Are Excel Bootcamps Worth It?

If you’re interested in learning Microsoft Excel and are considering a bootcamp program, you may wonder if it’s worth your time and money to invest in this sort of training. Most learners benefit greatly from the hands-on training they acquire during bootcamp study. Bootcamps are typically live programs that are taught either in-person or online and provide learners with useful spreadsheet training, as well as other educational and professional development incentives. Enrolling in an Excel bootcamp can take several days or weeks to complete and generally take students from beginner-level spreadsheet training into intermediate or advanced-level concepts. Before you can decide whether enrolling in an Excel bootcamp is worth it, you’ll likely want to consider several factors, each of which will be further explored in the following sections.

General Benefits of Bootcamp Study

Regardless of whether you’re new to Excel or already have spreadsheet skills under your belt, bootcamp study provides learners at all levels with many benefits and educational outcomes.

Benefits to Novice Spreadsheet Users

It can be overwhelming initially to get the hang of working with Excel. This is why most bootcamps begin with beginner-friendly spreadsheet instruction, including an overview of the app’s interface. Students who are new to working with spreadsheets will find this instruction useful because it will explain Excel’s basic setup, including how to work with individual cells, columns, and rows. Learners also will become familiar with how Excel is used to organize, manage, and analyze data. The first section or day of bootcamp study may also provide participants with guidance on other fundamental Excel skills, such as how to write formulas, create basic tables, and present their data findings in the form of data visualizations like charts. Novice spreadsheet users will also become familiar with how to work with worksheets containing multiple pages, save their work, and print spreadsheet data.

Benefits to Those Who Already Have Spreadsheet Knowledge

Bootcamp programs aren’t only available for learners who are new to using spreadsheets; those who already have knowledge of Excel can also enroll in a bootcamp to take their skills to the next level. Excel offers many advanced functions and features that may be harder to master than SUM and COUNT. Bootcamps typically progress into intermediate-level and advanced-level training over the course of several sections or days. Students build on the basics and learn skills like how to work with PivotTables to analyze and summarize data. They also learn about VBA and its uses for creating macros capable of automating repetitive spreadsheet tasks.

Benefits to Professionals Using Excel for Collaborative Projects

Some Excel bootcamps also prepare learners to use Excel for collaborative projects. Students receive instruction on how to share Excel files on devices like smartphones, tablets, desktops, or through the internet with cloud computing. This is a powerful skill for those collaborating with coworkers who are in different physical locations but are working on the same project. Excel provides many tools to facilitate collaborative projects. The app’s share feature helps users share their workbooks and decide which tables, sections, charts, ranges, or worksheets they wish someone else to view. Recipients can then view or make changes to the workbook as needed. The share feature displays the names of all team members who are making edits to the file. Excel can also send emails to collaborators to keep them abreast of changes, or you can create a link to the spreadsheet and share it with team members. This ensures that all team members will be working with the most up-to-date, real-time data as the project progresses.

Cost/Benefit

Before enrolling in an Excel bootcamp, you may wonder if it’s worth the cost. The following sections will explore several key considerations to weigh when making this decision.

How Much do Excel Bootcamps Cost?

Excel bootcamps differ in price, depending on the course duration and the provider. Most programs are available for between $500 and $1,000. This makes them a much more cost-effective approach to studying Excel than learning it in college or university study. 

What is Included with Tuition?

Whether they’re in person or live online, Excel bootcamps provide all learners with hands-on training in how to work with spreadsheets. Students learn from an expert instructor in the small class environment, which provides personalized support and guidance. In addition, many of these courses also include additional learning incentives, such as supplemental videos, training materials, or other useful content that assists with the learning process. Some bootcamps also offer a free course retake option for six months to a year after graduation for those interested in revisiting the content covered during the program.

Why Choose a Bootcamp Instead of Another Form of Training?

If you’re deciding between an Excel bootcamp and other training options like self-paced study or free online training materials, there are several important factors to consider. 

If you have a busy work schedule or are involved in many after-work activities, attending an in-person or live online bootcamp may be difficult since it requires being available for regularly scheduled meetings. This is why some learners opt to take an on-demand course. These programs are self-paced, which means the Excel training material is pre-recorded and placed online. You can study Excel at any time and from any location. On-demand content allows you to determine your own study place, which can be a huge perk for self-motivated learners, as well as those who want to pause or rewind lessons to ensure they’re retaining the information. Most on-demand training includes video recordings of lectures that are accompanied by practical exercises. Some also incorporate digital modules and accompanying spreadsheet activities. One of the main differences between a bootcamp and on-demand Excel training is that no instructor is available for on-demand classes. While the learner has the opportunity to dictate their own learning pace, they must find answers to questions on their own, which can be challenging for some students, particularly those interested in mastering advanced Excel skills.

Those who have busy schedules or are interested in learning just one specific Excel skill may prefer to work with free online training material. Since Excel is a widely used program, many free online training resources are available from top educators around the globe. Students can select short YouTube videos on formatting or opt for longer seminars that span hours and provide an overview of many essential spreadsheet basic skills. While these resources can be a good way to fill an Excel skill gap or acquire a basic understanding of this application, they do not provide the structure or support of live learning options. Additionally, since so much online content is available, it’s important to research the provider who posts free material to ensure it’s up to date. Since bootcamps are taught in real-time, the content they cover is always current.

How Will I Use the Skills I Learn?

Another essential question you likely will ask yourself before embarking on a bootcamp program is how you’ll use the skills you acquire. If you’re hoping to learn to work with spreadsheets for personal projects, such as budgeting or information organization, you may not need to enroll in a rigorous program to obtain this level of Excel proficiency. Instead, free online resources or a short on-demand class may suffice. However, if you’re a professional who works in a field like finance, bookkeeping, accounting, or data analytics, Excel knowledge is a staple for most jobs. This means the level of proficiency you’ll need is likely much higher than the basics. For those whose current jobs or future careers require using Excel on a daily basis, bootcamp study can provide the hands-on training you need. 

Do I Really Need a Bootcamp?

Those who are exploring bootcamps in Excel should keep in mind that knowledge of spreadsheets alone isn’t usually sufficient to land a new career. In most fields, Excel knowledge is used alongside other skills, including data analytics, data visualization, financial reporting, or research. Excel training can improve career prospects and help you round out your resume, especially if you’re interested in pursuing a career in which data is used on a regular basis. However, it’s also essential to research the requirements in the field in which you wish to work to ensure you also have the other forms of training you’ll need to be a competitive job candidate.

Would my Employer want me to Learn Excel?

Those interested in acquiring a more robust knowledge of this application to become a more productive employee at their current job or to boost their resume may opt to enroll in a bootcamp to gain valuable, hands-on spreadsheet training. These accelerated courses are available to learners in all disciplines and at all levels and are designed to help them fully immerse in Excel and pick up valuable spreadsheet knowledge in a relatively short time frame.

Because of how valuable Excel training is in many professions, some employers will even pay for those at their workplace to enroll in an Excel bootcamp. The benefits of learning to work with Excel are far-reaching. Employees who have Excel training can perform repetitive tasks much faster than they would be able to do manually, which can save them substantial time and free them up to perform other essential tasks. Additionally, knowledge of Excel formulas and functions improves accuracy when handling numbers and reduces errors. This, in turn, helps the entire organization perform more smoothly. Since Excel skills are in demand across industries and professions, investing in an employee’s spreadsheet training is a benefit to them as well; it’s a transferable skill that they can use for years to come.

What Will I Get out of an Excel Bootcamp?

Enrolling in an Excel bootcamp is a great opportunity to progress from an Excel beginner to a spreadsheet pro in a relatively short time frame. 

Expert Training

If you enroll in an Excel bootcamp, coursework will be taught by a skilled professional who has 

industry experience using and manipulating spreadsheets. These instructors not only have real-world knowledge of how to use Excel for a range of professional tasks but also know time-saving tricks and keyboard shortcuts that can significantly reduce the amount of time needed to perform rudimentary spreadsheet tasks. Those who opt to take Excel classes in person receive in-the-moment feedback and guidance as they learn formulas and functions. Individuals who opt for live online study receive the same learning benefits and can even share their screen with the instructor (with permission) for additional support and clarification. Bootcamp programs also provide a supportive learning environment for students to connect with others in their cohort, which can be a valuable networking experience that will benefit learners far beyond the walls of the classroom. 

Focused Learning

Unlike a college degree, which can take four or more years to complete, bootcamp study provides a condensed learning format. Most Excel bootcamps can be completed in just a few days. During this time, participants receive focused instruction that teaches them how to work with Excel’s many features and functions and put this training to use when working with real data. Instead of having to focus on general education requirements, bootcamp study is available entirely in Excel. Graduates of a bootcamp can put their training to use immediately at their current job or use it to apply for an entirely new career path.

Useful Spreadsheet Knowledge

While the content of each Excel bootcamp varies depending on the provider and learning outcomes, most bootcamp programs cover essential Excel skills that are a core component to many professions and work environments. Students become familiar with basic formulas and calculations, such as SUM, AVERAGE, and COUNT. They also learn about basic data visualization types that can be created directly in Excel from the data contained in columns and rows, such as charts and graphs. Formatting and printing are usually taught as well. Once covering the basics, bootcamps generally progress into more complex spreadsheet skills. Learners work with PivotTables to summarize data, database sorting and filtering, and more advanced functions, including VLOOKUP, INDEX, and MATCH. Those enrolled may even have the chance to work with VBA, Excel’s built-in programming language, to create macros capable of automating repetitive tasks.

Learn Excel with Noble Desktop

If you want to learn more about spreadsheets, Noble Desktop offers in-person and live online Excel courses. These programs are available to those who are just getting started using spreadsheets, as well as professionals who want to acquire advanced-level Excel training. All Noble courses provide hands-on training in the small class environment and offer a free course retake for up to one year after graduation.

For those interested in acquiring Excel basic training, Excel Level I: Fundamentals is an excellent learning option. This one-day program teaches all the essential spreadsheet skills you’ll need to get started working with this application. Participants explore basic functions, calculations, graphs, formatting, and printing. This program is intended for students who have limited experience with Excel and want to become more proficient.

Excel Level 2: Intermediate is available for learners who want to build on their basic Excel training and take their skills even further. This short class covers skills like working with SUMIFs and VLOOKUP. Participants become familiar with using PivotTables to summarize data, split and join text, and sort and filter databases. As a prerequisite, students should have already completed Excel Level 1 or have a similar skill set, including knowledge of formulas, functions, formatting, and printing.

Noble also offers Excel Level 3: Advanced for those who want to master this application’s complicated features. This program teaches students how to use advanced analytics tools, write macros to save time and improve efficiency, and use complex functions like INDEX-Double MATCH and VLOOKUP-MATCH. Those looking to enroll in this program should have proficiency with spreadsheets that’s equivalent to Noble’s Intermediate Excel course, including knowledge of IF statements, VLOOKUP, and PivotTables.

In addition to short course offerings, Noble also has a bootcamp that offers more comprehensive spreadsheet training. In Excel Bootcamp, participants progress from Excel beginners to pros over the course of several days. This hands-on course combines beginner, intermediate, and advanced course training and leaves students with the skills necessary to work with functions and formulas, create macros, and work with PivotTables.