s why, in this article, we’ll discuss Microsoft Office in-depth, analyzing its usage and history. Then, we’ll discuss the benefits of certification and a few courses in Baltimore that may help you. Read on if you’re interested in taking your career to the next level.

Why Become Certified in Microsoft Office?

Now, Microsoft Office’s many programs are designed to be user-friendly on the surface and more complex and adaptable the deeper you dig into them. As a result, the average person probably doesn’t need to get a Microsoft Office certification for general use. In fact, to many people, certification might seem excessive. That said, if you plan on working with computers in tech or data fields, getting a certification in this software suite is definitely a smart decision.

After all, it’s still heavily in use throughout the market and remains the most in-demand office option available. As a result, a little extra qualification in it might not hurt your job chances, particularly when applying to a very in-demand job. Look at it this way: does it hurt your job opportunities to get certified? Absolutely not. In fact, a potential employer may pull your resume over others if you have a certification because it shows off important skills.

That alone makes a little extra training a smart choice. However, many certificate courses include hands-on and engaging education that lets you expand your Office skills and master many operations and programs that you might not have even known existed. These skills include a deeper understanding of the multiple programs that make up Office and situations in which it makes sense to apply them to your specific career roles and demands.

What You’ll Learn While Becoming Microsoft Office Certified

If you’ve ever looked at Microsoft Office’s program list, you know it includes multiple software types that might seem a little intimidating. Honestly, the average person probably only ever uses its word-processing app. That said, if you get a Microsoft Office certificate or certification, you’ll practice with and master multiple software types. Here’s a list of some of the most important apps you’ll learn and the many ways you can apply them after completing your training.

Word

Microsoft Word is, in many ways, the flagship program for Microsoft Office. It’s used by millions of people every day to type and edit various documents. For example, authors, marketers, programmers, managers, financial experts, and even college students likely use Microsoft Word to type reports, early coding concepts, books, magazine articles, and homework. It’s a very simple program to use and is likely where your Office training journey will begin.

PowerPoint

When you sit down to make a presentation for work, what do you tell your team you’re doing? If you’re like most people, you probably say you’re “making a PowerPoint, ” even if you’re not using Microsoft PowerPoint. That’s because this software revolutionized digital presentation and remains one of the best platforms for this service. Of course, other competitors have popped up over the years that mostly mimic its many features.

Excel

Spreadsheet programs likely existed before Microsoft Excel, but few have transformed the industry quite like this software. It uses a simple and elegant interface to collect data, produce graphs, share information with databases, and even use spreadsheet formulas to tabulate and arrange information. Though other spreadsheets like Google Sheets provide similar benefits, Excel remains the most in-demand and respected spreadsheet software on the market today.

Teams

The concept of hybrid work has transformed the industry, and nearly 13% of all employees now work from home. As a result, networking programs like Microsoft Teams have become crucial. These platforms help remote employees stay in touch and collaborate. Teams includes text, audio, and video chats, as well as data-sharing options and much more. It’s a good option for people who work in an office with a heavy Microsoft software investment.

OneNote and OneDrive

Microsoft OneNote and OneDrive provide diverse and engaging services that often get forgotten compared to Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. OneNote provides a simple note-taking platform where you can track various developments in projects and stay abreast of changes in the workplace. OneDrive is a cloud-storage system that automatically backs up your team’s data and makes it easy to share with people throughout your office with minimal delay.

Microsoft Office Industries in Baltimore

Baltimore’s amazingly expanding economy has boomed in recent years and now provides interesting jobs in a myriad of markets. These include tech and educational careers, as well as data-based industries. Interestingly, almost every field currently thriving in Baltimore likely needs people who understand Microsoft Office. Here are a few of the most exciting and rapidly developing Baltimore industries that hire people with Microsoft Office experience:

• Human Resources: HR firms in Baltimore likely need multiple employees who understand Microsoft Office’s many programs. For example, you may need Office to type reports on employee behavior, use OneNote to plan disciplinary actions, and OneDrive to share your data with executives in your company.
• Marketing: Like most big cities in the country, Baltimore’s market includes many marketing agencies that need people with a variety of skills. For example, Microsoft Office training can help you prepare budget reports, type marketing copy, collect SEO data, examine your keywords, and even share projects online with your team.
• Education: Baltimore provides many educational opportunities, including community colleges, universities, and private learning facilities. These organizations need people with Microsoft Office skills such as Word and PowerPoint mastery. These programs can help when writing reports on your students or preparing class presentations.
• Finance: Finance tech is big in Baltimore and requires people with many diverse skills. For instance, you may use Microsoft Office programs like Excel to track customer finance data, PowerPoint to share growth data with your customers, and Teams to collaborate with your employees when you’re not in the office.
• Software Development: Though not often thought of as a software development hub, Baltimore’s many programming teams may need someone with Microsoft Office skills. For example, Word can help you plan early programming concepts, while Excel makes it easier to track changes in your software and their overall costs.

Microsoft Office Careers in Baltimore

Within the industries highlighted above, there are many potential job roles that may need Microsoft Office skills. Understanding these options should make it easier for you to start a fun and engaging career. If you’re interested in Microsoft Office certification, here are a few options to consider, along with their roles and potential salary earnings in Baltimore:

• Web Developer: As a Web Developer, you’ll potentially use Microsoft Office when writing web content, managing budgets, and creating marketing presentations. In this career in Baltimore, you may earn between $61,000 and $84,000, with an average salary of $79,000.
• English Professor: The job duties of an English Professor often include using software like Microsoft Office to correct papers, prepare student grades, and handle class presentations. You’ll earn between $83,000 and $166,000, with an average of $102,000.
• Software Engineer: When you work as a Software Engineer, you may use Microsoft Office to plan your programs and manage update details. In this role, you can earn between $73,000 and $87,000, with an average salary of $79,000 in Baltimore.
• Financial Analyst: The unique scope of a Financial Analyst career may involve using a variety of Office programs to help customers with financial data. Most professionals in this job in Baltimore earn between $59,000 and $76,000, with a median of $68,000.
• Database Administrator: Expect to use Microsoft Office frequently as a Database Administrator when writing reports, creating spreadsheets, or sharing data. Baltimore specialists in this role earn between $91,000 and $116,000, with an average of $103,000.

Should You Pursue a Certificate or Certification

You typically earn a Microsoft Office training certificate after completing a beginner-level course that introduces basic skills like starting each program, creating new documents, saving your work, and even tweaking your interface. As you master each skill, your training professional will build upon it to improve your knowledge and help you transition to other apps in the suite. Often, people use a certificate program to develop their skills for certification.

By contrast, a certification is a professional-level title you earn after completing an in-depth examination. These tests include important information about a skill set, including the proper way to set various settings on Microsoft Office. You don’t receive specialized training when getting certification because it’s expected that you come to the exam with work or educational experience. Once you receive certification, you must renew it periodically to keep it active.

Top Microsoft Office Certificate Programs in Baltimore

Are you interested in pursuing a Microsoft Office certificate after reading this article? There are many training options available in Baltimore that can prepare you for certification. These include classes from community colleges and other private training organizations. For example, Noble Desktop provides affordable and short-term classes that could work well for you if you’re not ready to commit to a lengthy and involved college educational program.

Office Specialist Certificate

At Community College of Baltimore County, you can earn an Office Specialist Certificate. This program includes 18 credit hours spread across three semesters. In the first semester, you’ll take Comprehensive Word Processing and Using Windows, two introductory courses that help you learn the basics of Office operation. In the second semester, you’ll take Comprehensive Spreadsheets and Comprehensive Databases, along with one of two electives.

These electives include Technology and Information Systems or Introduction to MIS. Choose the one that suits your specific career goals. Finally, you’ll take Help Desk Management in the third semester to complete your training. Note that this 18-credit program doesn’t earn you an associate degree but rather a certificate. You may also be able to speak with the program head to transfer credits toward an advanced degree.

Microsoft Office 365 Training (with Skype for Business)

CertStaffix is a national training team that provides courses in multiple major cities, including in Laurel near Baltimore. It offers both in-person and live online classes in tech-related skills, as well as individual and group training, depending on your needs. With multiple classes in Microsoft Office, you get a variety of learning opportunities that help you master the software. For example, Microsoft Office 365 Online (with Skype for Business) focuses on many topics.

As a one-day course costing $335, it teaches you how to integrate Skype into Microsoft 365 Online. You’ll learn how your team can work together in remote settings to improve your efficiency. Similarly, Microsoft Office 365 Online (with Teams for the Desktop) teaches you how to use Teams and Outlook in a cloud-based environment for remote work. Costing the same as the Skype-related course, this class gives you a one-day immersion in this important skill set.

Intro to Data Analytics

Skillspire is a large training school that focuses heavily on helping immigrants and minorities learn important tech-related skills. Their subjects include web development, app production, coding languages, and cybersecurity. Though located primarily in Washington, they provide online training that can help you progress through your learning. For example, Intro to Analytics introduces you to this career path and the skills necessary for mastering it.

You’ll learn how to use Excel, SQL, and Power BI for data analysis and visualization. You can then progress to Deluxe Data Analytics Track and learn more advanced and complex tasks for this career path. Both of these courses cost $4,999 and take 12 weeks at fifteen hours per week. When you’re done, you’ll have earned a completion certificate that highlights your abilities. Share it on your online resume to ensure employers understand your skills.

Excel Bootcamp

Excel Bootcamp is a Noble Desktop course that takes 18 hours to complete and costs $549. This training team provides part-time and full-immersion courses in-person in New York City, as well as live online courses that cover the same subjects in an immersive manner. Classes are small and may include 1-on-1 learning opportunities that can improve your ability to master each lesson, taught by a skilled instructor in a live environment with regular feedback.

Subjects covered include basic program operation, how to save projects, managing cells, creating formulas, managing graphs, producing databases, and much more. As you progress through the class, you’ll take on beginner, intermediate, and expert-level tasks. When you’re done, you should feel more than competent to handle Excel’s many operations. You even earn a digital certificate you can share on your LinkedIn profile to showcase your skills.

Note that you can take the three courses in this bootcamp separately if you prefer. Excel Level 1, Excel Level 2, and Excel Level 3 are all six-hour classes that cost $249 and cover different topics. Excel Level 1 covers more beginner-level subjects such as basic functions, formatting, printing, and graphing. Level 2 covers intermediate subjects like VLOOKUP and SUMIF functions, while Excel Level 3 touches on INDEX, MATCH, and macros for more advanced use.