Microsoft Office Skills A Must in Business World

If you are going to be successful in your career...any career...it pays to be up to speed with the latest software. Gwinnett Tech's Office Technology Program can get you there in record time, and without breaking the bank.

"Anyone who is in any type of business or is going into business needs Microsoft office skills," said Susan VanLanen, Gwinnett Tech Office Technology Program director.

The program offers a solid foundation in all the Microsoft products – Word, Access, Excel and PowerPoint, and offers a broad-based, rounded education.

With the program come options, too. "Students have choices," VanLanen said. "In any of the business areas, students get to decide if they want to take advanced classes or fundamental classes." For instance, a student can opt to take the advanced spreadsheets techniques course or the spreadsheet fundamentals course; the advanced powerpoint or presentation fundamentals. "The program offers students the flexibility of taking courses from the Office Technology department or the Computer Information Science department," VanLanen said. "Students can customize their program to get what they want." The three-hour Introduction to Microcomputers course is required of all students.

Courses are offered face-to-face in traditional classroom settings, and a majority of courses are offered online, as well. Students who enroll in the program full-time can obtain the certificate in just three quarters.

Students come to the program for different reasons -- some are new to the workplace or working with computers, some need to boost their skills with current technology and some want to become more competitive in getting a new job. "We're getting interest from people re-entering the job market, who are looking at coming back to the workforce and want the most up-to-date skills to get them up to speed and competitive when looking for a job," VanLanen said. "This program gives them that."

For more information on entering the Microsoft Office Skills certificate program or other office technology programs, call Gwinnett Tech at 770-962-7580 or apply online.