Excel dominates the commercial world.
Becoming a fast Excel user is one of the most valuable skills you can learn.
A recent survey by Acuity Training course that 48% of office workers have never had any Excel training despite spending 38% of their time using Excel.
Let’s look at some ways you can improve your Excel in 2023.
1. Coursera
Coursera is one of the leading online learning platforms. It collaborates with tech giants and institutions to produce practical useful courses.
It provides in-depth education resources for an ever-growing range of technical skills and as you can imagine offers a wide range of options for learning Excel.
To make learning more affordable, Coursera provides funding for some courses if you meet their criteria.
Pros
- Several leading tech companies provide certifications on the platform so that you learn what you need to know in the real world.
- Financial assistance program helps deserving students to upskill themselves.
- A thoroughly designed structure helps students remain motivated while being enrolled in the course.
Cons
- It does not offer access to the full course materials once you have completed the certification. You can’t go back and refresh your skills in the future.
- Coursera is a monthly subscription-based platform. If you study hard, it is very good value, but if you are not self-motivated it could become just another expensive subscription.
2. Udemy
Udemy was founded in 2010. It is a massive open online course provider offering over 175,000 courses. It also offers certification for many popular skills.
It offers lots of great Excel courses as well as courses for nearly every skill you can imagine.
Pros
- Good pricing. It offers many options for courses ranging from $13 to $300.
- One-time payment for courses means that Udemy lets you learn at your own pace and come back to the material in the future.
- Regardless of your current Excel skill, Udemy has a course for every stage and level. It currently has over 2,000 Excel courses on offer.
Cons
- You will be responsible for completing the course. No one checks in on your progress.
- There is no assistance offered if you get stuck. Since the course is pre-recorded lectures, it does not offer real-time interaction with an instructor. When you have questions, getting support from the instructor can be slow and time-consuming.
3. YouTube
Youtube is the most visited site after Google.
It has a huge number of channels dedicated to learning Excel. Many are run by Microsoft-certified trainers and Microsoft Excel MVPs.
Pros
- YouTube is free so you can watch as many lectures as you like, whenever you like.
Cons
- YouTube does not offer you a certificate if you learn any skill from this platform.
- You will need to figure out which channel on YouTube suits you best.
- YouTube channels do not offer interaction if you get stuck.
4. Books and Blogs
There are thousands of books and blogs available speaking about every possible piece of Excel from complete beginners to advanced industry-specific applications.
For example, Excel Exposure covers Excel in general while WallStreetOasis focuses on its uses for finance professionals.
The key is to find the right blog or book for what you want to learn.
Pros
- There is a blog or book for every application so you will find exactly the right advice if you look hard enough.
- Many sites provide files so that you can follow along with their blog articles.
Cons
- Books and blogs offer no support. If you get stuck you will find a way to figure it out.
- With numerous sites & books available, finding the exact material takes longer than usual.
5. Classroom-Based Learning
No matter how much online learning has progressed in the past 2 years, classroom-based learning remains one of the leading ways to learn technical skills like Excel.
Because there are instructors on-site to help with problems it is the fastest way to learn a new skill and so favored by many organizations despite its additional cost.
Pros
- Complete guidance & support of the instructor throughout the course completion.
- Instant discussion with colleagues or instructor to clarify any confusion.
- The onsite lecture makes you attentive and more interactive.
Cons
- Compliance with classroom and coursework deadlines becomes essential after enrolling yourself in the program.
- The cost is on the higher side than the online mediums stated above.
Final Thoughts
However, if you choose to learn Excel you will find it a worthwhile investment of time and energy.
Hopefully, this article has given you some ideas for how to learn Excel so get to it!
