How I Mastered To Work With Pivot Charts And Tables To Improve My Excel Skills?

Junaid Ahsan
The Tech Bible
Published in
4 min readSep 12, 2024

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The best investment you can make is in yourself. The more you learn, the more you’ll earn — Warren Buffett

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Data analysis is a new genre for me, and in my mind, I thought most of it would be easy as long as I knew how to operate Excel. Specifically, my understanding of pivot charts and tables was crucial. I had been playing around with Excel for a number of years, from being in university to working as a computer network and systems engineer, but I was still unable to maximize its benefits. That is why I have made up my mind to enroll in the Maven Analytics Pivot Course. And trust me on this: it wasn’t just another online course. This course, filled with practical assessments, homework and case studies, did not just provide me with the knowledge of how to use pivot tables and charts. It gave me the kind of diplomatic efforts that are almost unfailing when it comes to solving complicated data problems.

This is how I performed in the course, and this is why it is different for me and stood out for me.

Learning Experience: Beyond Just Theory

The practical side of the Maven Analytics Pivot Course was impressive; no one is going to bore you with theory only. Right from the beginning, the course presented me with real data and issues that a data analyst would encounter on the job.

The course didn’t just present pivot tables and charts as abstract concepts — it showed me how to leverage them to draw meaningful insights from complex data. Each module was thoughtfully designed to build on the last, gradually increasing in complexity. The integration of case studies and projects was particularly impactful, allowing me to apply new skills immediately and see how they could transform raw data into valuable insights.

From Data to Decisions

The practical parts included tackling and solving the marketing campaigns, analytics, and reporting tasks developed in the course. This was not merely a means to create operational graphs; it involved learning how to identify the appropriate analyses to perform on the data and how to present it in a way that could impact actions. There was also awareness, which kept me in such a manner that helped to make every other novel approach towards a project valuable — that willingness to implement every new acquired skill.

A Personal Investment: Why It Was Worth Every Penny

Let me put it this way — agreeing to put one’s money in this course was not an effortless decision to make, although I am sure I had to.

Many courses tend to be passive, forcing students to sit back and slog through tedious content. I appreciated the focus on interactivity and project-based learning that was offered at Maven Analytics. The hand-on projects were pushed but never too pushed, somewhere in the gray area of being fun and educational. Although I funded this course out of my savings, I am confident that it will make a significant contribution to my career growth as a data analyst.

I am narrating this story without any advertisement support, simply out of my love for this course, which has fulfilled all its promises, no matter how odd they may sound, and has helped me learn much more about Excel than I ever thought possible. Your attention, please. If you are serious about improving your Excel’s game, I strongly recommend you look into this course.

Your personal development is the best investment you can make.

-Jim Rohn

My personal recommendation

For me, taking a course in pivot tables and charts offered by Maven Analytics was not simply about acquiring more Excel skills; it was an additional investment. The practical activities and real examples in class sessions helped the lessons stick; abstract ideas turned into real, practical items that I use on a daily basis. This journey showed that investing in skills is definitely a beneficial idea.

Remember, as Benjamin Franklin once said

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.

This course is worth every dime regardless of whether you are a novice data analyst or want to upgrade your skills; it provides excellent real practical training.

Most importantly, if you enjoyed this article, make sure to share your thoughts in the comments section below; I want to hear from you!

Remember to follow me for more articles on personal and career development towards a better life.

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Junaid Ahsan
The Tech Bible

Passionate about reading, writing, and data. Sharing my personal stories and lessons learned through my journey towards data. https://linktr.ee/junaidahsan