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Job Interviews and Excel

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    Forum Expert Whizbang's Avatar
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    Job Interviews and Excel

    So, I've been going through a few job interviews recently, and I am wondering how some of the forum experts here would describe their skills in Excel in an interview setting.

    I just sat through an interview and, seriously, one of the questions was, "How are you with Excel? Do you know VLOOKUP?"

    How to do you answer that without sounding condescending and cocky when you say, "Pssh! VLOOKUP is my *****!" or something to that effect.

    I went with, "VLOOKUPs, sure. Pivot Tables, array formulas, VBA coding, the works. There isn't much in Excel that I haven't worked with extensively." but I feel dissatisfied with that response and want to see how others might answer it. Or just provide your own interview experiences in regards to Excel and MS Office in general.

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    Forum Guru AlKey's Avatar
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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    "Do you know VLOOKUP?" This question is asked often during interviews and usually it is a good indication that the person who interviews you have some basic knowledge of excel. I usually answer "Yes, of course" and immediately start explaining Pros and Cons of using VLOOKUP and emphasize the alternatives like using INDEX/MATCH or OFFSET/MATCH and explaining their advantages and hopefully after that your interviewer will soon end interrogation.
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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    I agree with AlKey, the interviewer hearing a list of the things you have knowledge on doesn't have the same punch as explaining the specific uses, pros, cons, and alternatives to using them.

    Do you know VLookup?
    I am very experienced with VLookup and HLookups yes, though I also know a variety of alternatives to them for when they are not viable without modifying the layout of the sheet. Index/Match combinations can be very flexible alternatives, even Sumproduct or other array based formulas can be used in complicated situations or when multiple results are needed
    Last edited by Speshul; 09-30-2014 at 02:53 PM.
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    Example of Array Formulas
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    Sorry, your description makes no sense. I just made some formula that looks interesting cause I had nothing else to do.
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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    good answers from both AlKey and Speshul
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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    I agree. Thanks for those. Keep them coming. I expect I'll have other interviews in the coming weeks.

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    My last couple of job interviews (both successful, happily) included extensive "real world" Excel testing:

    In one, I was given an hour on one of their PCs, working with some of their data, with the aim of recreating an existing (protected) report output. I took my usual approach, of focussing on restructuring / normalising the source data, then creating a simple but scalable report layout. I didn't quite finish the exercise in the allotted time, but in discussing my work afterwards, they were surprised at my approach, instead of diving into complex manipulation of a sub-optimal data source.

    In the other, I was emailed extensive raw data, with some business KPI definitions, and asked to prepare a presentation of results. Some of the prep work I did for that interview presentation actually proved valuable when I got the job, and it made the interview really interesting and enjoyable, as the senior analyst in the interview spent much of the time asking me how I'd done certain things she'd been struggling with.

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    proof of the pudding, and all that

    Its always pretty easy to tell if someone know what they are talking about with something technical like excel

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    having been on both sides of the table...

    Interviewer - asking a question like "Do you know Excel" is a Yes/No answer, which usually doesn't really get you anywhere from either perspective...so, I believe that what Speshul and alkey mention is a great idea - realizing that you as the interviewee should give more than they ask. That being said I really agree with Ford/Olly. I have written some basic/intermediate scenario's the HR folks here. They get 1/2 hour to Fill in the blanks, so to speak and create a pivot table.

    Interviewee - I would rather take the practical testing to show my skills. For one thing, it faster for me to crank out a VLOOKUP than to explain how I'm going to use it. And I can explain as I'm going, that part slows things down...

    Bottom Line to help Whizbang - you obviously know your stuff - when I hire, I hire for personality (will you fit in my department). If you are sitting in front of me for an interview then you probably can do the job or you have a good skill set already...I would rather have to train more for Excel than re-train your personality. So, show passion in what you do. Listen to what is being asked and not the question...

    I rambled a lot more than I thought I would... HTH

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    Quote Originally Posted by Olly View Post
    ...the interview really [was] interesting and enjoyable, as the senior analyst in the interview spent much of the time asking me how I'd done certain things she'd been struggling with....
    "I'd be happy to demonstrate these techniques and more in our first few weeks together. When do I start?"
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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    Now days I would expect that an employer would probably do a Google search on prospective hires.

    If they Googled my name the very first hit gives them a clue!
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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    The only page I can find about myself using Google is my Facebook page. Everyone else in the results is someone else.

    No, wait. White Pages lists me with an address and phone number from over 10 years ago.

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    Quote Originally Posted by Olly View Post
    In one, I was given an hour on one of their PCs, working with some of their data, with the aim of recreating an existing (protected) report output.
    I would have started by 'unprotecting' their report . People are often surprised when you know more about something that they thought was 'perfect'. Excel is great for everyday work, but when it comes to security, it isn't exactly the industry leader. Of course you would need to bring in a flash drive with your secret tools or at the very least have access to the internet.

    One of my selling points that got me my current job is that I came prepared with samples of things I had already done in Excel and thoughts on future developments.
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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    If I am the interviewer I just ask only one question to the candidate, I ask him/her to tell some thing which he/she feels/finds very toughest task for which he knows the solution.

    That will tell the level of knowledge he/she posses in excel to me


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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    I like this Sixthsense. Good question.

    I must admit this discussion is making me laugh. Only last week a guy came up to me and saw me working on a spreadsheet and said "wow, you're like an expert on excel. I 'spose you know vlookups and stuff". All I could say was "oh yes I use them".

    My PA just went to the 'Expert' course and the learnt vlookups and pivot tables right at the end of the day so I guess I can call myself an expert too.
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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    Personally I think knowing how to find a solution is more beneficial than just knowing the solution. Sometimes people can never figure out a solution to a problem, and it's not necessarily a lack of skill or a lack of knowledge, it is a lack of knowing how to ask or how to search for it. Assuming a candidate has access to the internet, there is no solution too difficult for the right candidate regardless of their skill level. Knowing how to figure something out, and having a passion and a drive to do so - that's what an employer is looking for.

    Example, I got my current job which has an emphasis on SQL, and I had zero SQL coding experience going in. I told them that in the interview, and let them know my knowledge was much more Excel based, but I explained how I learned Excel (by myself online) and talked about the early applications I created without any knowledge, using the internet to figure it out and learn. I explained how I used that knowledge to polish my applications, and that they are now integral parts of my former employers. So during the interview I told them my Excel skills were strong, and that I was eager to develop my SQL knowledge. In my opinion, a good interviewer will see desire and ability to learn to be more beneficial than someone with textbook knowledge.

    One thing that has gotten me my last two jobs is during my interview, I asked a lot of questions. The main question is something along the lines of: I enjoy developing new sheets/applications in an effort to drive more accurate/automated/efficient results. In this position, and assuming managerial approval before implementation, would I be allowed to modify processes if I see a better way to do it? And then I give an example or two of what I'm talking about, something I automated in a previous position, like recording/using macros to complete a repetitive task. Keep your example fairly straightforward and easily understood with more emphasis on what impact your changes have/would made, as opposed to explaining how the processes you have/would developed worked
    Last edited by Speshul; 10-01-2014 at 08:33 AM.

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    Quote Originally Posted by abousetta View Post
    I would have started by 'unprotecting' their report . People are often surprised when you know more about something that they thought was 'perfect'. Excel is great for everyday work, but when it comes to security, it isn't exactly the industry leader. Of course you would need to bring in a flash drive with your secret tools or at the very least have access to the internet.

    One of my selling points that got me my current job is that I came prepared with samples of things I had already done in Excel and thoughts on future developments.
    I did that in my last job. Someone was having a problem with their workbook and they emailed it to me and asked for help. It had sheet and workbook protection. Being an .xlsx file, I just [redacted to protect the innocent]. I was about halfway through fixing their problem when they called me on the phone to tell me they had forgot it was protected and I needed the password. I told them I had already removed the password and was about halfway done. Stunned silence followed by a nervous chuckle followed by "Uh, ok. Well, thanks!"


    Quote Originally Posted by Speshul View Post
    One thing that has gotten me my last two jobs is during my interview, I asked a lot of questions. The main question is something along the lines of: I enjoy developing new sheets/applications in an effort to drive more accurate/automated/efficient results. In this position, and assuming managerial approval before implementation, would I be allowed to modify processes if I see a better way to do it? And then I give an example or two of what I'm talking about, something I automated in a previous position, like recording/using macros to complete a repetitive task. Keep your example fairly straightforward and easily understood with more emphasis on what impact your changes have/would made, as opposed to explaining how the processes you have/would developed worked
    This was actually a big part of my last interview. They actually WANT someone who can come in and enhance everything. The position is new and the processes aren't even fully worked out yet. I told them that discovering and improving processes was kind of my passion and explained what I had done in previous jobs to go outside the parameters of the job description to improve performance and accuracy.


    And now I feel like this thread is turning into an Excel pissing contest.

    But don't stop on my account. I enjoy hearing other people's stories of deeds.
    Last edited by Whizbang; 10-01-2014 at 11:04 AM.

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    Quote Originally Posted by Whizbang View Post

    And now I feel like this thread is turning into an Excel pissing contest.

    But don't stop on my account. I enjoy hearing other people's stories of deeds.

    I don't mean to boast, but I was awarded the medal of honor for my VBA solution to the accident on Apollo 13
    Last edited by Speshul; 10-01-2014 at 10:28 AM.

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    I successfully negotiated the release of 3 American hostages using VLOOKUP.

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    I wrote a pretty special UDF, a while back. Not going to give it all away here, but here's how it's used:

    Formula: copy to clipboard
    Please Login or Register  to view this content.



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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    "Imagination is more important than knowledge"

    Albert Einstein

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    Well, I got the job (one of them, at least), despite my misgivings over the interview. It wasn't my first choice, but the other ones said it would take a couple of weeks to complete the interviews and do background checks and stuff, so there is still hope I'll land something even better. I also have an interview scheduled for Monday, so we'll see what happens.

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    congrats....always nice to have options....good luck

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    Definitely congratulations are in order.

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    I think that processing huge files at electronic speed should get their respect
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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    Quote Originally Posted by Olly View Post
    I wrote a pretty special UDF, a while back. Not going to give it all away here, but here's how it's used:
    Formula: copy to clipboard
    Please Login or Register  to view this content.

    That little exchange just kept getting better Brilliant
    Last edited by scottiex; 10-05-2014 at 12:13 AM.

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    I ran the Contoocook years ago (Maybe before you were born!) It was the only River I never ran again!

    Congratulations!

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    Just wondering, do you guys add in your Resume/CV that you are an expert or a guru on this web site :D?

    Will that carry weight in your Resume?
    If I've been of help, plz add reputation.

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    Quote Originally Posted by sakmsb View Post
    do you guys add in your Resume/CV that you are an expert or a guru on this web site :D?
    About me, No I never do / did that...

    I have been asked by the interviewer with beginner level of questions about Vlookup() Trim(). I show my expertisation by completing the tests in 1/3rd of the allotted time.

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    Quote Originally Posted by :) Sixthsense :) View Post
    About me, No I never do / did that...

    I have been asked by the interviewer with beginner level of questions about Vlookup() Trim(). I show my expertisation by completing the tests in 1/3rd of the allotted time.
    ah, I see that's clever :D

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    Neither do I.
    I didn't even said that to my co-workers...
    I'm affraid if I do that they will keep asking me excel questions and take me lot of time and I will be distracted from mine work :D

    But they've figure out on their own since I can not look those workbooks that come to mine hands so I fix them every time

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    Re: Job Interviews and Excel

    Just wondering, do you guys add in your Resume/CV that you are an expert or a guru on this web site :D?

    Will that carry weight in your Resume?
    I do but it's more for my own gratification No measurable effect

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