If you were (or are) on the hunt for a summer internship this year, I’m sure you can commiserate with how impossible the task seems. I submitted over 60 applications and got just 5 interviews in the end. Most companies never respond, leaving you in a terrifying state of limbo, making it even harder to find the motivation to write more applications. But what I took away as the most valuable lesson from the entire experience is to take Excel seriously.
For the first four interviews, I felt I was getting along great with the interviewers — we were all laughing together, I was nailing all the questions and the vibes were vibing. But when they asked me about my Excel experience (as I quickly came to realize all potential employers would) all I could really talk about was how I know how to use it but don’t have any work experience with it. This, I soon discovered, was the kiss of death.
A week or so after my first four interviews, I was lamenting this frustrating pattern to a friend. She told me that she’d experienced the same thing in all of her job interviews and that her dad had recommended getting “Excel certified.” I let out a small chuckle, mostly because the entire idea was (and still is) extremely amusing to me, but I eagerly inquired for more information. She agreed, saying the whole thing was a bit silly but that it was totally worth it. She claimed that just being able to put “Excel certified” on my resume or to name-drop the course in an interview would make a world of difference and set me apart from other candidates. Reluctantly, but even more so desperately, I followed her advice and purchased the course on sale for $19.99.
The certification is comprised of 295 short videos, totaling around 21 hours in all. It covers the most basic functions, programs and uses, all the way to the most complex. Whether you have absolutely no Excel experience whatsoever, a medium amount like myself or are very comfortable with the program, you can still take away valuable information from the course.
Furthermore, I’ve discovered that the course truly is what you decide to make it. To get the most out of it, follow along with all of the exercises in your own workbook on the side (as it suggests). Even if it feels self-explanatory or intuitive, doing the practice exercises helps you hone in on any pieces missing from your full comprehension of the program. And truthfully, I’m kind of enjoying the process! (Is it weird to admit that it’s even been a little fun?)
In my fifth and final interview for the summer, one of the women asked about my experience using data in school or in my classes. Although I still gave her my honest answer that I feel comfortable using the application but want to strengthen my skills in a real workplace scenario, I was able to segue into how I’m doing so on my own. As soon as I mentioned the Excel course, both women were immediately impressed and took note as I spoke about it. After this, I knew this interview was different from the others.
Sure enough, a couple of weeks later I received an exciting phone call offering me the job! As silly as it may seem, I fully attribute this success to becoming Excel certified. It’s now something I recommend to everyone, regardless of what field you work in or your career ambitions. I hope you try it too and land the internship of your dreams!