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Author Topic: A quick excel refresher pointer or several, please? Job test  (Read 3168 times)

Truean

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A quick excel refresher pointer or several, please? Job test
« on: September 14, 2014, 06:34:54 pm »

So somehow, I've gotten a "job test" which seems to be the first step in a job interview for a position tomorrow. It says they're going to test me on excel use and some other things.

I'm pretty sure I know how to do it, but if you'd be so kind, I'd appreciate a refresher or two.

Common Formulas
VLookup (has it changed?)
Referencing one cell in a document in another cell in another document.

I'm going to be spending a decent amount of my time brushing up on this stuff and institutional knowledge I haven't used in a while. I've been in "hands on" positions and this is more of a "behind the scenes/managing" position. I'm just hoping the computer stuff I haven't had time to use in a bit won't be the one fly in the ointment to keep me from getting this thing. Given the nature of the position, I'd have to say I have other problems to deal with, such as possible nepotism, etc. Here's hoping that doesn't stand in my way. Having a regular 40 hour a week job without the insane levels of stress I currently do would go a long way towards giving me a stable life and better health.

I'm really hoping I get this job. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you for your time.
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Thief^

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Re: A quick excel refresher pointer or several, please? Job test
« Reply #1 on: September 15, 2014, 04:17:33 am »

1: Sum(Range), Average(Range)... Tbh, everything's easily found in the Fx button. I recently found SumProduct, which is awesome.
2: Don't think so
3: Supposedly if you have them both open you can just type "=" in one document and then click in the other and it adds a cross-document reference for you.
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Truean

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Re: A quick excel refresher pointer or several, please? Job test
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2014, 02:45:01 pm »

Thank you for that.

Ironically, lt was both one of the simpest excel things I have ever seen and sadly the computer hosed me on it.

It was stuff like: input data, make a bar graph, make a linegraph, make a pie  chart.


Without exaggeration, I have done tens of thousands of lines for reports in excel over the years. I was the university stats department (they didn't wanna actually pay for one) Plus I've done spreadsheets for roleplaying worlds that don't atually exist, so.... Anyhow, I was not expecting this to be less (formulas) and more (make pretty graphs). Go figure.


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The kinda human wreckage that you love

Current Spare Time Fiction Project: (C) 2010 http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=63660.0
Disclaimer: I never take cases online for ethical reasons. If you require an attorney; you need to find one licensed to practice in your jurisdiction. Never take anything online as legal advice, because each case is different and one size does not fit all. Wants nothing at all to do with law.

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Thief^

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Re: A quick excel refresher pointer or several, please? Job test
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2014, 03:39:07 am »

:D
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It's not an embark so much as seven dwarves having a simultaneous strange mood and going off to build an artifact fortress that menaces with spikes of awesome and hanging rings of death.

Levi

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Re: A quick excel refresher pointer or several, please? Job test
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2014, 05:48:59 pm »

Just don't forget the usefulness of the precious precious dollar sign.

http://www.notjustnumbers.co.uk/2011/05/excel-tip-dollar-sign-in-formula-fixing.html
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Zrk2

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Re: A quick excel refresher pointer or several, please? Job test
« Reply #5 on: September 16, 2014, 08:51:48 pm »

Just don't forget the usefulness of the precious precious dollar sign.

http://www.notjustnumbers.co.uk/2011/05/excel-tip-dollar-sign-in-formula-fixing.html

The all-powerful dollar sign must never be underestimated.
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