The 8 Excel skills you need for Data Analysis

The other day, I got a call from a client.

He wanted some career advice. He is planning to get in to data analytics and wants to know what skills to pick up.

Turns out he is already an Excel user and looking for roles where Excel will be the?primary tool?for data analysis.

After I finished the call, I got thinking...?hmm, there are others out there on LinkedIn in the same boat. Let me write to them

So here we go.?

The 8 Excel Skills you need to for Data Analysis career:

1. Data Cleanup:?From outside Data Analytics looks like a glamourous field. But inside, most of the heavy lifting actually happens only when you have CLEAN data.

So learn how to clean up data with formulas, flash fill and text to columns features of Excel.

2. Automated Data Cleanup:?If the step 1 is like handwashing your clothes, step 2 is like getting a washing machine.

Excel now has a powerful automation feature to clean & pre-process data. It is called... wait for it...?POWER QUERY!?

If you take nothing else from this post, take this.?Learn Power Query. It will transform (no pun) your life.

3. Data Management in Excel:?So once you have the clean data in your spreadsheets, then you need to manage it. Use tables & data model to manage your data with ease.

4. Answering Business Questions with Formulas:?If Excel is a country, then formulas are its language. If you don't know how to say?good morning, can I get some coffee,?you will starve in this world.

But Excel's formula language is rich and diverse.

So what do you learn?

Focus on important formulas first.

5. Answering Business Questions with Pivots:?Excel also has another language it speaks - the pivot tables.

Using them you can quickly and efficiently answer data questions and get insights.

Pivot tables in Excel also have a powerful hidden feature -?Power Pivot.?

You can use the DAX Measures in Pivot Tables to make them insanely insightful.

6. Know how to pick the right charts for any occasion:?It is not enough if you analyzed the data.

You need to present the results in a convincing manner too. That is why it is important to pick the right charts for any business situation.

While the charting options in Excel are not that confusing, it amazes me that people consistently make poor choices.

7. Interactive & dynamic charting:?This is one skill that makes your reports look AMA-ZING. Adding slicers, form controls & data validation to your reports can make them powerful & playful for your audience and make you a HERO at work.

8. Work FASTER & BETTER in Excel:?If Excel is a car, then driving it won't be fun if you stop every 2 minutes to ask for directions. That is why learning some of the basic productive shortcuts & mindset is essential if you want to be a GREAT data analyst.

Enroll for our Advanced Excel Data Analytics Masterclass

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