goldhelmet25
New Member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2014
- Messages
- 14
Hello - This is my first post after just joining the forum. First of all, I apologize in advance if I am not following board protocol in terms of posting in the correct forum, specificity/general nature of question, or any other.
I need to fill holes in my EXcel background, especially in some (or many) of the more advanced areas. While applying for an internal promotion recently, I was told that I needed to be able to create and use both pivot tables and macros. I'm sure there are other advanced areas where I am lacking.
I'm trying to get as much input from many people on what are some of the best ways to learn these advanced Excel topics. I need to know - to the fullest extent possible - how to know them forwards, backwards, diagonally, etc. to the point that it is a non-issue (not a weakness) the next time I interview. I realize that there is no best way for every person. One of the best responses someone gave me in my early stages of researching this issue was "how do you learn best?" That made a lot of sense to me. Everyone is unique in the way they learn.
Assuming that the most used methods would be - either stand-alone or in some combination - read book(s), use tutorials, take classes, applying what you've learned in real life work settings, I would feel most comfortable with a text or book in hard copy that I can refer back to as a trusted reference when I'm not near a computer, in combination with some type of tutorial, preferably an interactive one where I can learn at my own pace. Please, let me know if there are other common methods that I didn't mention.
The application/tutorial aspect is especially important for this reason - in my present position, I use Excel (and have for many years), in more intermediate/basic areas, and the job does not offer opportunities to use the full blown aspects of advanced topics. Trust me, I've asked several times, and the job is what it is. The company will not pay for advanced training, classes, seminars, etc., unless it relates to my current position (which is underemployed, especially in terms of my educational background).
Without getting into my life story, which I'm sure you don't want to hear, my MBA is now 20 years old, and my undergrad degree was in 1986 (also in business, finance). I also have extensive education in economics/mathematics/statistics/accounting. I currently work for a vertically integrated apparel manufacturer, now going on 16 years, 14 years in my current position. I am 52, and competing with young people who are recent grads, a lot with experience, who grew up during the digital revolution, while I was in college when the first mac and IBM PC came out, and Visicalc, then Lotus 1-2-3 were the spreadsheets of the time. To make a long story short, I have been putting out a lot of fires in my personal life for the last almost 20 years, and now that I've finally "woken up" from that nightmare, a good portion of what should have been my best working years have passed me by. I do not want to stay where I am, and the situation is what it is. I have to make the best of it, and know that it won't be easy.
I need to learn all topics thoroughly, but smart and efficiently. I can't afford to waste more of my life on unproductive methods that eat my most precious commodity now - time.
I will be working oht his on my own time at home. I currently am using an IMAC desktop, and would still need to purchase MS Office for Apple/The Mac - which I understand is now available, but was unavailable previously (??). I will also need more training in Access, Word, Powerpoint, but one thing at a time. Excel is by far the biggest need right now, and Access would be second - but a more distant second. I realize, that is another forum for another time. One thing at a time.
I would also mention that another area that is very hot and seems to be the thing of the future in business is analytics/big data. As I said before, I am very good at math and statistics, but is analytics going to leave these disciplines in the dust in terms of practical applications in the business world, and how might that relate to Excel - i.e. using Excel in the field of analytics??
Thank you for reading my post. Any advice, help, words of wisdom you can offer, is much appreciated. Thanks.
I need to fill holes in my EXcel background, especially in some (or many) of the more advanced areas. While applying for an internal promotion recently, I was told that I needed to be able to create and use both pivot tables and macros. I'm sure there are other advanced areas where I am lacking.
I'm trying to get as much input from many people on what are some of the best ways to learn these advanced Excel topics. I need to know - to the fullest extent possible - how to know them forwards, backwards, diagonally, etc. to the point that it is a non-issue (not a weakness) the next time I interview. I realize that there is no best way for every person. One of the best responses someone gave me in my early stages of researching this issue was "how do you learn best?" That made a lot of sense to me. Everyone is unique in the way they learn.
Assuming that the most used methods would be - either stand-alone or in some combination - read book(s), use tutorials, take classes, applying what you've learned in real life work settings, I would feel most comfortable with a text or book in hard copy that I can refer back to as a trusted reference when I'm not near a computer, in combination with some type of tutorial, preferably an interactive one where I can learn at my own pace. Please, let me know if there are other common methods that I didn't mention.
The application/tutorial aspect is especially important for this reason - in my present position, I use Excel (and have for many years), in more intermediate/basic areas, and the job does not offer opportunities to use the full blown aspects of advanced topics. Trust me, I've asked several times, and the job is what it is. The company will not pay for advanced training, classes, seminars, etc., unless it relates to my current position (which is underemployed, especially in terms of my educational background).
Without getting into my life story, which I'm sure you don't want to hear, my MBA is now 20 years old, and my undergrad degree was in 1986 (also in business, finance). I also have extensive education in economics/mathematics/statistics/accounting. I currently work for a vertically integrated apparel manufacturer, now going on 16 years, 14 years in my current position. I am 52, and competing with young people who are recent grads, a lot with experience, who grew up during the digital revolution, while I was in college when the first mac and IBM PC came out, and Visicalc, then Lotus 1-2-3 were the spreadsheets of the time. To make a long story short, I have been putting out a lot of fires in my personal life for the last almost 20 years, and now that I've finally "woken up" from that nightmare, a good portion of what should have been my best working years have passed me by. I do not want to stay where I am, and the situation is what it is. I have to make the best of it, and know that it won't be easy.
I need to learn all topics thoroughly, but smart and efficiently. I can't afford to waste more of my life on unproductive methods that eat my most precious commodity now - time.
I will be working oht his on my own time at home. I currently am using an IMAC desktop, and would still need to purchase MS Office for Apple/The Mac - which I understand is now available, but was unavailable previously (??). I will also need more training in Access, Word, Powerpoint, but one thing at a time. Excel is by far the biggest need right now, and Access would be second - but a more distant second. I realize, that is another forum for another time. One thing at a time.
I would also mention that another area that is very hot and seems to be the thing of the future in business is analytics/big data. As I said before, I am very good at math and statistics, but is analytics going to leave these disciplines in the dust in terms of practical applications in the business world, and how might that relate to Excel - i.e. using Excel in the field of analytics??
Thank you for reading my post. Any advice, help, words of wisdom you can offer, is much appreciated. Thanks.
