One of the most common concerns among job seekers is whether or not to mention abilities such as Microsoft Office on their resume or that they are proficient in Microsoft Office.
For two reasons, it is critical to include relevant abilities on a resume. It rapidly demonstrates to the hiring manager that you possess the necessary qualifications for the job.
It also permits you to get past an ATS system, which is software that most employers use to screen resumes automatically.
Furthermore, mastering Microsoft Office entails more than just treating spreadsheets as tables and writing a report in Word.
In this article, we will discuss more on being proficient in Microsoft Office and if you can add it to your resume.
What is Microsoft Office?
Microsoft Office, according to Life wire, is a collection of office-related programs. Each app has a distinct function and provides a distinctive service to its consumers.
For example, Microsoft Word is used to produce documents. To make presentations, Microsoft PowerPoint is used. Microsoft Outlook is a program that allows you to manage your email and calendars. There are a few others.
Microsoft Access is used to link directly to other programs and databases, similar to how Microsoft Excel organizes and manages data.
In addition, Microsoft Publisher is a layout tool that allows users to style texts, photos, borders, and other elements, and OneNote is a digital notebook that allows you to collect information as text, drawings, screen captures, and even audio files.
Companies very often use Microsoft Office 365 Business with Microsoft Teams and other apps such as Microsoft OneDrive and Microsoft SharePoint that make teamwork easier.
Still, when a job ad says “Microsoft Office skills,” they’re most likely referring to the following four programs: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Read this: Resume Sections: How to Organize your Resume to meet any Standard
List of Microsoft Office Skills
Here are some of the proficient Microsoft Office skills:
- Creating spreadsheet
- Creating tables
- Running and creating macros
- Creating pivot tables
- Running and creating macros
- Data analysis
- Data visualization
- Validating data
- Creating documents
- Managing tables of content
- Preparing documents for print
- Proofreading and editing copy
- Creating slideshows
- Embedding video and images
What is Proficient in Microsoft Office?
You should be able to use MS Word to edit text documents, create templates, and automate the development of tables of content if you are proficient in Microsoft Office.
Excel proficiency entails the ability to run and create functions, pivot tables, and charts. In addition, PowerPoint allows you to create slideshows.
That is the hypothesis. In practice, most candidates feel compelled to include this term on their CV despite not being able to do much more than convert spreadsheets to tables and prepare a report in Word.
So, here’s what you should do:
How to Describe Proficiency in Microsoft Office on a Resume?
Microsoft Word and Excel proficiency can be expressed in a variety of ways on your resume, but keep in mind that it entails more than just text editing and cell summarization.
So, if you only have the rudimentary Microsoft Office skills, leave them out. Why?
To begin with, everyone is familiar with the fundamentals of the Office suite. It’s a fundamental understanding.
Second, you risk perplexing the recruiter. They see someone skilled in Excel and immediately think of macros, pivot tables, and VLOOKUP. Adding a row, formatting a table, and removing duplicates are all things that come to mind.
You’ll come across as a liar if you’re asked a question about it, or even worse if you’re given a practical duty. That says a resounding “No, thank you.”
So, to protect your reputation, don’t advertise Microsoft Office skills if you merely have a rudimentary understanding.
Microsoft Office Proficiency Levels
Microsoft Office proficiency is commonly divided into three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Users can open or create documents and enter or update information at the most basic level.
Intermediate users could do large operations or adjustments. Advanced users should be able to use VLOOKUP and pivot tables and run macros and construct their own.
They’d be able to incorporate multimedia and construct automatic tables of content in Word. As you can see, different tools bring varying degrees of difficulty.
Plus, because recruiters dislike self-evaluations, it’s advisable to avoid the proficiency levels and focus on what you can do.
How to List Microsoft Office Skills on a Resume
- Put your MS Office skills in a resume skills section.
- List only those abilities you truly possess.
- Incorporate most advanced skills into your resume experience section.
- To describe your accomplishments, use bullet points.
- Show the outcomes of your efforts and quantify your success.
- If the job post specifies it, don’t brag about your MS Word prowess.
- Be specific and objective in your self-evaluation.
Should I Add Microsoft Office To My Resume?
It depends on the Microsoft office skills you have. If you know how to use all the programs in Microsoft Office and it’s listed as a required skill in the job description – then you can include it. Otherwise, it’s best to leave off your resume.
Should I Include Microsoft Word On My Resume?
The answer is no.
The reason for this is that almost everyone can use Microsoft Word, therefore including it on your resume will not provide you with an advantage. Any employer would expect you to be familiar with Microsoft Word.
It’s like putting on your résumé that you know how to use a cell phone; it doesn’t belong there. Also, it will do more harm than good if you include it on your resume.
Also, you can check this: Resume Tips 101: How far back Should a Resume Go
Include Excel On a Resume?
Yes, you can.
Microsoft Excel is a little more difficult than Microsoft Word, but it is an important skill to include on a resume. This is especially true for jobs that necessitate the use of Excel, such as accountancy.
When including Excel on a resume, there are two things to bear in mind.
- Ensure that you have a near-expert understanding of Excel. Excel is a somewhat sophisticated program, so make sure you understand all the ins and outs before using it.
- Include Excel on your resume only if it’s relevant to the job you’re going for. If you’re going for a position as a nurse, for example, you generally won’t need Excel on your resume.
Including PowerPoint on a Resume
No.
PowerPoint, like Word, is easy to use and doesn’t require any special skills. PowerPoint adds little to no value to your resume.
Should I Include Outlook On a Resume?
No, you can’t
This is because Outlook (like Word and PowerPoint) is relatively simple to use, any employer will expect you to be familiar with email. On a CV, listing these common abilities will do more harm than good.
Conclusion
Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook are quite straightforward to use, and any employer would expect you to know how to use them. It does not provide you an advantage over the other candidates if you include it on your resume.
Include abilities that demonstrate to your employer that you have what it takes to complete the job. Including relevant hard skills on your resume can also help you get past ATS systems, which are used by the majority of employers nowadays.
Reference
Recoomendations
