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I know how to work with Excel (writing formulae and conditional statements, conditional formatting, tables, graphs, charts, VBA programming, pivot tables). How do I prove to a potential employer how much I know without a formal degree or training or schooling? Or do I have to go through formal training just so I can earn a degree?
There's a MOS certification for Excel, and you'd just have to pass the test - there's no requirement for classes, and you can put it on your resume. If you go to a staffing agency, they also test you for Excel proficiency. Additionally, you also have the option of putting your skills to use in a volunteer project or as a freelancer and report it as experience either on your resume or in relevant interview anecdotes.
I know a number of people who use Excel for their jobs and none of them have any certification in it. I would expect to be asked proficiency questions and, possibly, asked to demonstrate your capabilities.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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We have many jobs that require Excel skills, and ask people to rate themselves on a scale of 1-10 in the interviews. We then ask a question or two that tests that. If a person tells us they are a 10 and slips through, once we discover otherwise we have the 6 month probationary period to let them go, though that's very rare. We do not require or ask for any kid of certification. If we require a degree in business, accounting, or finance we would expect that to have resulted in some good training in Excel. We have about 2,000 employees and over 400 job titles, but I am not aware of any that require advanced Excel skills without some other kind of degree or 3-5 years experience doing that kind of work.
About 10 years ago when I was working in San Fran we had a job opening that required Excel experience. Several applicants "claimed" they could navigate and use this program without any problems. My gut said "check"! The second interview -- we did a small testing that was very basic ...not one of them could do a thing!
I think you have to play it by ear on how the conversation goes - if you are asked to rate yourself ...say a 10 if you feel you are at a 10, but be prepared to show them. Interviews can go either way depending on the interviewer.
We also had people claim to be experts at Solidworks and Autocad, yet they could not navigate that program either. It was a guy with 1 year of technical training from a school that took his basic knowledge and made a 15 yr career of his experience and passion for the skill we hired. He ended up schooling US!
In my case, it was easy. I showed the interviewer my college background, which had no programming classes at all. I then showed him all the mobile apps I've published.
Just add a skills section to your resume and list out all the computer programs you know. Excel is a very common program. You wouldn't need certification unless a specific job required it.
I know how to work with Excel (writing formulae and conditional statements, conditional formatting, tables, graphs, charts, VBA programming, pivot tables). How do I prove to a potential employer how much I know without a formal degree or training or schooling? Or do I have to go through formal training just so I can earn a degree?
I'm not aware of any degree, major, or otherwise program that covers Excel to such a professional level. Perhaps in some of the Econ or Business courses (like Accounting) where they may be required to show medium or higher proficiency with certain aspects given it can be considered part of the "tools of the trade". Studies like statistics, compounding interest, etc. I took a few business courses and they taught us how to do flowcharts on Visio.
Be ready to show some work by providing emailing samples if requested, and also ready to demonstrate, or answer questions about intermediate knowledge and concepts.
Odd question. Excel is so common that there is no need to prove anything. Just put it on your resume. Some places may test you but if you know it, you'll be fine.
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