5 Easy Ways of Learning MS Excel

Learning how to become a power excel user takes time and years of practice. Don't expect to understand everything at the onset as it can be very frustrating. The learning curve and the language used takes time to understand, never mind the program interface itself. You should dedicate at least an hour everyday at work or at home to learn something about excel. Here are some approaches you can take to learn faster and become more productive.

1) Use templates - templates are a great way to learn formulas and calculations and how it has been developed. The risk here is that the template is poorly designed. A template should automate many things and be simple to update by 'designing out' the need for you to update it or maintain it. Once you have your template, you can develop it and put your own mark on it.

2) Buy Excel Books - there are some great books on the subject that you can work through at your own pace.

3) Join a Forum - There is tons of information on how to do anything with excel on the web. Type in a search term in Google to start.

4) Solve a problem - this is one of the best ways to learn. Identify a problem with data or something you do not know how to do and then go and research it. You might want to use a template to get you started. There might be something at your work that you could argue would benefit from being turned into a spreadsheet. Volunteer the task and then use the other methods.

5) Become a Microsoft Excel Expert - there are many books to help you prepare to become a recognised expert for this program and any other MS program. You have to really know what you are doing in excel in order to pass this computer exam. The good thing about it is that you need to learn many of the tools that you would either never use or be scared to use. For example, goal seek is one I used to put off all the time. I don't really use because I forget how to. But if you master it, it is a really great tool.