The Top Ten Excel Functions Everyone Should Know

Excel has hundreds of functions, but a handful do most of the everyday work. This 60-minute Excel functions training covers the ten that every user should know, whether you're an office worker, a small business owner tracking finances or a casual user.

Functions let formulas calculate, return information, change the contents of other cells and test conditions. You'll work with statistical functions such as SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, MIN and COUNT, the logical IF statement, VLOOKUP, the date functions TODAY and NOW, and text functions such as LEFT, RIGHT and CONCAT for cleaning up imported data.

You'll learn not only how each function works but why, so you can do more with Excel.

• Use SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, MIN and COUNT to summarize data
• Write logical tests with the IF function
• Look up values with VLOOKUP
• Calculate dates with TODAY and NOW
• Clean up imported text with LEFT, RIGHT and CONCAT
• Explain why each function works, not just how

• Statistical functions: SUM, AVERAGE, MAX, MIN and COUNT
• The logical IF statement
• VLOOKUP
• Date calculations with TODAY and NOW
• Text functions for imported data: LEFT, RIGHT and CONCAT

The right functions save time and make spreadsheets work better. Understanding why each function behaves as it does helps you apply it in new situations.

The course is for beginner to intermediate users who can already build basic calculations and know the difference between relative and absolute references. It suits business owners, managers, accountants, auditors, HR staff, bookkeepers, marketers and anyone who uses Excel regularly.

• Business Owners
• CEOs / CFO's / CTOs
• Managers
• Accountants
• CPA's
• Financial Consultants
• IT Professionals
• Auditors
• Human Resource Personnel
• Bookkeepers
• Marketers
• Anybody with large amounts of Data
• Anybody who uses Microsoft Excel on a regular basis, and wants to be more efficient and productive

Cathy Horwitz is a highly experienced Microsoft Office instructor, specializing in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access. With over 30 years of expertise in both in-person and online training, she has helped thousands of professionals boost productivity, streamline workflows, and master essential Microsoft Office skills.

Cathy has been teaching Microsoft Office since its inception, offering tailored training programs that meet the unique needs of individuals and businesses. Her courses cover everything from Excel formulas, PivotTables, and automation with macros to Word document formatting, PowerPoint presentation design, and Outlook email management. Workshops from beginning level through advanced are available.

Known for her engaging, hands-on teaching style, Cathy incorporates real-world business scenarios to ensure students gain practical skills they can immediately apply. Whether you're looking for corporate training, individual coaching, or advanced Microsoft Office workshops, Cathy delivers results-driven instruction that enhances efficiency, problem-solving, and software proficiency.

When not teaching, Cathy enjoys gardening, shopping estate sales and refinishing mid-century furniture.