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Table of contents

What are Excel skills and why do they matter on a resume?
40+ Excel skills examples to list on your resume
How to list Excel skills on your resume
How to improve your Excel skills
More skills resources
Key takeaways

No matter your field or career level, having strong Excel skills is crucial for achieving exceptional results. But what does it really mean to excel in Excel?

It means having a solid grasp of the Excel functions and features that empower you to analyze data, create dynamic reports and streamline workflows. Our Excel skills guide, packed with examples and tips, is designed to help you leverage your Excel expertise on your resume, enhance your abilities and thrive as an Excel user.

Keep reading for:

An Excel skills definition to understand the importance of these abilities.
Examples of Excel skills that you can showcase on your resume to demonstrate your proficiency and efficiency.
Guidance on how to highlight your Excel skills effectively on your resume.
Tips to sharpen your Excel skills and tackle complex tasks more efficiently.
Key takeaways to reinforce the most crucial points.

Want to craft a standout resume showcasing your Excel prowess? Try our AI Resume Builder. It provides customizable content suggestions tailored to Excel users, automatic formatting, sleek templates and expert tips to help you create a polished resume in no time.

What are Excel skills and why do they matter on a resume?

Excel skills are more than just knowing how to create a basic spreadsheet. They include a wide range of abilities that can help you manage data, analyze information and make informed decisions. These skills are essential in many industries and can be a real asset on your resume, whether or not you manage large amounts of data in your career.

When we talk about Excel skills, we’re referring to the ability to use formulas and functions to manipulate data, create charts and graphs to visualize information and analyze large datasets to extract meaningful insights. These skills demonstrate your proficiency in using Excel as a powerful tool for data analysis and reporting.

Employers value candidates who are proficient in Excel because it shows that you can handle complex tasks, work efficiently and have a strong attention to detail. Including Excel skills on your resume can make you a more desirable candidate, placing you above other candidates and increasing your chances of landing the job.

By showcasing your Excel skills on your resume, you demonstrate to potential employers that you have the technical expertise and analytical skills needed to excel in your role.

40+ Excel skills examples to list on your resume

We’ve categorized Excel skills into four main groupings to help you visualize what they might look like and how they fit into your resume skills section.

These aren’t the only skills you might have that are relevant to Excel, but they’re a good start.

Beginner Excel skills

Skills for an Excel beginner tend to be the basic skills that allow you to use Excel as a tool. For many careers, this is as far as your Excel skills will be expected to go. This category can also include general computer skills that allow you to learn new software and use work tools effectively.

Skills for an Excel beginner:

Basic data entry and formatting
Cell formatting (font, color, borders)
AutoSum function
Simple formulas (e.g., addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)
AutoFill feature
Inserting and deleting rows and columns
Copying and pasting data
Sorting data
Filtering data
Basic chart creation (e.g., column chart, pie chart)

Intermediate Excel skills

An intermediate Excel user has data entry down and should be at a level where they’re ready to explore some of Excel’s more complex functions. These skills are a great way to show off your proficiency with data management software, but they’re also a strong proof of concept for your organizational skills.

Intermediate Excel skills to list on your resume:

Conditional formatting
Interpreting complex data sets
VLOOKUP function
HLOOKUP function
IF function
Data reporting
COUNTIF and SUMIF functions
PivotTables
Data validation
Named ranges
Text-to-columns feature
Using templates and themes

Advanced Excel skills

As an advanced Excel user, you know that Excel is a lot more than just spreadsheets. Your ability to manipulate this tool is a huge asset that allows you to analyze and manipulate data with ease. Showcase your advanced Excel skills to show potential employers that you’ve got the technical skill to manage, visualize and critically analyze important data.

Advanced Excel skills to demonstrate your data expertise:

INDEX and MATCH functions
Nested functions
Data visualization
Array formulas
Power Query (Get & Transform Data)
Power Pivot
Power View
Goal Seek and Solver
Macros and VBA (Visual Basic for Applications)
Advanced charting techniques (e.g., dynamic charts, combo charts)
Custom number formats

Skills for Excel pros

Most Excel users don’t really need skills beyond the intermediate or advanced level in order to do their jobs. But if highly complex data manipulation, analysis and modeling is your game, then you might be a top-tier Excel user whose Excel wizardry allows you to do incredible things.

Pro skills for Excel power users:

Advanced data analysis techniques (e.g., regression analysis, scenario analysis)
Data modeling
Forecasting
Sensitivity analysis
Data mining
Building interactive dashboards
Creating custom functions
Collaborating on Excel workbooks (e.g., sharing, tracking changes)
Using Excel with other Microsoft Office applications (e.g., linking Excel data to Word or PowerPoint)
Automating complex tasks with Excel

How to list Excel skills on your resume

Now that you’ve got an idea of what Excel skills to list on a resume, let’s explore how you can showcase these abilities on your resume to demonstrate your proficiency to potential employers.

Step 1

Start by reviewing the job listing

It’s important to customize your resume based on the job listing to tailor it to the specific role. This allows you to highlight how your skills and experience align with the position’s requirements and increases your chances of passing applicant tracking system (ATS) screening.

Look for keywords in the job listing that the employer uses to describe the skills and responsibilities expected of the ideal candidate. These keywords will guide you in selecting the right Excel skills to include on your resume, along with any other technical skills and experience that demonstrate your suitability for the role.

For example, consider this job listing excerpt:

Our ideal candidate for the role of data analyst is someone with:

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including advanced formula knowledge and experience with PivotTables.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data sets.
Experience creating detailed reports and data visualizations.
Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

In this example, the bolded phrases represent keywords related to Excel skills that you should emphasize on your resume for this position.

Step 2

Feature Excel skills in your skills section

Your resume’s skills section is the perfect place to list your Excel skills. While you’ll want to highlight hard skills specific to your field, such as specialized tools or methodologies, don’t overlook the importance of including broader analytical skills. Soft skills like these are crucial for providing your resume with a well-rounded appeal.

Pro Tip

If you don’t have a lengthy career history to rely on to convey your competency, a functional resume format can help you keep the focus on your skills section. This is a great way for students and entry-level workers to emphasize their strong points and make a sparse resume burst at the seams with valuable skills.

Step 3

Integrate Excel skills throughout your resume

Mention Excel skills beyond the skills section. Your work history section is an ideal place to showcase how you’ve applied your Excel skills to achieve significant results. Describe specific instances where your proficiency led to successful outcomes.

For instance:

Data Analyst

XYZ Company, Anytown, USA

January 2020 – May 2024

Analyzed complex data sets using Excel, identifying key trends and patterns to inform strategic decision-making.
Created 10+ dynamic reports and data visualizations using PivotTables and charts, improving data accessibility and understanding monthly.
Collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline data collection and analysis processes, increasing efficiency by 20%.

In addition to your work history, your resume profile is another opportunity to mention some of the most important Excel skills you possess.

Step 4

Don’t overlook your cover letter

Your cover letter is a valuable tool for highlighting your enthusiasm for the role and demonstrating how well you align with its requirements. Use this opportunity to expand on your Excel skills and how they make you a strong candidate for the position.

If you’re not sure how to get started on your cover letter, analyze successful cover letter examples for inspiration. You can also give our Cover Letter Builder a try. This tool takes the guesswork out of cover letter writing with AI-powered text suggestions and automatic formatting.

How to improve your Excel skills

Improving your Excel skills is a valuable investment that can enhance your professional profile and streamline your workflow.

Improve your Excel skills by:

Practicing

Consistently practice using Excel for various tasks. This helps you become more comfortable with its features and functions. Taking on new challenges and projects that require Excel use can further expand your skill set and deepen your proficiency.

Enrolling in online tutorials

Getting help from Excel experts through tutorials or courses specifically tailored to Excel is another effective way to upgrade your skills. Platforms like Coursera and Udemy offer structured learning experiences that can help you learn new techniques and functionalities. Additionally, joining Excel forums and communities, like the aptly named ExcelForum, allows you to learn from others and ask questions.

Applying your Excel skills

Putting your Excel skills into practice with real-world projects or scenarios is crucial for gaining practical experience. Seeking feedback from peers or mentors can help you improve your techniques and refine your skills. Experimenting with advanced features of Excel, such as macros, pivot tables and data visualization tools, can also help you level up your Excel excellence.

More skills resources

Looking for help understanding, improving or showcasing a different career skill on your resume? Check out our other skills guides for assistance.

Key takeaways

Showcase Excel skills on your resume

Excel skills are a great way to demonstrate your ability to understand, analyze and manipulate data. Highlight your Excel proficiency in the skills section of your resume, as well as in the work history and resume profile sections.
Emphasize beginner Excel skills

Even if you’re not an Excel pro, your ability to use the basic functions of this tool demonstrates your competence and ability to pick up new things. Don’t be afraid to add basic beginner Excel skills to your resume.
Demonstrate advanced Excel features

Working with complex datasets requires advanced Excel skills. Your ability to use formulas, functions and macros will enable you to tackle a wide range of tasks.
Go above and beyond

Excel power users have a uniquely impressive ability to make Excel work for them. If you’re a highly skilled Excel user, then you shouldn’t underestimate how big of an accomplishment that is. Make sure your resume says so loud and proud.
Improve your Excel skills

Excel skills are valuable in many aspects of your professional life. Improve your skills through practice and seek out online tutorials and courses to learn new techniques and functionalities.

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Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.