Microsoft Office Classes Phoenix

Boost your Microsoft Office expertise through hands-on exercises that help you work faster and communicate more effectively across platforms.

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Learn More About Microsoft Office Classes in Phoenix

Microsoft Office was originally released by Microsoft in 1988. The initial version of Office was designed for office productivity tasks and provided users with three applications they could install on their computing device: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. By 2022, Microsoft Office had transformed into a suite of office-related productivity apps and cloud services and was rebranded as Microsoft 365. This subscription-based service provides users with a range of popular, industry-standard applications that are widely used in business across sectors.

There are currently more than 1.2 billion people around the globe who use Microsoft 365 for personal and professional tasks like word processing, budgeting, bookkeeping, emailing, scheduling, and presenting information. Microsoft 365 subscriptions provide users with access to more than 20 applications. Some of the most popular applications in Microsoft 365 are Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, Outlook, and Access. An Office 365 subscription also includes cloud storage options, but web hosting is not typically included. Because Office 365 is cloud-based, users can access any document they wish wherever there’s an internet connection.

What Can You Do with Microsoft Office Training?

Proficiency in Microsoft 365 is a versatile skill set that can open doors in nearly all industries and trades. Those with knowledge of this suite’s core apps can apply their training to many professional tasks. PowerPoint is a popular application for creating and sharing customized, interactive presentations with coworkers. Word is widely used for word processing-related tasks, including writing, formatting, and editing professional documents for print or publication. Excel assists with data-related tasks such as organizing, storing, analyzing, and visualizing essential information for businesses of all sizes. Outlook is a popular application for storing contact information, calendaring, and emailing.

In addition to myriad professional uses, Microsoft 365 is also widely used by non-professionals to complete a range of everyday tasks. Excel can assist with budgeting and bill payment. Word is popular among anyone who wishes to draft or revise written content such as journals, poems, or holiday greeting cards. Teams provides a way for users to connect visually in real-time with one another across town or even across the world to celebrate special events like birthdays or book launches. Outlook’s emailing features ensure users can store and update their contact lists and correspond with friends. Microsoft 365 continues to be a hugely popular product that is easy for new users to learn and greatly simplifies complex business tasks and processes.

What You’ll Learn in a Microsoft Office Class

If you’re interested in learning Microsoft 365 or taking your existing Office skills to the next level, enrolling in a course in Phoenix is a great learning opportunity. While the content of each of these programs varies depending on the educational provider, the course’s scope (whether the content focuses on one app or several applications), and the difficulty level, you can expect to acquire training in several key applications during your studies, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Word

Microsoft Word is the industry-standard application for word processing. This widely taught tool has features and functions that assist with many professional, personal, and academic tasks. Coursework that teaches Word provides learners with instruction on skills like how to work with headers and footers, apply pre-designed templates to documents, and cut, copy, or paste text between documents or from within one document. Training in Word also prepares participants to work with spell check, format multi-page documents, use time-saving keyboard shortcuts, and print work.

Excel

Those in Phoenix who enroll in Microsoft 365 training may also learn to work with Excel, the industry-standard spreadsheet application. Excel was originally created to help users format, store, organize, and retrieve data from a spreadsheet. It also has features and functions that assist with performing basic and advanced calculations. Excel training teaches students a range of practical tasks, such as how to navigate the cells, rows, and columns in worksheets and workbooks, how to format data, and how to perform basic calculations and data manipulations on the information contained in the spreadsheet. Students will likely become familiar with this app’s basic data visualization capabilities as well, including how to transform their data into visual depictions like bar charts, graphs, or histograms.

PowerPoint

Another skill you’re likely to encounter during Microsoft 365 coursework is training in PowerPoint. This slideshow app was created to help users design informative, interactive presentations of all lengths. When working with PowerPoint, users can work with this application’s built-in templates or design their own presentations from scratch. They can also add art, video, cinematic motion, images, animations, transitions, or text as necessary to ensure the presentation they’re creating is entertaining and memorable. The presentations created with PowerPoint can be saved for use later or shared with others.

How Hard Is It to Learn Microsoft Office?

Once you’ve decided to study Microsoft 365, you may be curious how difficult it will be to learn to work with this suite of productivity applications. Like any skill, the difficulty level associated with learning Microsoft 365 is relative to the student, their learning style, and the level of expertise they hope to acquire with each application. Most learners consider it fairly easy and straightforward to learn how to perform basic Microsoft 365 tasks such as completing rudimentary word processing tasks in Word, like creating and saving documents, using fundamental Excel formulas like SUM and COUNT, emailing with Outlook, and connecting remotely with coworkers using Teams. However, given that there are so many applications to learn in the Microsoft 365 suite, some individuals may find it challenging to learn the ins and outs of each application. For example, some users may find it challenging to learn how to work with less-popular applications like Planner, Project, Forms, or Lists, simply because most coursework doesn’t include training in these applications.

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Microsoft Office?

Because Microsoft 365 comprises many applications, one of the most challenging components of acquiring full proficiency with this suite is the sheer number of advanced functions that are included in each application. While most Office users consider it fairly straightforward to learn the basics of apps like Word, Teams, or PowerPoint, mastering their advanced capabilities takes time and practice. For example, those interested in learning how to use Excel for advanced statistical analysis or incorporating animations into customized PowerPoint presentations will have to not only know the basics of each app but also be able to unlock these advanced features and apply them to the project at hand.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Microsoft Office?

The length of time it takes to learn Microsoft 365 depends on a host of factors, in particular, how many applications you wish to become proficient with and what you ultimately hope to do with each. On average, it takes most individuals between several hours to several weeks to become proficient with a specific Microsoft 365 application. However, this speed varies significantly depending on the application being studied and the learner’s approach to acquiring this knowledge. Learning the basics of Microsoft Word, including how to write, edit, save, and print documents, is generally considered a straightforward process and can be learned in just a few hours. Working with PowerPoint’s core features and creating basic presentations with its built-in templates can also be learned in several hours. Excel is often considered to be one of the most complicated Microsoft 365 programs to master. While most users can learn basic spreadsheet features and functions with just a few hours of practice, it will take time to learn how to work with its more advanced functions, including PivotTables and VLOOKUP.

Should I Learn Microsoft Office In Person or Online?

If you’re deciding whether to learn Microsoft 365 in-person or online, each training option has its unique advantages and drawbacks. In-person study provides learners with an interactive and engaging way to learn one or more applications. Courses are taught by a live instructor, and students learn alongside others in the small class environment. These classes do require that participants have access to transportation to and from class and that they live near a designated training facility. The most current version of Microsoft 365 is installed on the training center’s computers, which provides students with convenient access to the learning materials they need.

Two types of online training are also available for Microsoft 365 students: live online and on-demand. Like in-person study, live online classes are taught in real-time by a live instructor. Participants connect on a teleconferencing platform like Zoom and receive in-the-moment support and guidance at all stages of their learning process. Since these classes occur at regularly scheduled intervals, such as bi-weekly, those interested in live online study must be able to commit to attending classes in real-time, which can be challenging for learners who have full schedules. This is why some students opt for asynchronous Microsoft 365 coursework. This type of training is pre-recorded, and students can access videos, tutorials, and online lessons at any time and from any location. The learner dictates their learning pace and can opt to pause or rewind lessons as needed. On-demand content is the most cost-effective and flexible way to learn Microsoft 365. It’s important to remember that no instructor is present for these classes. This means students will have to find answers on their own to any questions they have along the way.

What Should I Learn Alongside Microsoft Office?

If you’re interested in learning to work with Microsoft 365, you may wonder if there are any accompanying skills you can acquire to complement your studies. Some individuals may want to become familiar with other productivity tools to help them become more well-rounded employees. LibreOffice is an open-source software that includes tools for word processing, presentations, and spreadsheet-related tasks. Another comparable product to Microsoft 365 that professionals may wish to explore is FreeOffice, a suite that was created for use at home or in the workplace. This full-featured suite is compatible with Microsoft Office and can be used on Macs, Windows, or Linux systems for tasks like creating presentations, organizing information in spreadsheets, and word processing.

Phoenix Industries That Use Microsoft Office

Since Microsoft 365 is used across industries in Phoenix, it plays an integral role in nearly all business-related tasks or office positions, including human resources and finance.

Human Resources

Those who work in human resources in Phoenix at companies like Banner Health, PetSmart, and Sprouts Farmers Market use core Microsoft 365 applications like Teams and Excel on a daily basis. These apps improve overall workplace efficiency for HR teams and facilitate collaborative projects. HR professionals also use Excel spreadsheets for tasks like keeping track of employees’ vacation time, payroll information, or attendance. Teams is a popular HR tool for video conferencing, virtual meetings, and real-time conversations.

Finance

In the finance sector in Phoenix, professionals at firms such as Western Alliance Bancorporation, Republic Services, ON Semiconductor, and CBIZ (which provides financial and consulting services, including fraud examination) rely on Microsoft Office applications for a variety of essential tasks. Teams helps finance professionals coordinate meetings, send chat messages, and place voice calls. Excel assists with overall financial and banking efficiency. Finance professionals also work with SharePoint to track or store financial documents like contracts or invoices, as well as access the data stored securely in the cloud.

Microsoft Office Job Titles and Salaries in Phoenix

Microsoft 365 training is an in-demand skill set in nearly all professions in Phoenix. Those with a background using core apps like Word, Teams, PowerPoint, and Excel can put their skills to use in professions like financial analytics or bookkeeping.

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts who work in Phoenix use Excel regularly to organize and store financial data, visualize financial trends, and create models. The average salary for a Phoenix-based Financial Analyst is approximately $74,000-$76,000, which is slightly under the national average pay rate.

Bookkeeper

Bookkeepers in Phoenix use their background with Microsoft Excel on a regular basis to perform a range of business-related tasks, including recording and monitoring their organization’s financial transactions, maintaining their company’s books, creating financial statements, and assisting with payroll. Bookkeepers who are employed in Phoenix make around $43,000-$45,000 a year.

Microsoft Office Classes in Phoenix

If you’re interested in learning how to use one or more Microsoft 365 applications, you can search for Microsoft Office classes in Phoenix to find the training option most suited to your needs. You can enroll in Noble Desktop’s Excel Bootcamp if you’re looking to acquire a range of useful spreadsheet skills. This hands-on program covers core Excel skills like working with calculations, formatting, charts, functions, printing, and PivotTables. By the end of this program, you’ll know how to create basic macros and sort and filter databases.

Noble also offers a Complete Microsoft Office Bootcamp, which is a great option if you’re looking to learn other popular Microsoft 365 applications beyond Excel. This intensive program combines three levels of Excel training with two levels of training in Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint. Noble Desktop classes are taught in-person in New York City and are also available live online. Tuition includes a free course retake for up to a year.

Microsoft Office Corporate Training in Phoenix

If the employees at your workplace would benefit from learning one or multiple Microsoft 365 applications, Noble Desktop can help. Noble offers corporate and onsite Microsoft Office training in several core Microsoft 365 applications. Noble can come directly to your office in Phoenix for training, or your employees can complete classes remotely using a live online conferencing platform. If you’d like to train multiple people at your workplace to use these popular applications, discounted bulk vouchers are available for Noble’s regular classes. You can also work with Noble to customize content to ensure your employees get the most out of their studies and can complete their training around other commitments, such as full-time employment. If you’re interested in learning more about Noble’s exciting corporate training options, please contact Noble Desktop.

Learn From Noble Desktop’s Experienced Microsoft Office Instructors in Phoenix

Phoenix professionals have a lot of opportunities when it comes to expanding their knowledge in fields like tech, design, business, and data. Anchored by major businesses in downtown Phoenix and the surrounding areas, such as Tempe, Mesa, and Scottsdale, the city benefits greatly from a diverse economy that spans industries ranging from local government and education to tech and finance, all while maintaining strong connections to the global market. One skill that's used throughout virtually every industry is Microsoft Office. This collection of tools can handle everything from document and presentation creation to data analytics and communication. Through Noble Desktop’s network of professional instructors, students in Phoenix can access high-quality training that helps them meet the industry standard. With decades of combined experience, these instructors go beyond the basics and blend practical guidance with real-world insights. This helps students not only acquire technical skills but also the confidence to make it in their professional careers.

Deanne Larson

Dr. Deanne Larson is a data science and analytics expert with 20 years of experience and counting. She has worked as an advisor for Fortune 500 companies and FinTech organizations through her firm, Larson & Associates LLC. Throughout her career, she has been drawn to work with AI-driven strategies and initiatives, machine learning implementation, and customer data platforms. Additionally, Dr. Deanne has worked on fraud detection models and managed global personalization platforms that have served hundreds of millions of customers. She is also a knowledgeable instructor, having worked for City University of Seattle, where she mentored doctoral students and developed curricula in data and business analytics. Dr. Deanne currently teaches courses in subjects ranging from data and project management to AI and Python.

Geno Sexton

After 34 years of federal service, Geno Sexton retired in 2012 and now works as a Phoenix-based project management instructor. Throughout these decades, Geno worked for eight years in the Senior Executive Service, culminating as Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer and HR Director at the U.S. Department of Labor, where he led 120 HR professionals serving 18,000 employees. He was named Deputy CHCO of the Year in 2011 and served as the first HR Officer at the new DHS Headquarters. In his distinguished career, Geno has made a real impact and currently teaches project management courses. He is a Vietnam-era Army veteran, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communications and a Master’s degree in Government from New Mexico State University, and is a proud bilingual and ESL-certified instructor.

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