In a market where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a daily topic of conversation, it may seem unlikely that software released in 1985 would continue to influence hiring processes.
But the numbers tell a different story. An analysis by Course Report, based on more than 12 million job postings on the Indeed platform, found that the term “Microsoft Excel” appeared in approximately 531,000 job openings—a higher volume than programming languages such as Python, SQL, and other technical skills.
Nearly four decades after its launch, Excel has not only survived the digital revolution but has established itself as a fundamental infrastructure for employability. In many companies, knowing how to use the tool is no longer a competitive advantage but has become a prerequisite.
The advancement of AI has not rendered the spreadsheet obsolete. On the contrary, it has increased the need for professionals capable of organizing data, structuring analyses, and interpreting indicators even before automating them.
Drawing on his accumulated experience, Alfredo Araújo, an Excel instructor at Hashtag Treinamentos (a Brazilian hard skills training company), highlights the skills that truly elevate technical proficiency and enhance employability and salary growth potential. Check them out:
Mastering Pivot Tables to Turn Data into Decisions
Knowing how to enter numbers is basic. Knowing how to turn thousands of rows into strategic reports is a whole other level. Pivot tables allow you to summarize data, cross-reference information by time period, region, or product, and generate analyses that support decision-making.
Nearly four decades after its launch, Excel has not only survived the digital revolution but has also established itself as a fundamental requirement for employability. In many companies, knowing how to use the tool is no longer a competitive advantage but has become a prerequisite
In fields such as finance, marketing, human resources, and operations, this skill represents autonomy and analytical ability—two qualities directly linked to professional growth. According to Alfredo Araújo, this is one of the first things that distinguishes an intermediate user from an advanced professional.
Cross-referencing databases with lookup formulas (VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, INDEX, and MATCH)
Much of corporate work involves comparing lists, integrating information, and validating data. Functions that automate this process, reduce manual errors, and increase efficiency are highly valued by employers.
Professionals who master these formulas move beyond performing repetitive tasks and begin to structure processes. This type of skill is frequently tested in recruitment processes for administrative, financial, and analytical roles.
Structuring and modeling data to professional standards
Before analyzing, you must organize. Knowing how to structure spreadsheets as databases—with standardized columns, no unnecessary merged cells, and logical organization—is what enables reliable and scalable analysis.
“Many errors in companies aren’t in the formula, but in the disorganized database,” explains the expert. The ability to structure data correctly is directly linked to reliability and professional maturity.
Use automation tools and Power Query
As data volumes grow, repeating tasks manually becomes unfeasible. Tools like Power Query, built into Excel, allow you to import, clean, and transform large volumes of data automatically.
Small automations save time, reduce errors, and boost productivity. Professionals who master these tools are increasingly viewed as process optimizers—a role that is becoming more and more valued.
Strategically integrating Excel and Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence is already integrated into Excel through assistants like Copilot, as well as external tools that suggest formulas and analyses. But technology does not replace logic.
“AI responds to the command it receives. If the professional doesn’t understand what they’re asking for or how to interpret the result, they may simply be automating an error,” says Alfredo Araújo.
In a data-driven market, knowing how to use Artificial Intelligence as an ally—and not as a crutch—has become part of the required skill set.
Nearly 40 years after its launch, Excel remains at the center of the corporate world. Not out of nostalgia, but because of its functionality. The difference between staying at the basics or advancing in one’s career lies in the level of mastery of the tool and the continuous effort to stay up to date.
The “old-timer” may have been born in 1985. But it continues to determine job openings in 2026.
Source: EdiCase portal
