As we already know, and we have explained previously in some article of our Excel saga, this program is of significant help. We could even say that it is especially important because of the infinite number of uses it can have, however, one of the most outstanding ones has to do with the work environment.
So, if you still have doubts about whether it is necessary to take an Excel course or not, do not worry. Here we show you the reasons for its importance and as a bonus we teach you some little-known formulas. You’re welcome!
Reasons to learn Excel
Many people mistakenly believe that studying Excel is only useful when pursuing a career in accounting. Although that career makes use of this program, its usefulness extends far beyond that. It is a software that allows the analysis of data in many forms and not exclusively numbers.
A standard software
In finance as in other careers, Excel is the tool to use when it comes to formulating reports, charts, simulations, and data analysis in potential scenarios. In addition, it has functions for specific tasks like PMT, IPMT, PPMT, SLN, etc.
Increase your employability
Competition among candidates for the same position is quite intense. At the end of a career, the skills of graduates tend to be very evenly matched. Therefore, it is necessary to feed your CV with skills that will help you stand out from the rest. That is exactly where Excel comes into play.
The more skills you possess, the more attractive you will be to companies.
Increase your productivity
This is where the difference is made between someone who has only opened Excel a couple of times in their life and a person who is able to create and manage a decent spreadsheet. Having the ability to handle that program well will be a skill that will show your productivity in the company.
You will be able to work with substantial amounts of data, as well as sort them, filter them, make calculations, create graphs for the information.
Yes, it is true that some of the formulas found in this program can be a bit complicated, especially when you want to perform very specific functions. However, with a little patience and practice, you will be able to master them. In addition, your ability to use keyboard shortcuts will have a major influence.
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Finding the Location of a Cell: ADDRESS
To find the exact address of a cell, you can use the ADDRESS function.
The syntax is ADDRESS (row, column, type, style, name) where only the first two arguments are required. Enter the row number for the first argument and the column number for the second.
Some optional arguments are:
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- Type: The type of reference to return. Use blank or 1 for absolute, 2 for absolute row and relative column, 3 for relative row and absolute column, or 4 for relative.
- Style: Use TRUE for the A1 or FALSE for the R1C1 cell reference style.
- Name: The sheet name to use for an external reference. If blank, Excel assumes the currently active sheet.
- Finding Repetitive Values: MODE.SNGL
Use MODE.SNGL to find a single frequently recurring number in an array or cell range.
The syntax is MODE.SNGL. (array1, array2, …) You can use numbers, names, arrays, or references that contain numbers. Use the optional argument(s) for additional cell ranges.
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Rounding: FLOOR and CEILING
Use the FLOOR and CEILING math functions for rounding towards or away from zero by a specified multiple. FLOOR is to round down and CEILING is to round up.
The syntax for each is FLOOR (value, multiple) and CEILING (value, multiple) where both arguments are required.
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Converting From One Measurement to Another: CONVERT
You can use CONVERT to change a value from one measurement system to another.
The syntax is CONVERT (value, from, to) where you will need all three arguments.