On the Importance of Excel in the Workplace
As Formby et al. (2017) show in the introduction of the article "Microsoft Excel: Is It An Important Job Skill for College Graduates?" there is clearly an expectation of being able to apply Excel skills in the workplace. Excel, it is safe to say, is now a widely used tool that employees need to know how to use for managing data, creating presentations, putting charts together, performing statistical analyses, and all sorts of other reasons. The demand for employees proficient in Excel has already grownthat is how ubiquitous the tool now is, especially in middle-skilled jobs, where at least basic Excel knowledge is needed (Colclasure, 2020). Additionally, possessing advanced Excel skills can significantly enhance marketability and increase compensation for college graduates entering the workforce?.
Therefore, to be competitive, I need to strengthen my Excel proficiency, starting with mastering the basics of the tool. I want to learn more about data entry, what these formulas mean and what they are used for, and what all the various functions of Excel can help me with in the workplace. After this, my goal is to get into more advanced features, like the data analysis tools, which are will likely be useful as well. I will also try to focus on real-world applications of Excel, so that I fully understand how to use it for business practices and things like forecasting or monitoring performance metrics.
I want to be practicing Excel and applying it to internship or work projects as time goes on. This way, I can build these skills and make myself more competitive in the job market. My plan is to complete a couple online Excel courses, and then look for opportunities for hands-on experience, and in my own house try to use Excel in daily tasks like budgeting to reinforce my learning. The more real-world practice I can get, the more confident I can become in using Excel at work.
References
Colclasure, B. (2020). Entry-Level Workplace Competencies Needed by Graduates of a
Community College Agriculture Program: A Midwest Case Study Using the Delphi Technique.Journal of Research in Technical Careers,4(2), 3.
Formby, S. K., Medlin, B. D., & Ellington, V. (2017). Microsoft Excel: Is It an Important Job
Skill for College Graduates? Information Systems Education Journal, 15(3), 1-55.
