Microsoft Excel for Construction | Live, ONLINE

The ability to produce cost estimates efficiently and accurately is a high-demand skill in construction and a key competency required for many career paths in our industry. Computer software has become a popular tool for estimating and Microsoft Excel is the most widely used option. In this course you will learn how to produce your estimates more quickly and accurately by harnessing the power of Microsoft Excel.

This course is for anyone who uses (or is considering using) Microsoft Excel for construction estimating. Whether you’re a novice or experienced Excel user, you’ll get practice using basic and extended features of Excel for a variety of typical estimating tasks. This course appropriate for contractors and subcontractors in all segments of the construction industry.

Participants should be competent in using Windows. Students should have familiarity with Microsoft Excel and with construction estimating or project management.

To successfully attend this course, students will need a two-screen computer set-up and the desktop version (the web-based version is not suitable) of Microsoft Excel 2016 or newer installed and ready to use.

By the end of this course you will learn how to:

• Use Excel formulas and functions for typical construction estimating tasks
• Create takeoff sheets for use as templates
• Use handy shortcuts to streamline estimating
• Link information in worksheets and workbooks
• Accurately calculate profit, overhead, markups, and taxes
• Generate graphs to visually display work product
• Use features such as VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP
• Create Pivot tables and Pivot charts to quickly analyze and visualize information
• Explore functions such as COUNTIF and SUMIF

Live, Online, Instructor-led training. 

• This workshop is hosted by the instructor on the GotoTraining platform. Access information and any course materials will be provided to you by the instructor via email in advance of the training.

This course is delivered in partnership with local construction associations across Canada. You will be participating with a cohort of industry peers from multiple regions.

In order to attend, you’ll must make sure you have the following:

• Desktop version of Microsoft Excel 2016 or newer installed and ready to use (web-based version of Excel is not suitable)
• 2-screen set-up: either two monitors or a second device (tablet or laptop) so you are able to watch the instructor while at the same time practicing skills.
• Computer or laptop with webcam: This course will involve on-screen interaction with your instructor and classmates, reading/viewing on-screen content like slides or videos, and interacting via typing with questions or responses. For this reason, you must have a full computer/laptop, and we do not permit students to attend using a tablet or cell phone.
• A quiet space with minimal distractions: Please plan to be fully engaged in the class, and clear your work schedule just as you would for attendance in an in-class program.

There are no mandatory prerequisites for this training, however:

• We recommend that students have some familiarity Microsoft Excel
• We recommend that students have some familiarity with construction estimating or project management

Those with less or no knowledge or experience in these areas are welcome to attend but may find it hard to absorb and appreciate the material without prior experience or context.