So this week I needed to think about a hands-on experience in my area of study. In business there are so many skills and different activities that I could participate in to get a feel for my field. You'll hear from so many accountants and supply chain management workers that Microsoft Excel is important, and that it's even a good skill to put down on your resume. But, I never understood why because so many of us have that basic knowledge in Excel that seems sufficient enough. But for most of you (and myself) you're wrong!
I never knew how hard it was so work with Excel until I took an Excel- based quiz for practice. This basic skill seemed easy enough, as I had worked with Excel in accounting 1, 2, 3, and 4. It wasn't until my mom was taking an online test recently that I realized just how important it was so be an expert.
There are so many formula shortcuts and ways to transfer information from one cell to another, so many ways to add up all of the columns without doing it manually, so many ways to format a tax statement properly, and all of this is not expected, but is admired in the business world. I knew this, so I tried to take the test myself. I was in shock at the tasks that were asked of me. I could remember the basics and in my head I knew that it shouldn't be so difficult, but the process of actually doing it was so stressful and complicated. This freaks me out a little bit because Excel is something that SO many employers look for in the business field: accountants, bankers, supply chain management professionals, marketing and sales directors, etc.
Excel can be described as complicated, but it is not until you actually give it a try that you will see how little you know. Technology is a great thing, but with so many hidden tips and tricks, it can take longer than desired to get the end result. This is what I learned from actually trying to keep up with the computer. I learned that actually attempting the skill is harder to do than it is to describe it in a text or in a lecture. It's easier said than done, and I never expected something so seemingly simple to cause so much stress and confusion!! Find a test online and try it.. You'll be surprised.
Hi Jessica! I totally agree with this post!!!! I find excel so hard to work with that I can barley handle even the simple stuff. I always joke that technology runs screaming from me, I just have so much trouble using it! I'm glad someone else sees the complex nature of it too! Do you think that maybe there is a class you could take that might be able to teach you the pieces you don't know to help you prepare for the future? That would be very helpful I think.
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