Why Microsoft skills are a must

Having proficient skills in Microsoft Office is key for PAs and EAs aspiring to reach the top of their profession. However, getting by on the basics is simply not enough any more. Here’s why superior abilities are so advantageous for administrative professionals.

Increase your productivity Understanding advanced functions such as “vlookup”, macros and pivot tables in Excel, saves loads of time when it comes to collating reports and finding information at short notice. There are plenty of ways to manipulate the Office programmes to your advantage using shortcuts, including switching between windows at the press of a button and utilising the various “CTRL+” functions. For example, you can insert non-breaking hyphens in Word to keep a string of numbers or letters on the same line by pressing “CTRL+Shift+Spacebar”.

Room to grow In addition to improving your efficiency, in-depth knowledge of the Microsoft suite can open career opportunities for you. Many executive-level support roles require proficiency with these programmes and having those skills will allow you to perform special projects that others might not be able to do, making you an asset to your employer.

Show off your skills As companies put more stress on technical abilities, the need to keep up to date with advancements in software is a must. Some firms are implementing proficiency tests in the recruitment process, so it’s important to educate yourself on the various tools. There are loads of training courses available, as well as online tutorials that are helpful when brushing up on your knowledge before an interview.

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