B&P: How did you get into training?

Bob: As a systems engineer with IBM Canada, I taught in the IBM classrooms on and off for about three months every year. Later I was a co-founder, manager and trainer at Oncourse Learning Centres in Toronto.

In the mid 90s I joined Computer City as the Instructor Manager for their Mississauga location. Later, as things progressed, I became the Training Manager for Computer City Canada.

I now work independently, but a major focus of my time and effort is with Front Runner.

B&P: What do you most enjoy about training?

Bob: It is most rewarding to feel that I am helping people to achieve the goals that they set for themselves, and see the results as they develop.

It is also a great learning experience because the students all have different needs and different ways of working that force me to continually find new approaches.

B&P: Who would benefit from learning to use Microsoft Excel, and why?

Bob: Excel is the world standard in spreadsheets, and most businesses use it. It helps you to analyze, share, and manage information to make more informed decisions.

Anyone who needs to track and analyze lists of data, whether in business or at home, would benefit from learning to use Excel effectively.

B&P: What's the biggest challenge people face when learning Microsoft Excel?

Bob: Excel has a vast array of features and functions. It can be challenging to understand and learn to use them effectively.

B&P: What do you suggest for getting past this challenge?

Bob: Take training from a qualified and professional training organization that also provides answers and support for a period of time after the class is over. Instructor-led training using quality courseware can also be helpful.

B&P: How would a prospective student identify a qualified professional training organization?

Bob: By the affiliations and certifications of the training organization. For example, Front Runner is an Adobe Authorized Training Center and a WebWorks University, offering both customized and public courses taught by industry specialists. Training organizations can obtain and keep these designations only by performing professionally and employing competent and professional trainers.

B&P: How can people get the most from Excel training?

Bob: Ask questions, make notes during the class, and practice skills learned in the classroom after the class is over. Continue to ask questions during the support period after the class is completed.

As much as possible, students should develop awareness of the uses of Excel that they will be responsible for on the job and perhaps make a note of some of the salient points. This will help to focus thinking and stimulate questions during the class.

B&P: Do you have any suggestions for how someone can effectively describe or demonstrate their proficiency with Excel in their resume or portfolio?

Bob: A copy of the certificate issued by a recognized training provider would be very convincing.

Where appropriate, a sample Excel workbook that uses some example features such as Freeze Pane, Hide Rows or Columns, Vlookup, Protect Sheet/Workbook, Linking formulas, Data Validation, Conditional Formatting, etc. would indicate a good understanding of such features.

B&P: Look into your crystal ball and tell us what you see in the future for Microsoft Excel.

Bob: I see Excel developing into a more comprehensive data management tool, including more features of a relational database.

B&P: Do you have any stories about interesting things that have happened to you as a trainer?

Bob: As an instructor, I feel that it is important that I "know everything" (or at least have sufficiently comprehensive experience to answer most questions and earn credibility). This was severely challenged by one of the least experienced students in a fundamentals class about three years ago.

Someone in the class asked whether one could see a list of all the sheet tabs in a multi-sheet Excel workbook. My answer was "no, you must scroll the sheet tabs left and right using the navigation buttons at the bottom left of the screen". The inexperienced student responded with "that's funny, I just click the right mouse button on the navigating tools and choose the sheet I want from the pop-up list that opens".

For me this is a reminder that we are always learning, all the time. No one knows everything.

B&P: Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.