Proficiency in Excel leads to increased work efficiency, streamlined processes, and better data analysis, enhancing overall productivity. Excel's role in data-driven decision-making makes it crucial for candidates to demonstrate their data analysis, reporting, and presentation abilities. Excel skills and knowledge showcase problem-solving aptitude through the application of functions and formulas for complex tasks. Accurate data management and attention to detail are crucial for business operations, reducing errors and ensuring data integrity.

There are many reasons employers choose to test candidate’s knowledge during job interview. Many positions, like administrative, finance, data analysis, and project management, require regular Excel usage, making it essential to test candidates' proficiency. Excel's wide usage for data organization, manipulation, and analysis prompts employers to evaluate candidates' ability to handle data effectively and create accurate reports.

As Excel is a versatile tool applicable in various job roles, testing candidates' Excel skills aids employers in assessing their adaptability to different tasks. Excel proficiency is also vital for generating clear, concise reports and visual data presentations, facilitating effective business communication. Additionally, proficient Excel users can manage time efficiently when handling data-related tasks, ensuring timely task completion.

Excel skills also help in optimizing resources like budget allocation and resource planning, contributing to cost-effectiveness. As Excel is frequently used in collaborative projects, employers look for candidates who can work effectively in teams, especially during data sharing and analysis. Lastly, Excel skills indicate candidates' technical competency, a valuable attribute in today's digital and data-driven work environment.

When applying for the job that requires Microsoft Excel Basic Skills, candidates will be tested to demonstrate their knowledge of the product. Employers would like to test candidates to understand their knowledge and experience with the Microsoft Excel. To do that, they present candidate with the test, typically a simulator test where people are being asked to complete certain activities based on the conditions and criteria that are given. Below Excel Tutorial helps candidate learn Excel quickly or refresh their knowledge.

Following Excel topics are covered in the tutorial:

• Expand Columns B and C to Fit the Content
• Change Font Style in the Row 3
• Change Font Size in the Header To 12
• Format Price and Sales Columns as Currency
• Calculate Manufacturing Costs (Units Sold * Manufacturing Price)
• Calculate Profit (Gross Sales - Manufacturing Costs)
• Save File with Different File Name
• Center Data in Rows D through G
• Change Color for The Header Row
• Add Borders to the Table
• Make Text in Header Row Bold
• Insert Clustered Column Chart to Show Unit Salt Per Product
• Change Charts Title to Product Sales
• Change Chart Type to Bar Chart
• Change Chart Styles
• Wrap Text in Cell D3
• Duplicate Current Worksheet into a New One
• Merge and Center “Product Sales” Title
• Sort Data Descending Based On Units Sold
• Select Print Area to Print Only Data Table
• Change Page Orientation to Landscape
• Run Spell Check
• Set Narrow Margins
• Print Worksheet to Fit One Page
• Save Excel Document as PDF File

 

Please take a look at below image, which shows source data we will be using in this tutorial (You can download source XLSX file here to follow along). The data in this table has a title which is product sales data and then it has a header which represents a lot of different columns. So we have a product information, we have units sold, manufacturing price, sales price, gross sales, manufacturing cost and profit.

You also see that the data doesn't have any borders and the reason for that is because one of the activities is to create borders around this table as you typically do in Microsoft Excel so the data would look similar to this table.

We will be to completing 25 activities; which are represented as the steps 1 through 25.

Excel Tutorial - Learn or Refresh Excel Skills in 25 simple steps

Expand Columns B and C to Fit the Content

• Put the cursor on the line between Column B and C
• Expand or Double-Click on the line

Change Font Style in the Row 3

• Highlight the information between cells B3 and H3
• Click Cell Styles tab to pick a style

Change Font Size in the Header To 12

• Highlight the information between cells B3 and H3
• Click Increase Font Size button

In other way,

• Highlight the information between Cells B3 and H3
• Right-Mouse-Click on the selected Cells
• Click Increase Font Size button

Format Price And Sales Columns As Currency

• Highlight data in Column D to F
• Select the currency sign

Calculate Manufacturing Costs (Units Sold * Manufacturing Price)

• Type = in Cell G4
• Select Cell C4
• Type *
• Select Cell D4
• Hit Enter
• Select Cell G4 and drag downward

Calculate Profit (Gross Sales - Manufacturing Costs)

• Type = in Cell H4
• Select Cell F4
• Type -
• Select Cell G4
• Hit Enter
• Select Cell H4 and drag downward

NB: The values in Parenthesis are negative

Save File with Different File Name

• Click on the file tab
• Click on Save As
• Type the name of the file
• Click Save

Center Data in Rows D through G

• Highlight Rows D through G
• Click Center button

Change Color For The Header Row

• Highlight the header
• Select Fill Color
• Select a preferred color

Add Borders to the Table

• Highlight the table
• Click borders tab
• Select All Borders

Make Text in Header Row Bold

• Highlight the header row
• Select bold button in the font group

In other way;

• Right Mouse Click on the highlighted
• Select bold button

Insert Clustered Column Chart to Show Unit Salt Per Product

• Select columns B and C
• Click on recommended charts
• Select the first recommended chart which is the clustered column chart
• Click OK

Change Charts Title to Product Sales

• Click on the Title
• Double-Click on the Title
• Erase Unit Sales
• Type Product Sales
• Click anywhere outside the chart

Change Chart Type to Bar Chart

• Select the Chart
• Go To Chart Design Tab which shows up as soon as you select the chart itself
• Click on Change Chart Type

• Select Bar Chart
• Click OK

Change Chart Styles

• Select the Chart
• Click Chart Design
• Select a preferred Chart Style

Wrap Text in Cell D3

• Select the text
• Click Wrap Text

Duplicate Current Worksheet into a New One

• Right-Click on the sheet
• Select Move Or Copy

• Select the sheet itself
• Click Create a Copy
• Click OK

Merge and Center “Product Sales” Title

• Select all the values in the Range B2 through H2
• Click Merge And Center button

Sort Data Descending Based On Units Sold

• Select the entire Table
• Select Sort And Filter
• Select Custom Sort

• Select Units Sold as Sort By criteria
• Select Largest to Smallest as order
• Click OK

Select Print Area to Print Only Data Table

• Highlight and Select the data
• Go To Page Layout
• Select Print Area
• Select Set Print Area

Change Page Orientation to Landscape

• Go To Page Layout
• Select Orientation
• Select Landscape

Run Spell Check

• Click On Review Tab
• Click On Spelling
• Follow the prompts

Set Narrow Margins

• Go To Page Layout
• Click on Margins
• Select Narrow

Print Worksheet to Fit One Page

Print worksheet fits one page by default because the orientation is changed to landscape

Save Excel Document as PDF File

• Go To File Tab
• Click Save As

• Select PDF
• Click Save

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