Become proficient in Microsoft Excel and go from beginner to pro with our hands-on Excel Bootcamp. Learn functions, formulas, Pivot Tables, macros, and time-saving techniques to conquer all the key skills needed to excel in Excel.
Join us for a beginner Excel workshop where you'll learn the essentials of Microsoft Excel, including calculations, basic functions, graphs, formatting, and printing. This comprehensive course is perfect for those with limited experience looking to expand their proficiency.
Learn intermediate Excel functions like VLOOKUP and SUMIFS, and how to summarize data with Pivot Tables, Sort & Filter databases, and split and join text. Gain the skills needed to utilize complex Excel functions and prepare for more advanced training.
Learn advanced Excel functions, macros, and data analysis to improve efficiency and manage complex data in any job setting. This advanced course is ideal for Excel power-users.
In this hands-on course, learn how to automate repetitive tasks in Microsoft Excel using VBA programming. Develop macros, custom commands, and new worksheet functions to streamline your Excel workflow and increase productivity.
Boost your resume with a Microsoft Excel Certification. Our program offers three courses, private training, the Specialist Exam fee with free retake, lifetime access to Excel video courses, and free exam proctoring.
Developed by Microsoft, Excel is a versatile spreadsheet software used around the world for organizing data and performing financial analysis. It’s one of the most popular computer applications in the professional world, and virtually everyone can benefit from knowing Excel. This software is used in finance and accounting for budgeting, forecasting, and analysis, but can also be used in your personal life to track budgets, organize trip planning, and so much more. It supports various functions, formulas, and shortcuts to enhance productivity and efficiency, making it a vital tool.
Since the release of Excel 365 and Excel 2019, Microsoft has continued to provide the most popular, flexible business application across the globe. When used with other Office apps like PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook, Excel can adapt to nearly any business process. Excel continues to provide users with core features such as the ability to efficiently analyze and model data, create charts, and quickly identify key data points. In addition, this application now offers cutting-edge customization options, as well as the capability to use VBA to automate various operations.
In the time since Excel 1.0 was released in 1985, this application has transformed from a basic spreadsheet tool into a complex business intelligence and data analytics tool with an impressive assortment of features, functions, and tools to help users better manage data. Whether you have personal or professional goals in mind, learning Excel can help you achieve them.
Excel’s popularity is in part due to its versatility, so there’s a lot you can do with the software. It can help users of all skill levels organize their data, regardless of how much they happen to be working with. Additionally, a single Excel spreadsheet can be grouped with others to form a workbook. These workbooks can track data over time with a worksheet to represent each month of the year, day of the week, or task. Excel spreadsheets can hold numbers, dates, times, and formulas, which can be used to calculate new data in adjacent columns.
You can also use Excel to perform basic mathematical functions like adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing numbers. These functions can be programmed to use specific cells or numeric values and are often used for budget management or calculating a final total. Going even further, you can use the software to perform basic statistics on data, including mean, average, mode, permutations, and quartiles.
Excel also includes several advanced data analysis, processing, and visualization features. Users can automate significant calculations and tasks by building complex functions and macros within their spreadsheets, turn their spreadsheets into elaborate and functional databases, and use data visualization tools to transform raw data into charts, graphs, and maps. Professionals like Data Analysts can also use it to communicate information with stakeholders and other invested parties.
For each section, include the name of the skill you’ll learn and then write a paragraph explaining what that skill is and why it is applicable to Excel. Most of the focus should be on technical skills you’ll learn (for subjects like animation, graphic design, or data science, these should be things like After Effects, Photoshop, SQL, etc.), but at least one skill mentioned should be a ‘soft skill’ (programming teaches you logic, Photoshop teaches you composition).
Learning the foundational skills of Excel is crucial as they set you up to perform much more complex tasks in the future. There are five basic Excel functions that everyone should know:
Whether you’re keying in data yourself or importing data from another source, mastering data entry will be covered in an Excel training. You’ll learn to navigate a spreadsheet, add new rows of data, and use the autofill handle to help save you time and energy when entering data.
Formatting changes the appearance of cells, including the font color, style, size, text alignment, or formatting effects of cells. In comparison, conditional formatting highlights specific values or cells based on certain conditions. For instance, you can change the appearance of a cell range based on a condition such as the value of the cell or the value of a formula in the cell. This can help make patterns and trends in data more obvious.
A Pivot Table is an interactive way to quickly summarize large amounts of data. You can use them to analyze numerical data in detail and answer unanticipated questions about your data. A Pivot Table is especially useful for querying large amounts of data in many user-friendly ways: subtotaling and aggregating numeric data, summarizing data by categories and subcategories, creating custom calculations and formulas, expanding and collapsing levels of data to focus your results, moving rows to columns or columns to rows (or "pivoting") to see different summaries of the source data, and much more.
Analyzing and visualizing data is important because it can help you understand your data, identify patterns and trends, make better decisions, improve communication, and save you time. It isn’t enough just to know your data—you also need to be able to represent that data in a clear, concise, and engaging visual format to the various stakeholders or partners that you work with.
Learning Excel can be challenging for those without previous experience in managing data or spreadsheets. Thankfully, though, mastering the initial basic skills is considered fairly easy regardless of experience. Plus, the more you use Excel, the more comfortable you’ll become with its functionality. Daily practice can help you quickly master beginner features and eventually advanced ones. Anyone can learn Excel with the right amount of commitment and passion to fuel their education.
Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of learning Excel is combining multiple functions into a formula, also known as nested functions. You may also have trouble choosing the right function for a specific task. Additionally, data manipulation is an advanced skill that involves using complex formulas to change datasets. Examples include combining columns, extracting data, consolidating lists, and removing duplicate data, all of which will take time and practice to master.
How quickly you can learn Excel depends on two main factors: your previous experience and what skills you want to learn in Excel. You can learn the basics of Excel, like data entry and simple formulas, in 1–2 weeks with regular practice. If you’re looking to master intermediate skills like PivotTables and VLOOKUP, you can expect to take a bit longer, around one to two months of consistent learning. Advanced proficiency, including macros and complex data analysis, can take three to six months or more. As previously mentioned, these estimates will depend on your previous experience. If you’re familiar with data analytics, the basics of finance, or are well-versed in math, learning Excel may take less time. If you don’t have these pre-existing skills, don’t fret. A quality Excel training will teach you everything you need to know in a concise amount of time.
There are many factors to consider when answering this question. Firstly, you’ll need to decide what learning environment is best suited for you. Do you excel in a collaborative environment that allows you to interact with your peers and receive instant feedback from your instructor? Or do you prefer a more solitary learning environment, perhaps one where you can learn at your own speed?
You’ll also need to decide how much time you can commit to your education and what level of flexibility your schedule requires. Are you looking to dive deeply into an intensive program? Do you work full-time and require your classes to be scheduled for evening and weekend hours?
In-person classes offer face-to-face interaction with both your fellow students and your expert instructor. This collaborative environment is available for both full-time and part-time classes and provides structure and accountability—two things that can help you succeed. Online courses may lack this in-person interaction, but they make up for it with increased flexibility. Live virtual courses still offer instant feedback from your instructor and interactions with other students, while on-demand virtual training offers the most flexibility, as you can decide where and when you learn.
The good news is that, no matter which version you attend, you can obtain a quality data analytics education with a top-notch curriculum and expert instructors.
Technically, it is possible to learn Excel for free online. YouTube videos, blogs, and free short workshops can all be great ways to learn the basics without investing financially. (Don’t forget to watch the most recent uploads so you’re learning the latest trends and techniques.)
But, when it comes to the more advanced skills, an in-depth training course is going to be your best bet. These courses will consist of a curriculum developed and taught by experts, with the chance to receive feedback or troubleshoot any issues with your instructor or a support team. Formal training can also provide the structure and accountability that some students need to stay focused, creating an environment where you’re more likely to succeed. So, if you’re looking to master more than just the basics, a formal workshop or class may be a better choice than free online resources.
There are some additional skills and subjects to consider learning either alongside or after learning Excel. Complementary tools like VBA, Tableau, SQL, and Python can help enhance your data management and analysis skills further. A brief explanation of these tools is below:
Any of these tools will help expand your capabilities in Excel, taking your knowledge one step further.
Canada is a highly desirable home country for many, and it isn’t hard to see why. A beautiful landscape, diverse and vibrant cities, and plenty of professional opportunities make it a fun and exciting place to live and work. The top industries in Canada are outlined below, each of which will need Excel experts to help them achieve their goals.
The construction, rental, and housing market is one of Canada's three largest industries by GDP contribution. The market size, measured by revenue, of the Real Estate Sales & Brokerage industry in Canada was $26.1bn in 2023. Toronto specifically is home to Canada’s largest real estate agencies, and the housing market has exploded due to an influx of new residents. In fact, 47% of Toronto’s population was born outside of Canada, causing a high demand for new homes, rental space, and affordable housing options. Excel can be used in real estate to store client information, track leads, and perform financial analysis.
Canada boasts a strong, established manufacturing base that is leading the evolution to advanced manufacturing. Backed by government support and a world-leading education system, the country is building global leadership in systems integration, artificial intelligence (AI), sensors, machine vision, automation, and more. Additionally, Canada is the first tariff-free foreign trade zone in the G20 for industrial manufacturers, setting a precedent for other countries’ manufacturing industries. Manufacturers will use Excel for data analysis, quantitative analysis, budgeting, and visual representation of their results.
With access to highly skilled Canadian talent, industry expertise, a strong R&D culture, and tech ecosystems in major cities, Canada is a prime technology destination. Toronto’s tech industry is the fastest growing tech sector in North America and has created more jobs than the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, and Washington DC combined. Many IT directors also find Canadian-based managed service providers (MSPs) appealing, as they offer the same quality IT services as international firms, but at a more affordable price.
Canada is the third largest producer of hydroelectricity, fourth largest producer of oil and uranium, and the fifth largest producer of natural gas in the world. Abundant natural resources make Canada a prime location for forward-thinking companies looking for world-class expertise in energy, minerals and metals, forestry, geoscience, and sustainable resource management. Excel can be used to plan and design conservation practices, calculate soil texture, and so much more.
Excel is arguably one of the most popular tools for data tracking and analysis, so it comes as no surprise that it’s used in a wide variety of professional fields. A few of these are outlined below with general job descriptions and expected pay ranges included to help give you an idea of how you can apply your Excel skills professionally.
Accountants are financial professionals who perform a variety of tasks to help businesses and individuals manage their finances. They use Excel to track cash flows, income statements, and tax returns to help keep businesses profitable. The average salary for an Accountant in Canada is CA$60,489 per year, slightly above the national average.
Existing in almost every industry, a Project Manager (PM) is responsible for the success of a project from start to finish. They work with stakeholders and clients to define the project's concept and create a process that brings it to life. PMs use Excel to manage budgets and resources and make around CA$81,095 per year in Canada.
Data Analysts gather, organize, and analyze data to help businesses make strategic decisions. They use a variety of tools and methods to gather data from internal and external sources, like surveys, software, and data collection specialists. Data Analysts use Microsoft Excel to organize, interpret, and evaluate data with the help of PivotTables, conditional formatting, and VLOOKUP. An entry-level Data Analyst can make CA$68,000, while senior-level professionals can earn over six figures.
Cost Estimators collect and analyze data to assess the time, money, materials, and labor required to manufacture a product, construct a building, or provide a service. They use Excel to calculate estimates of the money, time, and labor needed to finish projects. The average salary of a Cost Estimator in Canada is CA$70,000.
Attending an Excel class in-person or online can help you become a master in no time. While Canada currently has limited in-person offerings, make sure to check Noble Desktop’s classes near me often for updated listings. Below are a few of the top courses available, both online and in Canada.
Rapid Computer Training, Inc. offers several Excel online and in-person courses in Toronto. Their Excel Beginner Course is a foundation course designed for office users and anyone planning to work in an office. You’ll master the Excel interface; practice data entry, navigation, and data selection; learn basic formulas; and discover how to format, manage, and print workbooks.
They also offer an Intermediate Course and an Advanced Course, as well as several others covering formulas, functions, data analysis, Pivot Table reports, and more.
New Horizons offers this online entry-level course that provides a foundation for Excel knowledge and skills which you can build upon to eventually become an expert in data manipulation. This course covers Microsoft Office Specialist Program exam objectives to help you prepare for the Excel Associate (Office 365 and Office 2019): Exam MO-200 and Excel Expert (Office 365 and Office 2019): Exam MO-201.
If you’re interested in learning even more, New Horizons also offers several other Excel courses (Part Two, Part Three, and several skill-specific classes) that can all be taken on a part-time or full-time schedule.
CPA Ontario offers this certificate course that’s designed specifically to help CPAs expand their Excel skills. This course covers a variety of topics like text functions; date, time functions, and circular references; conditional counts, sums, and averages; conditional formatting; PivotTables; advanced charts and controls; and descriptive statistics. It is made up of several courses, and after completing the program, you'll receive a certificate to boost your resume and prove you've put in the work to enhance your skills. This course is offered online and on-demand to suit any schedule.
This three-day bootcamp from Noble Desktop will take you from beginner to pro as you progress through the three included courses. You’ll start with Excel for Business Fundamentals, where you’ll learn the essentials including calculations, basic functions, charts, formatting, and printing. You’ll then move on to Intermediate Excel for Business, which covers more complex functions such as VLOOKUP and SUMIFS; summarizes data with PivotTables; Sort & Filter databases; and split and join text. Finally, you’ll attend Advanced Excel for Business, where you’ll master advanced database functions such as INDEX and MATCH, create basic macros, and use What-If Analysis for Goal Seek and Data Tables. Each of these courses can also be taken on their own so that you can find the best fit for your current level of knowledge.
If you’re looking to offer in-person or online training to your office or team, Noble Desktop can help. They offer a variety of corporate training programs, including in social media marketing. You can order vouchers in bulk at a discount, select which courses are available to employees, and even let your employees choose their own schedule. Plus, you can choose to have your training hosted at a location of your choosing, live online, or at Noble Desktop’s Manhattan office.
With a top-notch customizable curriculum and instructors who are experts in their industries, Noble Desktop’s corporate training is designed to cater to your business or organization’s needs. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, you can reach out to Noble Desktop at corporate@nobledesktop.com.