How to Learn Microsoft Outlook

If you are interested in getting a better grip on using Microsoft Outlook, this article provides advice about courses and methods for learning more about email and app management software. There is also an emphasis on the types of jobs that can benefit from applying Outlook to integrate Office applications for word processing, presentations, or organizing spreadsheets.

Those interested will be able to find strategies for learning Microsoft Outlook that could help them make informed decisions related to their future.

What is Microsoft Outlook?

Microsoft Outlookis among the most used email servers on the planet. However, Outlook provides more than email access. Outlook facilitates email communication, setting up contact lists for your organization, and using the calendar to organize business meetings and other events. It also serves as a web app manager that allows coordinating and integrating Microsoft Office applications like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel for the workplace or personal use. Also, Microsoft Outlook does not share data collected for integrating Office applications within Microsoft 365.

Microsoft Outlook began as Hotmail in 1996 without any connection to Microsoft before the company purchased the email site and renamed it MSN Hotmail and eventually Windows Live Hotmail. The product became Outlook.com in 2012. As stated, Microsoft provides Outlook as the center for managing its software applications for mainly work settings and personal use. Outlook allows users to conveniently access the software needed for establishing an efficient working environment, allowing an organization to communicate through email or share content using the Web or the cloud through Microsoft 365. This includes sharing content from the Office software bundle that offers a variety of functions for word processing, building databases, organizing spreadsheets, or designing promotional material.

Read more about what Microsoft Outlook isand why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Microsoft Outlook?

Microsoft Outlook is mainly considered an email facilitator but also functions as an application manager for Office software programs provided through Microsoft 365. Outlook allows users to control emails using filters and folders, locate names in the address book, or schedule emails to respond automatically when the user is unavailable. Outlook also provides a calendar for organizing meetings, events, or project deadlines.

With being able to interface with other Microsoft Office applications, Outlook functions for tasks as wide-ranging as accounting, data entry, word processing, or presentations through access to software like Excel, Access, Word, or PowerPoint. Outlook provides an efficient tool for any workplace, academic institution, or home.

In addition to many using Outlook for their personal email, business corporations, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations use Microsoft Outlook for getting projects done in addition to email communication and organizing schedules. Outlook provides an assortment of features and functions for getting work done efficiently:

• Outlook offers a variety of options for sending, receiving, and forwarding emails, as well as navigating the inbox and folders.
• Outlook interacts with other Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Microsoft Outlook users can collaborate with coworkers by exchanging Microsoft Office content easily.
• Companies and organizations can share Outlook calendars among staff members to optimize collaboration in the workplace.
• Users can sync personal data using Microsoft Outlook on computers, smartphones, or tablets.
• Outlook allows entering information into the calendar that syncs with a variety of devices.
• Personal data can be integrated into Outlook, including virtual sticky notes, calendars, address books, and to-do lists.
• Microsoft Outlook can integrate with other online services and apps, including Uber, Google Play, Facebook, Yelp, Skype, Boomerang, and Evernote.
• Microsoft Outlook has font options for professional-looking formatting and various color themes.
• Users can set the Microsoft Outlook calendar for daily, weekly, or monthly schedules to keep track of important appointments and meetings.
• Users can send out meeting requests to people listed in their contact list through the calendar feature.
• Outlook also provides security features, including data encryption for a user's mailbox after sending an email.
• Premium Microsoft Outlook automatically deactivates unsafe links containing viruses, malware, or phishing scams and can recover important files from Microsoft OneDrive.
• Users can run Skype directly through Microsoft Outlook for online chatting in real-time.

In-Person Microsoft Outlook Training

While live online courses are available to improve skills with Microsoft Outlook, some people feel more comfortable learning in a classroom with a teacher standing right in front of them. Learning in-person allows students to interact directly with their instructors and classmates. While there can undoubtedly be interaction with a teacher in a live online setting, there is something richer about sharing personal space, being able to read body language, or simply experiencing the nuance of physical interaction that comes from occupying the same area. The most significant difficulty in taking a course inside a classroom is getting there. Obstacles like traffic, weather, or unforeseen events can make getting to the location difficult.

Improving skills in using Microsoft Outlook helps with integrating Office applications to create efficiency in the workplace. Because many people use Outlook as their email server, they may take the software for granted due to their familiarity with day-to-day use. Noble Desktop offers a variety of Microsoft Outlook courses that can fit your purpose, whether it’s workplace duties or personal projects. These courses provide expert instruction in real-time for students eager to improve on skills with Outlook for organizing calendars or to-do lists, interfacing with Office applications like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, or managing contact lists along with other advanced functions.

Live Online Microsoft Outlook Training

Noble Desktop offers live online courses that provide the same level of education you would get from sitting inside a classroom without having to leave the comforts of home. Students can learn Microsoft Outlook to work with applications like Excel, Word, and PowerPoint without worrying about fighting heavy traffic or needing to hunt for a parking space. Gaining skills with Microsoft Outlook can help more effectively use the email servers and app manager for efficiently operating Outlook features such as the calendar and contact list, along with better coordinating Office applications provided through Microsoft 365.

Improving skills in using Microsoft Outlook helps with integrating Office applications to facilitate efficiency in the workplace. Because many people use Outlook for their email service, they may take the platform for granted due to their familiarity with day-to-day use. Noble Desktop offers a variety of live online Microsoft Outlook classes to help with enhancing skills using the platform for handling workplace or at-home duties. These courses provide expert instruction in real-time for students eager to improve on skills with Outlook. This can include organizing calendars or to-do lists, interfacing with Office applications like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, or managing contact lists. Additionally, advanced functions learned from virtual training provide the same level of education you would get from sitting inside a classroom without leaving the comforts of home. 

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

If you don't feel ready to take on a fully loaded Microsoft Outlook training course, online education providers offer free or low-cost classes for learning skills with email software. For example, Udemy offers the relatively inexpensive Get Started with Microsoft Outlook that provides step-by-step instructions for people with little to no experience with Microsoft Outlook with training on how to use the application's essential email functions or how to integrate Office applications.

You can also find YouTube channels or other video outlets to pick up lessons on fundamentals for using Microsoft Outlook.

Read about more free Microsoft Outlook videos and online tutorials.

On-Demand Microsoft Outlook Classes

Several options are available if you're interested in Microsoft Outlook training on-demand. These courses cover how to use Outlook more efficiently for email communication, setting up meetings and appointments, or coordinating the variety of Office applications available through Microsoft 365. Individuals have choices from free basic online tutorials to advanced online courses offered by several education providers.

Several ways to improve skills with Microsoft Outlook include options for on-demand learning. These options include on-demand training for beginners or advanced students with courses available from a variety of education providers. Unlike live online courses, on-demand classes allow students to learn at their own pace on their own time, avoiding the stress of conflict with work or other commitments. For example, Udemy's Get Started with Microsoft Outlook provides step-by-step instructions for people with little to no experience with the email platform and app manager, including lessons on integrating Office applications.

While Noble Desktop does not offer free Outlook tutorials, there are free seminars to improve skills for email communications. These tutorials can fit their chosen time, including the free Intro to Email Marketing or the free Designing Responsive Email.

Which Learning Method is Right for Me?

Although Microsoft Outlook integrates Office applications available through Microsoft 365, people may not be sure about how to use the email and app management software to best suit their needs. Different people have different ways of absorbing new information, so each person must determine which method best suits them by considering aptitude or preferences. Some people might prefer a hands-on approach with training on multiple platforms and tools for figuring out which approach feels right. For instance, whereas one person might feel comfortable learning inside a classroom, others might be more comfortable with virtual learning. A mixed learning approach could also benefit some people, depending on the subject and circumstances with availability.

Establishing an individual’s level of flexibility is vital in figuring out the best way for that person to learn new skills. Because Microsoft Outlook provides access to other tools, it is vital to consider the best approach when integrating other Office applications available through Microsoft 365 to best suit that individual’s goals. Determining a person’s schedule plays a crucial role in finding that individual’s approach to learning, especially when considering work or family obligations that take priority. For many people, on-demand classes or online video tutorials allow them to set their own pace with learning new skills. A flexible schedule allows potential students to decide on whether to take an in-person or live online course for training with Microsoft Outlook.

Why Learn Microsoft Outlook?

Microsoft Outlook is a staple in workplaces worldwide and functions for personal communication. Outlook integrates with other Microsoft Office applications like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel to perform tasks for word processing, presentations, data analysis, and basic email communication. Anyone working anywhere from a corporate office to an academic institution to a freelance agent working at home uses Microsoft Office to communicate in the workplace and organize workplace functions. Outlook provides a gateway for access to various Microsoft Office applications for composing, editing, saving, and uploading content to maintain an efficient working environment.

Learning more about Microsoft Outlook can help optimize your email inbox for home or work or integrate new contacts from an email you’ve received into your contact list. You can pick up tips more efficiently using Outlook to get projects done. Many use the calendar to set up events or to access an Outlook account from multiple devices, including a smartphone. Training may also help with using the Outlook calendar to help with organizing meetings or managing deadlines. These lessons can add up to more seamlessly integrating Outlook with other Microsoft Office apps, using those calendar features, or connecting with other features and applications, including using the cloud through Microsoft 365 or posting on social media platforms. 

Read more about why you should learn Microsoft Outlook.

Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost 

Deciding to learn more about Microsoft Outlook will depend on an individual's ambitions or goals. Many people may not have considered improving their skills with Microsoft Outlook because they may not realize the potential of having firmer knowledge of this email and app management software. While it's clear that there will be a certain degree of difficulty with learning almost anything new, the fact that people use Outlook with other applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint should make them more comfortable about learning new functions.

Because many people may be complacent about using Microsoft Outlook, learning how to better integrate Office applications with Outlook can provide users with a better understanding of using related Microsoft software. This includes basic tasks like composing documents, analyzing data, or creating professional-looking presentations. Users may also benefit from becoming familiar with Outlook because it serves as the gateway for Microsoft 365, which provides a selection of Office applications for work or personal projects.

Read more about how difficult it is to learn Microsoft Outlook.

Learn Microsoft Outlook with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

If you’re looking to improve on knowledge of using Microsoft Outlook, Noble Desktop has courses that provide training for a better understanding of the software application. This includes in-person classes available in New York City, along with live online courses offered at times that may fit your schedule at varying costs.

Noble Desktop offers in-person and live online Microsoft Office courses that provide hands-on training from expert instructors. These courses provide training that includes lessons for Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Project, and Outlook, which serves as the hub for access to this bundle of integrated Microsoft Office applications. These classes can be taken inside a classroom or live online. 

Students can enroll in Microsoft Outlook Level I for lessons on the fundamentals of the application. This one-day course focuses on teaching participants about using Outlook efficiently with lessons on setting up email folders, automating email, managing calendars and to-do lists, or organizing schedules and contact lists that can all contribute to improving workflow.

People may elect to take the Microsoft Outlook Level II class. This follow-up course builds on the training established in the Level I course. Level II emphasizes lessons for configuring email accounts, performing advanced searches, filtering spam, learning about working with advanced calendars, and handling contact lists.

Key Insights

• There are several jobs that can benefit from applying Microsoft Outlook to integrate Office applications available through Microsoft 365.
• While Microsoft Outlook is among the most used tools for email communication on the planet, Outlook also serves as a web app manager that integrates Office applications like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• While live online courses are available for improving skills with Microsoft Outlook, some people feel more comfortable learning inside a classroom with a teacher standing right there in front of them.
• However, Noble Desktop offers live online courses that provide the same level of education you would get from sitting inside a classroom without having to leave the comforts of home.
• There are several online education providers that offer free or low-cost courses for learning or optimizing skills with email software and app manager.
• There are also options for improving skills by using Outlook more efficiently for email communication, setting up meetings and appointments, or coordinating the various Office applications available through Microsoft 365.
• Different people have different ways of absorbing new information, so each person must consider which method they prefer for learning that best fits their aptitude and preference.
• Microsoft Outlook not only serves as a staple in workplaces throughout the world but can also be used for personal communication.
• Many people may not have considered improving their skills with Microsoft Outlook because they might not realize the potential available with gaining knowledge for the email and app management software.