*Note: This blog is a first-person account by Hannah Edwards, a senior marketing student in the Wright School of Business.
Microsoft Excel is a great tool for students in marketing not only while in college but also after graduation.
Since I am working on a degree in marketing, I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to obtain my Excel certification Dalton State offered. At first glance, it might not seem important for someone going into marketing to seek certification in Excel, but this software is an integral part of business organizations worldwide.
Excel is used in a variety of ways, depending on the type of business and their needs. It can be used for something as simple as creating memos, tracking and analyzing sales trends and even for tasks such as organization charts and process trackers. However, it is most often used for finances.
In marketing, numbers, flows and trends, survey data, sales data and demographic data all play a very important part in decision making. It is not enough to collect the data, I need to know how to interpret the data and present it in the most effective and clear way, so everyone can understand which direction the marketing campaign or the business itself should be heading to be successful.
In my time here, I quickly learned that navigating Excel and using it proficiently are two very different things. I feel I had a slight advantage through all my finance courses here at Dalton State, but I didn’t realize how much Excel could do. I spent time going through the formulas and the tutorial offered in Excel along with the practice tests
and study materials available. By utilizing these tools, I succeed my first time taking the test.
I feel this advantage will help when applying for positions in the real world. It gave me confidence in the knowledge and skills I have learned to help me be successful in my career. I appreciate the opportunity Dalton State has provided for me to earn this Excel certification.
