Top Excel Skills: A Comprehensive Overview

Microsoft Excel is not merely a professional skill; it goes beyond this traditional boundary. Today, 81% of businesses globally use Excel Skills to boost their data analysis, financial reporting, and management tasks. Some of the key Excel Skills to highlight in this blog include sorting data using advanced tools like VBA Macros and Power Pivots.  

Let's continue sailing into this enthralling journey through the vast, knowledge-driven ocean. It will be an exciting quest, so we recommend you read to the end while grabbing a cup of coffee in one hand and unplugging from the hustle of the digital world.  

Table of Contents

1) Why Excel Skills are important in the Job Market?

2) What Are the Top Excel Skills for Professionals?

   a) Data Filters

   b) Data Sorting

   c) COUNTIF/COUNTIFS

  d)  Shortcut Keys

  e) Flash Fill

3) Conclusion

Why Excel skills are Important in the Job Market?

If someone is applying for a data-related job, then it is important to have skills and experience related to Excel. Excel is used in a variety of jobs and helps a person to complete his daily tasks.

It is one of the best spreadsheet software in the market and can perform a variety of tasks at once. Office clerks and Administrative Assistants depend on this software, as it is one of the most crucial tools in their toolbox.

Excel is often used in education for administrative purposes, such as tracking student performance, organising schedules, and analysing data. Not just this, Excel has a wide scope and it is also used by Financial Analysts, Investment Bankers, and other Businesses.

What Are the Top Excel Skills for Professionals?

Developing a solid foundation in Excel is vital for efficiently managing data and optimising workflows. These skills play a key role in tackling day-to-day professional tasks, from organising datasets to using advanced tools. Here are the top Excel Skills every professional should know:

1) Data Filters  

Most Excel users consider data filters an easy skill. However, it’s important to know about Data filters for efficient use of Microsoft Excel. Data filters allow you to search, hide, and categorise relevant information on the spreadsheet as and when required.    

2) Data Sorting  

Data sorting is used to organise data on spreadsheets in a tailored order according to the user’s requirements. The technique may seem challenging at first, as you may sort only one column or row instead of all the rows and columns. This will make the spreadsheet complex and unorganised.  

3) COUNTIF/COUNTIFS 

The COUNTIFS function of Microsoft Excel is used to count the number of cells in a specific row or column. However, it's essential to know that these cells should align with a single or numerous criteria. You can include COUNTIFS in the cell of the Excel worksheet in the form of a formula.

4) Shortcut Keys  

Excel is mainly used to carry out a specific task. Therefore, you must have a thorough knowledge of the shortcut keys. With this application, you will be able to perform your work directly on your keyboard, even without the use of a mouse.  

5) Flash Fill  

 Flash Fill in Excel is an intelligent tool that automatically completes data based on the pattern it detects from your input. It simplifies repetitive tasks by recognising the format you apply to a sample entry and replicating it across the selected data range.

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6) Pivot Tables 

Pivot Tables help summarise vast volumes of data in the Excel spreadsheet in real-time. These tables work by categorising similar data into groups. To launch these tables, click on the Insert tab of the Tables section. You can then use these tables to sort, count, average, or total the data on a massive spreadsheet. The ability of pivot tables to generate meaningful data without using an individual formula is considered helpful for employers.

Pivot tables summarise vast volumes of data in the Excel spreadsheet in real-time. These tables work by categorising similar data into groups. You can launch these tables by clicking on the Insert tab of the Tables section. You can use these tables to sort, count, average, or total the data on a massive spreadsheet. The ability of pivot tables to generate meaningful data without using an individual formula is considered helpful for employers. Creating a Pivot table is easy, even if you're presented with massive amounts of information. Besides, you'll be able to remove duplicates, count entries, and assess your data.  

7) Charts

 Charts in Excel are used to create a graphical representation of any dataset. They can be depicted as lines in a line chart or bars structures in a bar chart apart from other graphical elements depending on the different types of Excel. These include Gantt Chart, Column Chart, Waterfall Chart, Bubble Chart, Pie Chart, etc.

8) Power Pivots

 Power Pivot in Excel is a robust tool that helps you work with large amounts of data from different sources. It allows you to analyse, combine, and create reports without slowing down your Excel file. You can think of it as a way to boost your data analysis operation.  

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9) SUMIF 

SUMIF in Excel is a function that adds up values in a range that meet a specific condition or criteria. It's useful when you need to sum data based on a single rule. For example, the SUMIF formula is applicable when you want to add cells that include a specific word or number. Also, you can use it for cells of a particular type or class of item.

10) Conditional Formatting  

Conditional Formatting in Excel is a feature that automatically alters the appearance of cells based on specific rules or conditions. It helps to visually highlight important data, trends, or patterns in your spreadsheet, making it easier to analyse.  

11) IFERROR 

Mistakes are bound to happen when carrying out advanced Excel functions. These errors arise when data is missing in a particular area or when a problem requires immediate attention. To this end, IFERROR can generate text or blank cells and eliminate error codes. An empty cell or specific text is attached to the cell that should be re-verified.   

12) Index Match  

INDEX MATCH in Excel is a powerful combination of two functions used to look up and retrieve data from a table on a basis of a specific criteria. It is more flexible and robust than the VLOOKUP function because it can work in any direction and is not limited to left-to-right lookups.

13) Macros in Excel VBA

Macros in Excel VBA (Visual Representation Application) is a vital tool in Excel that helps create custom user-generated functions. They are majorly used to access the Windows Application Programming Interface (API).  Macros save time by performing actions automatically that would otherwise require manual input.

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Conclusion  

Excel Skills are an invaluable asset in industries such as finance, data analysis, and project management, where data organisation and analysis are critical. In today's world, candidates with strong Excel Skills have a strong demand. By mastering Excel Skills, you can progress in areas like finance, accounting, digital marketing, data analytics, project management, and product and inventory management.   

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