Excel test for job application
March 26, 2024 9:43 PM Subscribe
What is the best way to update to quickly update meagre Excel skills for a job application test?
I work in a large warehouse and I have recently applied to be a supervisor. I just found out that there's a good chance that there will be an Excel test to weed people out because there were so many applicant; the competition closed last week.
As far as home computers go I have always owned a Mac. So, I downloaded a program, Parallels Desktop, that I can run Windows on, and have signed up for a free trial.
I am watching youtube videos and I am slowly working through the Excel training program that came with Windows.
My question is, what would work best for me to acquire enough skills quickly to pass the test?
I am 59 and it's been years since I used Excel in a workplace setting. I have minimal computer skills as well, having spent my adult life in warehouse type jobs to support the art I make.
Thank you.
I work in a large warehouse and I have recently applied to be a supervisor. I just found out that there's a good chance that there will be an Excel test to weed people out because there were so many applicant; the competition closed last week.
As far as home computers go I have always owned a Mac. So, I downloaded a program, Parallels Desktop, that I can run Windows on, and have signed up for a free trial.
I am watching youtube videos and I am slowly working through the Excel training program that came with Windows.
My question is, what would work best for me to acquire enough skills quickly to pass the test?
I am 59 and it's been years since I used Excel in a workplace setting. I have minimal computer skills as well, having spent my adult life in warehouse type jobs to support the art I make.
Thank you.
If you can learn to create structured tables (Ctrl+T), write simple formulas in them using table notation (e.g. "=[@[Price]]*[@[Amount]]" rather than using cell references), and work with pivot tables, you will be way ahead of most users of Excel. Maybe learn pivot tables first, even. Bonus level, learn XLOOKUP or the older/more difficult VLOOKUP to fill a column in one table with relevant values from another table. I like the tutorials and videos on Excel Campus, but there are many similar sites. Most of them have downloads available so you'll have data sets to work with (tough to get started with just a blank Excel workbook).
posted by Cimrmanova at 1:59 AM on March 27, 2024 [6 favorites]
posted by Cimrmanova at 1:59 AM on March 27, 2024 [6 favorites]
Warehouse... so I'm thinking what sort of data will they have? Most likely sales and stock levels, that sort of thing. So...categories and numbers. I would learn to do: sum, percentage, simple bar charts, formatting (table borders maybe, getting money to show in £) and maybe pivot tables. Most likely test I would guess would be preparing the data for sharing at a meeting - so making it look nice and usable.
posted by london explorer girl at 3:08 AM on March 27, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by london explorer girl at 3:08 AM on March 27, 2024 [1 favorite]
Any chance you'd be able to ask one of your supervisors what kinds of things they do with Excel as part of their jobs?
Otherwise, maybe spend a few minutes on conditional formatting. That lets you do things like, for example, turning a number red if it's negative, turning a number green if it's greater than or equal to some target number, etc. It's not complicated, mostly just a matter of knowing the feature exists.
posted by trig at 4:31 AM on March 27, 2024 [2 favorites]
Otherwise, maybe spend a few minutes on conditional formatting. That lets you do things like, for example, turning a number red if it's negative, turning a number green if it's greater than or equal to some target number, etc. It's not complicated, mostly just a matter of knowing the feature exists.
posted by trig at 4:31 AM on March 27, 2024 [2 favorites]
I would ask the librarian at your local library. (This is assuming you're in the US. I don't know if libraries elsewhere do similar things.) My library offers free access to LinkedIn Learning for anyone with a library card, and LinkedIn Learning has short video courses on all sorts of computer stuff. This one takes 2.5 hours and looks like it would be a good general intro to Excel.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:56 AM on March 27, 2024 [4 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:56 AM on March 27, 2024 [4 favorites]
The Microsoft training videos are pretty good. Be able to do some formulas, charts, and mail merge. If you learn pivot tables, you are basically a wizard. Good luck!
posted by advicepig at 6:17 AM on March 27, 2024 [2 favorites]
posted by advicepig at 6:17 AM on March 27, 2024 [2 favorites]
I also recommend visting your local library and seeing what resources they have.
As for how best to learn, what works best with your personal learning style? Books, online tutorials, quizzes, etc.
posted by Leontine at 8:33 AM on March 27, 2024 [1 favorite]
As for how best to learn, what works best with your personal learning style? Books, online tutorials, quizzes, etc.
posted by Leontine at 8:33 AM on March 27, 2024 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Your library has computers with Excel, probably learning resources; mine does. Your local Adult Ed probably has Excel classes. Your initiative in pursuing training should go in your favor. Do they use Windows at work? Probably. So using Windows at the library might really help. also, ask your current supervisor how they use Excel. it's incredibly versatile and you'll want to focus on what's really needed.
I taught Excel at Adult Ed, years ago. We used workbook style books that explained, then had exercises. They were really useful, covering the most essential tools several ways, and covering a lot of other tools for familiarity. Post on Buy Nothing or Craigslist, somebody wirll have an Excel workbook. I didn't keep one. The user interface has changed, but the rest hasn't changed much.
If you get stuck, email me.
posted by theora55 at 10:21 AM on March 27, 2024 [1 favorite]
I taught Excel at Adult Ed, years ago. We used workbook style books that explained, then had exercises. They were really useful, covering the most essential tools several ways, and covering a lot of other tools for familiarity. Post on Buy Nothing or Craigslist, somebody wirll have an Excel workbook. I didn't keep one. The user interface has changed, but the rest hasn't changed much.
If you get stuck, email me.
posted by theora55 at 10:21 AM on March 27, 2024 [1 favorite]
YouTube has lots of Excel tutorials to choose from. I've utilized some of them with success. Here's one for beginners that looks pretty good. (If you don't have a YouTube account, you just have to endure a few ads, first.)
posted by SageTrail at 11:58 AM on March 27, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by SageTrail at 11:58 AM on March 27, 2024 [1 favorite]
Formulas to learn:
SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, COUNTA, TODAY(),
XLOOKUP (VLOOKUP is easier to learn, but less powerful)
SUMIF, COUNTIF
COUNTIFS, SUMIFS
There are almost always multiple ways to do things, but the test might be looking for one specific method.
posted by soelo at 5:35 PM on March 27, 2024 [2 favorites]
SUM, AVERAGE, COUNT, COUNTA, TODAY(),
XLOOKUP (VLOOKUP is easier to learn, but less powerful)
SUMIF, COUNTIF
COUNTIFS, SUMIFS
There are almost always multiple ways to do things, but the test might be looking for one specific method.
posted by soelo at 5:35 PM on March 27, 2024 [2 favorites]
« Older Resizing portrait and landscape photos to same... | I made the same stupid mistake at work twice Newer »
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
I would suggest trying to find out more information about what will be on the test and how your knowledge will be assessed? (e.g. multiple choice, interview?). Different roles use Excel differently and so may have different standards on what are "the basics."
In the meantime, I would suggest going to your local library and picking out a general Excel "For Dummies" type book. Alternatively, your library might have digital resources for learning about Excel.
FWIW one public library suggested this website and this other website.
posted by oceano at 12:19 AM on March 27, 2024 [1 favorite]