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Mark Turner
Graduate Business Student, Pepperdine University, Graziadio School of Business
Microsoft Office Specialist
Microsoft® Office Specialist certification gave Mark Turner the necessary computer software skills and confidence to be a successful MBA student at Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business, an achievement now granting him the freedom to pursue the career of his dreams.
With the first year of business school looming in the near future, Turner decided it was time to bring his computer knowledge up to speed. "I was completely intimidated by business school," he says. "I was told I would be working with Microsoft Word and Excel on a daily basis in business school-I had never even heard of Excel!"
Turner was relieved to discover that the University offers courses to sharpen students' Microsoft Office skills. The Graziadio School of Business implemented these courses, and a requirement that full-time MBA students pass Microsoft Office certification exams for Word and Excel, after faculty observed that the majority of students had a very limited working knowledge of the Office programs.
"Basic program functions, such as mail merge, macros, format painter, and tab stops are foreign words even to long-time users of Microsoft Word because they have been using the program through a process of trial and error," explains Cathy Hoover, administrator of the Microsoft Office certification program at Pepperdine and a Microsoft Office Specialist Master Instructor. "Our goal is to train people to be comfortable using the complete program."
During the course, Turner learned essential word processing and spreadsheet tasks, such as formatting documents, creating tables and charts, using formulas and functions, and managing files. Turner then verified his new-found skills by earning Word and Excel certification at the conclusion of the course. With an internationally-recognized certification from Microsoft validating his abilities, Turner felt better prepared to begin business school. He has since used his Office skills to enhance research papers and reports, group projects, and class presentations.
In fact, Turner attributes much of his business school success to the skills he gained through certification. "Business school is overwhelming enough without being disadvantaged by poor computer skills," he says. "The skills I gained through Microsoft Office certification increased my confidence and prepared me to focus 100 percent on my graduate studies."
Turner's academic performance has distinguished him from the competition. Already several of his top-choice companies have offered him positions upon graduation. "I appreciate that Pepperdine University recognizes the importance of Office skills not only for school, but also in the professional world," he says. "Microsoft Office certification was undoubtedly an essential step in my education and career."
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