Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program that enables the user to input data as numbers, formulas, or text that can then be manipulated, organized, stored, and presented. Excel is important to learn because it allows individuals and businesses alike to solve problems quickly and share their results clearly in tables, charts, and graphs.

Excel is a powerful data analysis tool used by businesses worldwide due to its broad range of capabilities and its flexibility in use. For organizations of any size, Excel’s accounting functions can be used to create budgets, complete payroll, and calculate taxes and revenues. Managers can use Excel’s data management functions like pivot tables to summarize large amounts of data for proposals and presentations. And Excel’s financial data analysis functions such as net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) can aid investors and financial analysts using discounted cash flow methods to determine project profitability and specific rates of return.

The ability to use Excel is considered a fundamental digital skill in today’s job marketplace, and many jobs require proficiency in it. Although most of the careers using Excel will be in business, there are scientists, engineers, teachers, and graphic designers using this software extensively. Whether you are seeking a new career or looking to supplement your present one, skills in Excel will be a highly valued addition to your resume.

Financial analysts especially depend on Excel skills as they evaluate investment opportunities for banks, mutual funds, insurance companies, and many other businesses. They use current and past financial data, economic and business trends, and industry-specific markers to make the needed assessments that guide their recommendations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they make a median salary of $85,660 per year, and most start their careers after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in accounting, economics, finance, or statistics.

Absolutely! Coursera offers a wide range of online courses and Specializations on Excel and its use in data analysis and creative problem solving, as well as intermediate and advanced Excel skills for business. You’ll be taking courses presented by top-ranked institutions including the University of Colorado Boulder, Rice University, and Macquarie University, so you won’t have to sacrifice the quality of your education for the flexibility of learning online. You can also get familiar with spreadsheet software by completing a Guided Project, a way to learn on Coursera that helps you build skills with step-by-step tutorials presented by experienced instructors.