The career of an entry-level office administrator, accounting clerk, and document processor is an excellent choice. If you are a person who likes organization, helping other people, and getting important work done, consider the benefits included with an administrative or accounting assistant position. You can enjoy job stability, good work/life balance, and opportunities for promotion within your company and across a wide variety of companies and industries. Every business in every industry has the need for people with administrative and accounting assistant skills. Furthermore non-profit, governmental, educational, and religious organizations hire energetic, dedicated problem solvers to work in their offices.

Be Prepared as You Begin Your Job Search

To improve your chances of landing that perfect job, there are a few qualifications that will work in your favor. A positive attitude, confidence, and effective communication skills are always impressive. Taking a course to learn more about office procedures in the twenty-first century will always be in your best interest. Learning about taking messages, composing memos, and workplace safety will help you succeed in any administrative job. Many of these same standards are in place across many organizations and industries.

In this day and age, however, it is also important to demonstrate that you have the technology skills that will benefit your new employer and help guarantee your success on the job. Microsoft Office is recognized around the world as the standard for administrative software. A Microsoft Office Certification shows the world that you have the technology skill set to get the job done and that you have the initiative and talent to take and successfully pass a very strict screening.

What are the Microsoft Office Certifications?

There are two levels of Microsoft Office Certification. The first one is an Associate level certification. To earn this certificate, you must show proficiency in three of these four Microsoft Office products: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.

The second level of Microsoft Office Certification is Expert level. To earn this level certificate, you must earn the Associate certification as described above and, also, pass two of the three following exams: Word Expert, Excel Expert, Access Expert.

By passing the examinations, you demonstrate that you can use the software applications and will benefit your hiring organization by using these tools to solve problems and promote communication.

Which Microsoft Office Certifications is Best?

The Expert level requires the demonstration of additional skills, so as you look for a job, a potential employer will recognize your additional value with the higher-level certificate. Because the Associate Certificate is a prerequisite to the Expert one, you have to achieve that milestone in order to test for and move up to the higher certification.

Let’s explore in detail each of these core Microsoft applications and how it would be used on the job by an administrative or accounting assistant.

Microsoft Word

First introduced in 1983, Word has gone through many changes over the decades. The most general way to describe Word is that it is a word processor. Some of its most beneficial aspects are:

• The screen displays what will print on paper
• Text can be copied and pasted into other formats or programs
• It has a built-in dictionary
• Formatting of words and pages is easy to achieve

Microsoft Word is used in a business or organization setting to write letters, emails (that are then copied and pasted into email products like Outlook), and preparation of announcements printed and displayed. It is also used to document speeches and produce mailings to customers. There is also a design feature that allows users to create their own forms and documents. Inserting tables, charts, and pictures into a letter or document is a simple process with Word.

Microsoft Excel

Excel is a spreadsheet application. Cells are arranged into columns and rows to manipulate and organize data. Basic calculations, such as addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication can be applied to the data. The manipulated data results can then be handed off to an additional calculation. Other simple uses include finding the maximum, minimum, and average of a large volume of data. Macros, pivot tables, and graphing tools.

Some of the best uses of Excel in business are in the accounting area. Excel is a great platform for creating a budget and manipulating data so it can be used in an accounting application. For example, an outside payroll company can provide the detailed data needed to book the weekly or bi-weekly payroll. After manipulation in Excel, the data in the form of a journal entry can upload into an accounting application such as QuickBooks. Data from a bank on the checks that have been deposited and cleared an account used by the accounting payables group can download it into Excel and check it against the cash ledger to streamline the bank account reconciliation process. This is a quick and easy way to identify any discrepancies that need investigation.

Microsoft Access

In the broadest terms, Microsoft Access is a database management system. Since it can only link or import data stored in other databases and applications, it creates a second home for a large amount of data. From here, the data can be organized and stored. In general, Access can handle more data than Excel, and the data is more secure because direct data modifications can be prevented in Access. A retail business might use Access to track its inventory, sales, and receipts of products.

Microsoft PowerPoint

PowerPoint is a presentation software that enables the user to prepare sophisticated presentations using slides and other multimedia. Not only can it interface with Excel and Word, but it can also capture video clips, pictures, and audio can accompany a presentation. Here are just some of the activities that PowerPoint support to enliven any presentation.

Narration over a slide. A PowerPoint slide with text, numbers, or a chart can be brought to life with the addition of narration or music incorporated into the slide.

Animation. This feature also lets you make a presentation more interesting by having information appear, fade, or fly in among other lively choices.

Embed a YouTube video into a presentation. With a few mouse clicks, you have the world of YouTube to enhance your PowerPoint presentation.

An assistant with the ability to create information, attention-grabbing slide presentations brings a lot of value to any organization. One of the roles of an administrative assistant may be to produce PowerPoint presentations for a Marketing team when they visit a potential client. Educational facilities and training departments often use PowerPoint to put together not only an informative but entertaining training package.

Microsoft Outlook

Outlook is the Microsoft software that handles emails and task management chores, which facilitates a user’s need for writing, sending, receiving, reading, and managing one or more email accounts. Although primarily used as an email manager, it can also coordinate calendars, contacts, activities, and a personal journal.

As an administrative assistant working within an organization, you might have access to not only your own but also officer’s and director’s email accounts. Outlook allows an assistant to set up meetings, track calendared events, and receive or respond to emails for the organization leaders to whom they provide support.

The Best Preparation for a Microsoft Office Certification

You can advance your career or go into your next job interview with a key to success in your hand, a certificate that highlights your training and skills in the fleet of Microsoft Office products. Before you sit down for the online test, however, completing a course in the Microsoft products will help you pass the certification tests. If you sign up for these courses at a vocational school with a Computer Operations diploma, you will also have demonstrated that you have successfully completed the requirements for the courses as well as passing the certification test. Attending a vocational school also gives you the opportunity to interact with instructors and other students. You can develop your professional network that will be there to support you throughout your career.

Final Thoughts

Are you ready to take the next step into your rewarding future as an administrative or accounting assistant? With training and skills certification in email, spreadsheet, presentations, database, and word processing, you can be a successful contributor your first day on the job in a high-tech office. Not only across the country but also around the world, Microsoft products are recognized as the standard in office software applications and technology. With these skills in your toolbox, we will help you ensure that you have the knowledge and training to be successful in an office administration role.

Want to Learn More?

The is designed to provide college students with job-related training in a variety of computer fields.  Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ College students will complete computer training courses relating to the various Microsoft Office applications relating to word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation creation. The Computer Operations diploma program also includes training in administrative office procedures and accounting.

Contact us to learn more about the Computer Operations program today.

Are you’re hoping to get an office job, but wondering what qualifications you need? Are you asking yourself if there is a certification for Microsoft Office? If so, what steps do you need to obtain this certification?

Is There a Certification for Microsoft Office?

Yes, there is an for Microsoft Office. To earn the certification, you must pass three out of four Associate exams and two out of three Expert exams. The Associate Exams cover Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, while the Expert exams focus on Word, Excel, and Access.

What Software Programs Are Covered Under This Certification?

This certification focuses on the Microsoft Office suite of software programs. If you decide to get certified, you can expect to learn about the following:

Word

Microsoft Word is a basic word processing software system. It’s ubiquitous, convenient, and easy to use. Although even first-timers can usually grasp the basics, the system includes several features that appeal to experienced writers and computer professionals alike.

In addition to its built-in spell checker, dictionary, and thesaurus, Word offers users the ability to designate their own formatting templates. Text layouts, margin defaults, titles, and headers can all be customized according to user preference.

One of Word’s greatest assets is a program called WordArt. This feature allows the user to add formatting effects to their text, thereby creating a more visually striking document. Instead of simply underlining or bolding the text, users can apply shadowing, reflection, beveling, or even sophisticated three-dimensional effects.

Excel

Excel is an electronic spreadsheet program that allows users to store data with tables and cells. This program is an important asset to businesses because it eliminates the need for paper spreadsheets, which are both messy and space-consuming.

With Excel, you can store several worksheet pages in a single file. A group of pages is called a workbook. You can access any of the pages in the workbook without closing and opening numerous files, another convenient time-saving benefit.

A cell in Excel can hold numbers, text, dates and times, or formulas. This makes the program useful for calculations. Enter the numbers and let the system take care of the Math.

PowerPoint

PowerPoint is Microsoft’s premier presentation program, and a standard element of the Office Suite software package. If you’re hoping to land a job that relies heavily on presentations, such as an insurance company or investment firm, then it’s in your best interests to learn more about PowerPoint.

While PowerPoint is an essential tool in the business world, it also comes in handy in educational settings. The program uses a slide format to convey information in a way that’s both entertaining and easy to understand. Plus, it’s fully integrated with other programs in the Microsoft Office Suite, so you can import your info from Word or Excel into your presentations.

Outlook

Outlook is an email client that is used to send and receive messages through Microsoft’s Exchange Server. In addition to relaying messages, you can use Outlook for access contact, calendars, and task management.

Like PowerPoint, Outlook is a component of the Office Suite. It’s also part of the Office 365 system, you can however use it as a standalone application. The system can also be integrated with SharePoint for the purposes of project collaboration.

Outlook’s basic features consist of email service, search functions, flagging, color coding, and preview pane options. You can use its calendar function for scheduling and staff communication, which eliminates the need for a separate calendar-sharing program. With 99 gigabytes of archiving data, the system should be able to handle all your communication and scheduling needs.

Access

The Access application is included on the Expert certification list because it’s a more sophisticated version of Excel. That’s right, it’s a spreadsheet like program, that’s capable of handling more data at one time and offers advanced searchability compared to Excel.

Access is part of Microsoft’s 365 family of applications. While Excel is used primarily for simple calculations and individual projects, Access is designed to store and manage much more information. The system also makes it easy to retrieve and apply the data in various applications with the aid of pre-made forms and questions.

Access can be connected to many other applications. When other apps generate useful data, it can be automatically imported to the Access system. This is a handy time-saving feature that makes Access a great asset to large enterprises.

What Jobs Might Be Available To Certificate Holders?

Most jobs benefit from Microsoft Office knowledge but specific jobs should get Microsoft Office certification. Jobs like administrative assistant, office manager, data analyst, and desktop publisher use Microsoft Office in almost everything they do. Having the certification can capture the eye of employers to your knowledge of Microsoft Office and commitment to learning.

Job #1: Administrative Assistant

Also known as an administrative aide, this individual is responsible for helping administrative professionals stay on task. With the administrative assistant taking on organizational tasks, the administrator is free to focus on their advanced responsibilities.

Duties and responsibilities may vary, depending on the role of the professional. However, the job of an administrative assistant can include answering phones, greeting visitors, organizing meetings, scheduling appointments, composing and editing documents, collating and distributing mail, filing, and managing business accounts. Most of these tasks benefit from the knowledge of Microsoft Office.

The tasks you’ll be responsible for as an administrative assistant may shift from day to day, even within the same company. The job requires strong multitasking skills and plenty of attention to detail. If you’re looking for an entry-level position that offers plenty of variety, this could be the job for you.

Job #2: Office Manager

This position represents a step up from administrative assistant duties. While you may still be responsible for scheduling appointments and meetings, greeting visitors, and providing basic administrative support, you’ll also serve as the point person for the office.

What does this mean? In essence, you’ll be the person that makes sure everything is running smoothly on a day-to-day basis. This could mean contacting maintenance when there’s a problem with the building, running errands, procuring groceries and general supplies, light bookkeeping or paying vendors. You may also need to maintain a close relationship with the human resources department to stay up to date on the latest company policies.

To fill this role, you’ll need experience with several software applications. Many companies look for candidates who are proficient in Excel and Outlook. As with the administrative assistant role, you should have a keen eye for detail and superb communication skills. It helps immensely if you’re able to think creatively and work well with others. Strong organizational skills are also a must.

Job #3: Data Analyst

As a data analyst, you’ll use automated tools to gather data from primary and secondary sources. While that might sound dry on the surface, data analysts need the ability to transform this raw information into insights that can be used to shape the future of the company.

Job duties include maintaining and developing databases, removing corrupted data, and fixing errors whenever necessary. As the job title suggests, you’ll be analyzing the data to assess its quality and identify its meaning. With the aid of statistical tools, you can identify and interpret trends that could have important ramifications for the business. A certification in Microsoft Office shows your proficiency in Excel and Access programs for data analysis.

Job #4: Desktop Publisher

Desktop publishers create documents and products, such as business proposals, financial reports, and newspapers, with the aid of publishing software. Tasks include formatting and combining text, photos and illustrations, data, charts, and other visual elements to create a cohesive whole.

To succeed in this role, you’ll need an artistic mindset and strong proofreading skills. The ability to think creatively and to adapt well to rapid changes will serve you well as a desktop publisher. Knowledge of Microsoft Office is sure to come in handy, particularly the Word and PowerPoint programs.

How Do You Prepare For The Microsoft Office Certification Exams?

An easy way to prepare for the Microsoft Office certification exams is to enroll in a vocational school that offers a diploma in computer operations. You’ll gain a practical understanding of Microsoft Office that will serve you far beyond the exams. Since your goal is to become an asset to whatever business you join, these classes are a worthwhile investment.

What Are The Benefits of a Formal Education?

Attending a vocational school allows you to acquire the skills you need get an office job. However, landing a job is only the first step. You will want to stand out as a skilled and knowledgeable member of the staff. By taking coursework in computer operations, you’ll have a significant advantage over competitors who’ve received only on-the-job training.

Learn a Complete Curriculum

These courses cover much more than the basics. Instead of learning only the bare minimum, you’ll dig in to the intermediate and advanced functions of Microsoft Office. When you learn on the job, you may only learn what you need to know to perform certain everyday tasks. Enrolling in a computer operations program will provide you with a comprehensive knowledge of the entire Microsoft Office suite.

Industry Experienced Instructors

Instead of teaching you the basics, you’ll be guided by industry experienced instructors that can answer questions and offer one-on-one attention. This can play a role in your eventual job success, especially if you’re a hands-on learner.

Lean How Microsoft Office Programs Work Together

The best classes will teach you how the various Microsoft Office programs can work together to make your tasks easier. These are details you might miss out on if you attempt to learn about the Microsoft Office yourself. After all, you might not discover some of these features, especially if you don’t know what to look for.

Take Practice Exams

When you enroll in a computer operations program, you’ll also have the opportunity to take practice exams. If you don’t perform at your best when put under pressure, these exams are a great way to demystify the process. You can also identify any potentially problem areas and work harder to understand the questions with incorrect answers.

Career Services

Once you’ve completed the computer operations program, the vocational school will provide career services to ensure that you find the right job. That’s another benefit that you would miss out on if you tried to teach yourself Microsoft Office. Career services help you build a resume, prepare for interviews, and identifies jobs that match your knowledge and passion.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know which jobs are available for those that attain a Microsoft Office certification, the sky’s the limit. Take the first step toward a career as an administrative assistant, office manager, data analyst, desktop publisher or one of the many office jobs available in many different industries and Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ College will be with you every step of the way.

Want to Learn More?

The is designed to provide college students with job-related training in a variety of computer fields.  Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ College students will complete computer training courses relating to the various Microsoft Office applications relating to word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation creation. The Computer Operations diploma program also includes training in administrative office procedures and accounting.

Contact us to learn more about the Computer Operations program today.

Are you interested in an office job and wonder if there is a certification for Microsoft Office? The good news is yes, there is. Microsoft Office certification may be one of the most valuable credentials that you attain, and it is most important if you are considering an office or executive assistant position. Whether you are looking for your first job, or you already hold an office position, the certification can help distinguish you from your peers and help you earn the career that you deserve. With the Microsoft Office certification, your resume becomes stronger. Instead of just stating that you are “proficient”in Microsoft Office products, you can announce that you are accomplished, and the certification proves it.

What are the Different Types of Office Jobs?

One of the nice things about training for an office assistant job is that you can use your Microsoft skills in just about any work environment. Here are just some of the industries that are currently looking to fill office positions:

• Energy
• Real Estate
• Medical and Dental
• Education
• Retail
• Travel and Entertainment
• Communications Technology
• Legal and Law Enforcement

Who Uses Microsoft Office?

Whether you are an accountant who uses Microsoft Excel as a tool for bank and account reconciliations or a human resources specialist that gives PowerPoint presentations that help employees get the most from their company benefits, you can be more efficient with additional training and certification in the Microsoft Office suite. A certification in Outlook will help you organize your contacts, calendar, and email better, resulting in more production. Microsoft Office is the lifeblood of any office.

What Are Other Microsoft Office Certification Benefits?

There are many benefits to getting a certification in Microsoft Office. Some of those benefits include:

A Competitive Advantage

When you and another applicant are going for the same position, your certification will give you the competitive advantage. Not only are you proficient in Microsoft Office but you also have a certification. This means you are well versed in the basic, intermediate, and advanced functions of the software. Employers know that you are fully trained on Microsoft Office and can skip that part of the training.

Filling Knowledge Gaps

In addition to improving your resume, taking coursework leading to Microsoft Office certification helps fill in any gaps you might have in your knowledge of Microsoft Office programs. You may be using one or more of the applications already, but taking a course focused on the software will help you be aware of gaps in your training so you can become proficient in functions of the program that you may not even be aware of. Also, every release of the Microsoft software package offers new features. This coursework will help you to understand and use the latest attributes and put them to work toward your best interest. Furthermore, knowing that you have a specialist’s knowledge of the most-recent Microsoft capabilities is sure to boost your confidence and value on the job.

What is Included in Microsoft Office Software?

Microsoft Office is a collection of productivity applications that launched over 30 years ago. In that time, it has grown to include more applications, be more efficient, and become a staple in most offices. It started with the three programs: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Access and Outlook have been added to the suite to round out the function of Microsoft Office. In addition, the applications have been enhanced to interact with each other and use common utilities like spellcheck. Here is an overview of the five applications that are part of Microsoft Office:

Microsoft Word

Word is a word processor and one of the most widely used of the Microsoft applications. Its purpose is to assist you in creating, editing, and storing letters, documents, contracts, and reports. It has robust features to format and edit. Word is used throughout the business world, government, and education. An office assistant would use Word to create a letter for mailing, record office minutes, or create a press release for a new product offering.

Microsoft Excel

Excel is a spreadsheet application offered by Microsoft. It start with a matrix of columns and rows like a sheet of graph paper. While Word is designed for verbal creations, Excel uses numbers. It has the power to store number data and make calculations. Graphing capabilities and pivot tables are some of the more advanced features of Excel. Keeping track of petty cash expenditures or company equipment that has been assigned to employees are just two examples of how an office assistant could put Excel to work for them.

Microsoft PowerPoint

PowerPoint is an application for creating slideshow presentations. The slides can include text, images, and charts. PowerPoint presentations can be shown on a computer display screen, printed on paper, or converted to slides. PowerPoint integrates with other Office products, including Word and Excel. Assisting the boss with a presentation on upcoming business plans or this year’s budget, an executive assistant could turn to PowerPoint for help creating the visuals for this meeting.

Microsoft Outlook

Most people may think of Outlook as an email platform, but it has some powerful features for performing other tasks. These features include a calendar, scheduling, note taking, and contacts modules. An office assistant may use Outlook to not only send and receive their emails but also to schedule meetings and communicate important information throughout the company. An executive assistant may have access to several calendars, giving them the power to coordinate between schedules.

Microsoft Access

Access is a database management tool for users to manage data in a database. While Excel is great for computations, calculations, and logical functions, data is easier to manipulate in Access. Filtering, inputting, sorting, and grouping are some of the tasks that Access can lend a hand with. It can accommodate thousands of records at a time. It also integrates with many of the other Microsoft Office applications. For example, the marketing department may want to know the customers in a specific area code or zip code. Loaded into Access, the administrative assistant could quickly sort the data and provide the information to the marketing team. If you have too many data sorts to comprehend, then Access is the software you want to use.

How is the Microsoft Office Certification Exams Administered?

The certification exam is designed to test how skillfully you apply the Microsoft Office software to create business solutions. Not only is the exam timed, but the number of keystrokes is also taken into consideration as a measure of your efficiency.

Are There Different Certification Levels?

There are two levels for the Certification: Associate and Expert. To attain the Associate level, you must pass three of the four exams that cover Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. For the Expert level, you must pass two of the three exams for Word Expert, Excel Expert, or Access Expert. Furthermore, the Associate Certification is a prerequisite for taking the Expert level exams.

How Can You Prepare for the Microsoft Office Certification?

Some people may think that they can learn all they need to know about Microsoft Office on their own. The problem with that approach is that they don’t know what they don’t know.

Whether you have some, a lot, or no experience with the Microsoft Office programs, attending a computer operations program is a good way to learn about business duties including the use of Microsoft Office. This approach can ensure you are fully prepared for the Microsoft Office certification exams. Many students have found it is beneficial to take the certification exam shortly after completing their training. This way the material is still fresh in your minds. With the certification in hand, you are qualified for administrative jobs in all industries, government, and non-profit organizations. In addition, your personal schedule, communications, and records will benefit from the organization and skills you learn from the certification.

What are the Benefits of a Formal Education?

There are many benefits to getting a formal education to prepare for the Microsoft Office certification exams. These benefits include:

A Complete Curriculum

The first benefit of a formal education is that you learn all the Microsoft programs from start to finish. Classes are taught in progression, each lesson building on the prior. This way you lay a foundation that you can build upon throughout the computer operations program.

The Latest Microsoft Office Software

Microsoft Office software can be expensive but taking a computer operations program will allow you to learn on the latest and most advanced software that Microsoft offers. It is important to learn on the actual programs you will use when you start working in an office. Plus, you will get to learn the latest and greatest functions that are offered by the newest Microsoft Office version.

Industry Experienced Instructors

It is hard to learn by yourself. You can watch a bunch of YouTube videos, but will you really learn everything you need to pass the Microsoft Office certification exams? Attending a vocational school program allows you to learn from an industry experienced instructor that can offer one-on-one attention, while tailoring the curriculum to your learning style.

Practice Exams

A great benefit of a formal education is that you can take practice exams that are offered by the vocational program. Are you ready to take the certification exams? Once you pass the practice exam, you will know what is on the exam, how the questions are asked and what you need to know to pass. It also builds confidence for exam day.

Career Services

One of the best benefits of attending a vocational school is the career services that we offer. We will help you build your resume, practice for interviews, and find the job that fits your passion. A vocational school has ties with the community, and we may even hear about jobs before the general public. Regardless of the industry you want to work in or the type of office job you are looking for, Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ College will help you find the right fit for your career aspirations.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know more about the Microsoft Office certification exams, ready to learn more about Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ College’s computer operations program. Prepare for the Microsoft Office certification and your first day at your new office position. You bring the passion, and we can supply the curriculum.

Want to Learn More?

The is designed to provide college students with job-related training in a variety of computer fields.  Ä¢¹½´«Ã½ College students will complete computer training courses relating to the various Microsoft Office applications relating to word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation creation. The Computer Operations diploma program also includes training in administrative office procedures and accounting.

Contact us to learn more about how you can become a medical assistant today.