Excel Skills Self-Assessment: A Guide for Procurement Professionals

Have you ever felt uncertain about your Excel skills, wondering if there are gaps you haven’t identified yet? Imagine this: you’re a procurement professional, keen on upskilling but unsure where to start. You approach your Learning & Development (L&D) manager for guidance, but they might not fully grasp your current expertise or potential areas for growth. It’s like the blind leading the blind, and both of you end up stuck in a loop of uncertainty.

What if there was a way to break free from this cycle and gain clarity on your Excel proficiency? We’ve designed a straightforward self-assessment that can help you pinpoint where you stand and identify the next steps to enhance your skills.

This isn’t just any assessment—it’s a tool to unlock your potential and take control of your professional development. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to discover what you know and what you don’t. Click the link below to start your journey to Excel mastery.

Level 1: Basic Awareness
Skills:
• Has seen a PivotTable or a basic Excel chart.
Signs:
• You recognize an Excel screen and can identify basic elements like cells and columns.
Examples:
• You’ve observed colleagues presenting data from Excel during meetings.
• You can identify the ribbon, columns, and rows but haven’t used them yourself.

Level 2: Novice
Skills:
• Can perform simple tasks like entering data and basic functions (SUM, AVERAGE).
Signs:
• You can modify and format a spreadsheet but might struggle with organizing data effectively.
Examples:
• You enter purchase orders into Excel and use SUM to calculate totals.
• You format cells to display currency but find it challenging to keep data well-organized.

Level 3: Intermediate Beginner
Skills:
• Comfortable with basic formulas and can create simple charts.
Signs:
• You know how to use AutoFill and Filter data, but advanced features like PivotTables are challenging.
Examples:
• You can create line charts to track monthly purchase quantities.
• You can create simple bar charts to compare monthly expenditures across different suppliers.
• You use AutoFill to quickly enter repetitive data, and Filters to view specific orders, but struggle with summarizing data.

Level 4: Competent
Skills:
• Can create and modify PivotTables and use basic conditional formatting.
Signs:
• You are comfortable with most tasks in Excel but need guidance for complex formulas or analysis.
Examples:
• You use PivotTables to analyze spending across different categories and suppliers
• You apply conditional formatting to highlight orders pending approval or items in stock below reorder levels.

Level 5: Skilled
Skills:
• Able to use functions like VLOOKUP and MATCH. Can create more complex charts.
Signs:
• You can manage and analyze large datasets but may not use best practices for efficiency.
Examples:
• You use VLOOKUP to cross-reference supplier prices from different sheets.
• You create simple bar charts to compare monthly expenditures across different suppliers.
• You create combination charts to show procurement costs and quantities over time, and manage large datasets of purchase orders.

Level 6: Advanced Intermediate
Skills:
• Proficient with array formulas, Power Query for data manipulation, and introductory macros.
Signs:
• You can automate some tasks and create interactive dashboards, but still learning best practices.
Examples:
• You use Power Query to merge procurement data from various sources for comprehensive analysis.
• You create basic macros to automate the generation of weekly procurement status reports.

Level 7: Proficient
Skills:
• Comfortable with advanced features like macros and can use Excel as a database.
Signs:
• You often use Excel to solve complex problems and are familiar with most of its capabilities.
Examples:
• You write macros to automate repetitive procurement tasks, such as updating inventory levels and processing purchase orders.
• You create simple bar charts to compare monthly expenditures across different suppliers.
• You use Excel as a relational database to track supplier performance metrics and contract details.

Level 8: Expert
Skills:
• Can create complex models, automate processes with VBA, and integrate Excel with other tools.
Signs:
• You are the go-to person for solving difficult Excel problems in your workplace.
Examples:
• You create simple bar charts to compare monthly expenditures across different suppliers.
• You develop sophisticated models for supplier evaluation and risk assessment.
• You create VBA scripts to automate the procurement lifecycle, including order generation, tracking, and reporting.

Level 9: Master
Skills:
• Expert in using advanced analytical tools in Excel, can teach others, and innovate solutions.
Signs:
• You not only understand Excel’s features thoroughly but also contribute to creating new tools or templates.
Examples:
• You design and implement advanced interactive dashboards for real-time procurement KPIs.
• You lead training sessions for staff on advanced Excel techniques and develop custom templates to streamline procurement processes.