I have used Excel for 15 years but apart from a CLAIT course way back I have learned as I go along, hence there are many gaps. I am looking for an Excel course but have no idea where to start. A beginners course would have some useful info but there would be a lot that I already know. I am concerned that an advanced course may assume that I have knowledge that I do not possess!
I am wondering if an on going course woud be best or a one day course. My budget is limited so looking for good value for money.
I am particularly interested in linking spreadsheets for forcasts and budgets. I have my way of doing this but it can be rather long winded!
The issue that I've found with Excel courses is that the people running them often do not realise how little they know and always assume that they will be teaching the basics to people who will know less than them so not ask difficult questions that they cannot answer.
Unfortunately as with all courses you pay first, learn after so have no idea whether you are wasting your money until it's already gone.
A better use of your hard earned may be working through this book :
The book will not teach you everything that you want to know but I guarantee that it is at a more advanced level than you know at the moment and it is all relevant to our occupation.
The book uses a show and try approach (you can have a look inside the 2007 version and you'll see what I mean). It is written in accessible non techie language but is aimed at grown ups expecting readers to be financial professionals rather than the down with the kids approach of many Excel books out there,
Hope that helps get you started,
kind regards,
Shaun.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
There are lots of options for Excel courses with many different providers.
Here at Pitman we do a couple of Excel courses, these are self-study over a period of time so not one-day courses, but easy to fit in round commitments. One course takes you from beginner to intermediate (http://www.pitman-training.com/Courses/microsoft-office-training/microsoft-excel) and the other takes you to an advanced user stage (http://www.pitman-training.com/Courses/microsoft-office-training/microsoft-excel-expert). Our course advisors will happily chat through options with you if you wish.
Thanks for the tip Shaun, we too have been looking for something similar but without success to far. Do you know if this book has exercises to work through or an accompanying workbook?
The 2007 version had exercises and an accompanying data disk. I assume that the 2010 version is similar but I cannot guarantee it as I don't have that one.
In the 2007 book there are 74 folders linked to the equivalent chapters (its quite a meaty book) containing numerous practice data files, examples, completed spreadsheets etc.
hope that helps,
kind regards,
Shaun.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
On the other hand you could oreder yourself a book form the likes of Kaplan and study their spread sheet module (AAT Lvl 3)... only 18 quid too i think. There would be no test involved but at least you have a book that teaches you from basics to using pivot tables and v/h lookups. worth while to keep costs low i think! :D
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spreadsheets-Combined-Text-Workbook-Level/dp/0857322192/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1358510435&sr=8-3
-- Edited by ClawzCTR on Friday 18th of January 2013 12:01:27 PM
glad that the site proved a help to you in this instance.
... And welcome to the dark side of Excel. You will be absolutely amazed at the things that it (and soon you) can do.
kind regards,
Shaun.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
that books great for people just begining with Excel and £20 less than the book that she's now purchased (if she purchased the 2010 version) but Natasha is already an Excel user (15 years experience) and wanted to gain more in depth knowledge of the more advanced features.
I really recomend the Data Analysis book suggested in my first reply above to any Excel users wanting to build on what they already know as it starts off from an assumed level of knowledge of a competent Excel user and then builds on that unlike many other books out there that treat the reader as a complete beginner.
But, as you state, for people just starting out with Excel the Kaplan (or the BPP equivalent) book is a great and cost effective starting point.
kind regards,
Shaun.
__________________
Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
