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.
Microsoft Excel is the industry-standard spreadsheet application. With an estimated 750 million users, this popular tool remains a go-to across industries for tasks related to data entry and management, charting, financial analysis and modeling, accounting, task management, and customer relationship management. Excel was first released nearly four decades ago by Microsoft. In the decades since, it’s continued to be a staple for individuals doing organizational tasks or personal bookkeeping.
Training with Excel is an excellent way for employees to improve workplace efficiency, since this app can make it much faster and more accurate to work with vast volumes of data. It has applications for assisting with everything from performing basic calculations to complex budgeting tasks. One of the main benefits of working with this tool is it can help users perform recurring tasks like data organization or averaging much faster than would be possible manually. After the information in a worksheet has been organized and analyzed, the findings can be shared with others in the form of visualizations like graphs and charts, which provides an accessible way for those from a non-technical background to understand the information.
Nearly two-thirds of all organizations work with Excel for daily tasks. Because of how widespread Excel use is, Excel training is an in-demand skill set across industries and professions. Excel has a range of professional and personal uses. It’s a staple in the business sector because it helps with tasks like HR management, performance reporting, and operations management. It’s also used for accounting and budgeting-related tasks, statistical analysis, and project management. Those who work in education use Excel for tasks like keeping attendance records or recording student performance. This app is widely used in the finance industry for loan calculation, budgeting, forecasting, expense tracking, and financial reporting. It also has applications for daily scheduling and inventory tracking-related tasks.
In addition to its professional and academic uses, Excel is a great resource for non-professionals interested in hosting a large event like a graduation party or wedding because it can assist with seating charts. Those who have busy schedules can create to-do lists and track their progress in Excel as they check items off. This app is also a good resource for individuals looking to sort through long lists containing names and contact information, which makes it useful for those who want to send out party invitations or monitor mailing lists for campaigns. Excel is even helpful with vacation planning; it offers a trip planner template to ensure that those who are planning for a long trip can store and locate essential travel information pertaining to airline travel, hotel stays, or budgeting.
Although all Excel classes differ in terms of the content they provide and the difficulty level of instruction, most beginner-friendly programs cover core spreadsheet skills, including how to work with basic formulas and calculations, formatting, macros, and PivotTables, as well as soft skills like organization.
Excel training prepares those who are new to using the app to use it for basic calculations and formulas. Excel formulas include basic math commands that handle values in a specific set of cells to yield a result. There are Excel formulas for multiplying, subtraction, addition, and division, which help users avoid having to make manual calculations. Formulas can also assist with tasks like counting, averaging, and summing.
Another essential skill Excel learners are likely to encounter in coursework is how to format the information contained in worksheets and workbooks. The formatting process in Excel begins when the user enters data into a cell block. Excel worksheets consist of rows and columns that contain many cells in which single pieces of data are placed. The information contained in a cell can be formatted, and its alignment, background color, or font altered to create visual formatting cues to help users quickly spot key values. Formatting training also helps Excel users bold specific values or add borders to cells.
Excel classes that go beyond the basics usually provide learners with instruction on more advanced spreadsheet tools and techniques such as how to work with macros. Excel macros are specific commands or actions users create and record. Macros can be run as often as necessary. In order to record macros, the Excel user records keystrokes and mouse strokes. Macros are a great time-saving tool for repetitive tasks. They can automate basic tasks like entering a company’s contact information into a worksheet or complex procedures like creating custom reports.
PivotTables are one of the most useful Excel features for summarizing the data from tables. They provide spreadsheet users with a way to easily transform large datasets into interactive summaries with essential information in the forefront. PivotTables are also useful for analyzing numerical data, performing data calculations, and summarizing and analyzing information such that it reflects patterns, trends, or comparisons.
Excel coursework does more than prepare students to use its features and functions; it’s also a great way to learn how to be a more organized individual. Regardless of whether Excel is used for professional or personal tasks, it’s a go-to for helping people manage data in a tabular structure. The information contained in a spreadsheet can be easily accessed and manipulated, which makes tasks like inventory tracking, information sorting, or financial record-keeping much easier and faster.
No two learners are the same, which means each individual will encounter their own challenges when they set out to learn Excel. The difficulty you’re likely to encounter will depend on variables like your learning style, study method, and goals for studying this application. Excel was designed to be largely accessible to users of all ages and from all backgrounds. Some learners learned Excel decades ago in high school but haven’t worked with it since. Others use this app on a daily basis at their job and have knowledge of its interface and basic features. Individuals who use Excel on a regular basis will likely find the learning process easier and faster than those who are starting from scratch or revisiting this tool after many years.
Generally speaking, most users will find it fairly straightforward to learn how to work with Excel’s interface. Excel students will also find that it’s much easier to learn spreadsheet basics than to master this app’s advanced features and functions such as VBA. No matter the proficiency level you ultimately hope to acquire in Excel, the most effective way for Charlotte residents to learn this tool is through live study.
Those who are just getting started with Excel may encounter difficulties with the sheer number of options available. This tool provides users with over 270 shortcuts and 450 functions. While this may seem intimidating to novices, Excel learners should keep in mind that most individuals will not need to be familiar with most of these. A better approach for students is to structure their Excel training around their individual spreadsheet needs, starting with the basics and then building on this foundation. Similar to other skills, learning Excel requires time, patients, and practice. The more time the learner can devote to learning this app’s functions and shortcuts, the easier it will be to learn how to perform core tasks, and the faster these tasks can be accomplished.
The average amount of time it takes to learn Excel depends on various factors, including the skills the learner brings into the process and their method of learning. Generally speaking, most people can learn basic Excel concepts and skills in 18 to 20 hours. Those interested in learning spreadsheet basics for use with personal tasks such as basic budgeting or keeping track of phone numbers or expenses will likely not need extensive Excel training and can instead learn to navigate this app in just a few hours. However, professionals looking to master this app for a new job or for use on a current work project will require more extensive training. A great way to learn Excel for professional purposes is to enroll in a hands-on program in Charlotte.
The decision of whether to study Excel through in-person coursework in Charlotte or live training is one all learners will need to make. Each study format has its own advantages and drawbacks.
For most learners, learning Excel through in-person training is the most engaging and effective way to study spreadsheets. Students complete courses at a designated training facility in or near Charlotte, that provides them with computers that have the most up-to-date version of Excel available to use. Participants benefit from real-time, live instruction from an expert instructor who has industry experience working with spreadsheets. The supportive learning environment is enhanced by the chance to learn alongside other students, which can provide an additional sense of support while completing classes. One important consideration with in-person training is that it requires attending classes that meet regularly at training facilities. This type of study may, therefore, be difficult for those who live far from a training facility or who lack access to reliable transportation.
Live online Excel training is a popular alternative to in-person study. Students who opt for this type of learning have real-time access to an instructor who’s leading lessons remotely using Zoom or a similar teleconferencing platform. Participants can ask questions in real-time and receive immediate support. They can even grant the instructor permission to share their screen for more individualized guidance. Rather than having to battle rush-hour traffic to attend classes, all lessons can be completed remotely from the student’s own space. Those interested in live online study should remember that this type of learning still requires committing to attend classes that meet at regular intervals, often several times a week. This may pose challenges for those who work full-time or who have busy personal lives.
The most flexible way to learn Excel is through on-demand training. Unlike live classes that take place in real-time, on-demand courses are pre-recorded and placed online. Students access them on their own time and can decide how much time to spend on each topic. Because coursework is asynchronous, each learner has the power to determine their own learning speed and can pause or rewind as often as needed. Often, self-paced training is a more cost-effective approach to learning Excel since it does not take place in real-time. However, students should consider that they won’t have access to an instructor in this type of training. Instead, it’s up to them to find answers to questions on their own, which can pose challenges for some Excel students, especially those hoping to master this spreadsheet’s advanced functions.
Because of how widespread Excel use is around the globe, there are many free online Excel resources available to help students at all levels learn how to work with spreadsheets:
Free online Excel content can be a great place to get started studying spreadsheets because it provides a low-stakes way to learn basics. However, because of the sheer volume of content that’s posted online in Excel, learners should evaluate the material they select to ensure it’s good quality and up-to-date. While free online resources can be a good place to start on a longer Excel learning journey, most individuals will find that they will need a more structured, live approach to learning to fully master this app’s advanced capabilities for professional purposes.
Because of the integral role Excel plays in data analysis, those interested in studying this industry-standard spreadsheet tool may find it useful to learn how to apply their Excel training to the larger process of assisting their organization with data management. Most Excel learners will benefit from knowledge of the basic steps in the data analytics process. This entails studying how to formulate a business question that will drive the data collection process, gathering and storing data, cleaning and preparing this information, and analyzing the data with tools like natural language processing, machine learning, or deep learning. Once the data analysis process is complete, the findings can be shared with other stakeholders in the form of data visualizations in Excel or Tableau.
Excel remains one of the most widely used tools for professionals employed in all industries and trades. In Charlotte, this app has uses in several staple industries, including finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and nonprofits.
Charlotte is one of the major financial hubs in the US. Currently, more than 90,000 residents work in finance-related careers in the city. Charlotte is also home to two of the largest financial institutions in the world, Wells Fargo and Bank of America. Approximately 25,000 people in Charlotte are employed at Wells Fargo alone. Those who work in finance-related careers regularly use Excel to perform a range of tasks. It’s a great tool for financial modeling, budgeting and forecasting, and creating and analyzing balance sheets or cash flow statements. Excel also has applications for calculating essential information like the volatility of a particular stock or simultaneously handling multiple datasets for trend analysis.
Another prominent Charlotte sector is healthcare. The city has more than 111 healthcare organizations and 200 life science companies that employ more than 56,000 individuals. The city’s healthcare sector is projected to grow faster than all other industries in the city over the decade from 2022 to 2032. Within this industry, Excel spreadsheet training has many applications. It is used for analyzing patient data pertaining to the length of hospital stays or the spread of infectious diseases. It is also useful for organizing patient records, managing payment schedules, tracking hospital revenue and losses, or monitoring patients’ BMI.
The third-largest industry in Charlotte is manufacturing. It provides nearly 15% of the jobs for Charlotte residents. The manufacturing sector has many diverse operations, including companies that specialize in chemicals, biomedical, energy, aerospace, and automotive manufacturing. Within the manufacturing industry, Excel knowledge has many applications. It’s useful for tracking production data like output rates, KPIs, downtime, and inventory levels. It also has uses for designing production schedules, predicting customer demand, and conducting capacity planning.
In the greater Charlotte metro area, there are nearly 16,000 registered nonprofits. These organizations contribute a combined $12 billion in yearly revenue and employ over 84,000 residents. Nonprofits work with Microsoft Excel for a range of daily tasks, including data tracking and management, keeping track of donor details, budgeting, and report generation. Excel is a powerful tool for resource allocation, volunteer coordination, financial reporting, and program evaluation.
Excel training is useful in many Charlotte career paths, including project management, accounting, retail, and business. Read on to learn more about the responsibilities of each professional role and the corresponding pay rates.
Project Managers often work with Cost Estimators, who use Excel to offer estimates for projects. Excel training is also valuable in project management because it helps Project Managers create reports, keep track of financial information, monitor operations, and organize vendor data so that projects will be completed on time and on budget. The average salary for a Project Manager in Charlotte is $133,000–$143,000 a year.
Accountants who work in Charlotte rely heavily on Excel training to perform a range of daily tasks. These professionals manage cash flow documents, income statements, and tax returns. When doing so, it’s essential for them to keep numbers organized and ensure financial data is easy to access. Excel’s spreadsheets help them perform repetitive tasks much faster than would be possible manually. This app’s formulas and functions can perform all math directly in a spreadsheet, which ensures convenience and accuracy. In Charlotte, Accountants make about $81,000–$91,000 annually.
Retail Managers rely on spreadsheets to perform core tasks like payroll, scheduling, record-keeping, and inventory tracking. Excel also has applications for organizing employee salary details and work schedules. The average yearly salary for a Charlotte-based Retail Manager is $81,000–$91,000.
Business Analysts who work in Charlotte use Excel for data-management tasks. Because so much data is gathered in the business sector pertaining to website traffic, insurance claims, supply spending, and product sales, Excel is a staple tool in this sector because it can help Business Analysts spot data patterns within this information. Excel is also a useful tool for sharing data findings with internal and external stakeholders. Its collaboration features allow users to share workbooks in real-time so all employees working on a project have the most current data at hand. The average yearly salary for a Charlotte-based Business Analyst is $117,000–$127,000.
If you’re interested in learning Excel and want to find coursework close to home, you can use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool to search for Excel classes in Charlotte.
In Noble Desktop’s Excel Bootcamp, participants spend several days taking their spreadsheet skills from beginner to advanced-level. This hands-on class covers Excel basics, including formatting, functions, calculations, charts, and printing. Once students gain a solid foundation in Excel, they progress into more complex training, including how to work with PivotTables, VLOOKUP, and SUMIFS. The final component of this program teaches learners advanced database functions and how to work with macros.
Noble also offers beginner-friendly training in its Excel Level I: Fundamentals. This short skills class provides learners with an excellent opportunity to learn how to format workbooks and worksheets, create basic graphs, and perform calculations. Those enrolled work with real-world examples in this program, which ensures the spreadsheet skills they learn will be applicable in a professional setting. Both of these Noble classes are available live online and include a free course retake option for up to a year.
In Excel Bootcamp, available from General Assembly, participants learn a range of Excel functions, including how to work with PivotTables, mathematical formulas, formatting, and charts. This class is available in-person in Charlotte and live online.
In NYIM Training’s Intermediate Excel for Business, students build on their foundational Excel knowledge and take their skills even further. This program teaches participants how to work with IF statements, split and join text, use PivotTables, and sort and filter data. As a prerequisite, students should have beginner-level Excel knowledge equivalent to what is covered in Excel Fundamentals, which includes how to format worksheets, print them, and create basic charts and tables. This program is taught live online and includes a free class retake option.
Certstaffix Training’s Excel—Dashboards course is a great learning opportunity for those seeking hands-on, intermediate-level Excel training. Coursework includes instruction on how to make advanced worksheets and workbooks and use them to create dashboards. Students learn how to create data visualizations, analyze data with formulas and functions, and share their insights visually using Excel’s dashboards. Instruction is available live online; participants can complete coursework remotely or use the computer lab that’s available in Charlotte.
Would those at your workplace in Charlotte benefit from learning how to work with Microsoft Excel? If so, let Noble Desktop help. Noble offers corporate and onsite Excel training for learners at all levels, including those who are just getting started with spreadsheets and want to study the basics. Noble can come directly to your workplace in Charlotte or conduct training sessions virtually using a teleconferencing platform. You can purchase bulk vouchers for Noble’s regular enrollment courses at a discount or customize coursework to fit your employees’ specific needs.
To find out more about the exciting corporate training options available in Excel or to schedule a free consultation to learn how to tailor employee training, don’t hesitate to contact Noble today to learn more.
Corey Ginsberg is a professional writer with two decades of experience writing and editing technical and creative content on Microsoft Excel, animation, data analytics, and the educational resources in place to assist with learning.