Your Office Career: Becoming a Spreadsheet Expert

Don't you just love spreadsheets? No so much? Whether you love it or hate it, it is crucial to excelling as an office support specialist. It really used to be part of an advanced skill set, meaning that there were plenty of gainfully employed office professionals who had no idea what a spreadsheet was. Gradually, its usefulness crept into most offices. Surprisingly, office professionals were still not required to know how to use the software. Now, it is a desired skill according to most employers' job advertisements in every industry.

Organizing text information is its most popular use. Enhancing your spreadsheet skills will allow you to do simple things like add color to differentiate cells and more advance skills like calculating and turning information into visual graphs.

The obvious use for spreadsheets is accounting functions and you are not an accountant. True. However, how could it not advance your career by learning this skill more intimately? It can't hurt. In fact, it could boost your earnings and make you stand from the crowd. So here's a few ways to get more comfortable and creative with spreadsheet software:

The Help Menu

It is literally in your face. Every topic and function has been listed there to help you get more out of your software. If you have a specific issue you can type it into the search section and it will bring up that topic and those that are closely related. If you have no specific search inquiries, then you are free to roam. If a term is foreign, then open the topic and take notes.

The Website

Most software programs have website tutorials to teach users how to get more bang out of their software. It really is a great place to get step-by-step instructions on how to carry out specific spreadsheet tasks. Along with individual topics, there are quick courses as well.

Adult Education Courses on Campus

Community colleges and private technology and business schools offer spreadsheet courses. They are usually very affordable and have a very short schedule. In these courses you will get an in depth look at every function and topic in every tool bar. The benefit of taking the course is that you have an instructor to physically assist you with any question you may have. Also, most of the time, this course can be taken in the evening and on weekends.

On-line Education

There are plenty of on-line institutions that offer courses on improving and growing your spreadsheet skills. These courses are very affordable and allow you to create a schedule of your own. Some learning providers also have 24x7 academic support.

Conferences & Events

If time is of the essence and you would like to learn more about spreadsheet programs at a quicker pace, then sign up for a short seminar, conference or workshop. These seminars can be a one-day event or last for several days. The cost of these seminars and conferences are usually very affordable and the price gets better when purchasing for groups. Companies usually find that this is a great investment in their staff. Once you find out prices, dates and locations, see if you can expense the event.