Excel is one of the best applications available for creating spreadsheets, and dashboard reports as well as storing and administering data. There are so many things to discover while using Excel asides the basic functions. Whether you have no knowledge of Excel or you already have some experience with the application, Microsoft Excel is a multipurpose tool worth mastering. Microsoft Excel is one of the most demanded skills for employment across many industries.

Becoming an expert in Microsoft Excel is not a difficult task as long as you have the right training

There is a wide range of Excel skills from basic to advanced.

1. Learn the shortcuts

To save time, you need to learn the shortcuts on the keyboard. Avoid using a mouse or touchpad as some functions on the keyboard may not be available. There are so many functions on the keyboard used for shortcuts, such as, Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V to copy and paste, Ctrl+Z to undo the last action, Ctrl+PgUp to switch between worksheets, tabs, and lots more. Learning shortcuts is one of the most helpful features in Excel. These shortcuts not only save time but is also helpful for quickly executing calculations or creating tables. 

2. Import Data from a Website 

Learning how to import data from a website into your spreadsheet will greatly speed up your workflow. If you come across loads of data on a particular website, you can import it into your worksheet by clicking File > Import External Data and clicking New Web Query. After clicking this, a new window will show up displaying your browser homepage with the URL of the page highlighted. Select the webpage you want to display then copy and paste the link into the Address box. Click OK. These are the steps to importing data from a website. 

3. Practice with Real-World Examples.

To become an expert in Excel, you need to make use of real-world examples. Import data from the real world and carry out all kinds of analysis on it. This “real-world data” could be a monthly bill-paying spreadsheet for your personal use. While practising, you can learn data cleaning, data organizing and data analyzing.  

4. Enrol for a free or paid Excel course

Courses are ways of putting you through what you want to learn. To become proficient in Excel you can get started by learning Excel-related courses online. You can choose the schedule that works best for you and stay committed to it.

The amount of time you spend studying Excel and using the Excel application will determine how soon you can be an expert in Excel.

5. Make Enquiries 

The fact that you have enrolled for a course should not stop you from seeking help. There is a high possibility that someone you know is knowledgeable in the use of Excel. You don’t need to learn alone. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a friend, instructor, Colleague at work, or family member for guidance.

The more time you spend working with Excel, the more spreadsheet skills and tricks you will acquire. Take your time to know the ins and outs, and soon you will be able to create advanced spreadsheets, and also be able to perform simple and complex business data analysis.