I struggled with Excel formatting during an interview test today, and I’m wondering what I could have done differently. I took a test for a job that feels way beyond my experience, and I wasn’t great at providing relevant examples. I’m okay with that; it was a valuable learning experience.
However, I’m really puzzled about why I couldn’t clear a formula in Excel. The interviewer gave me four tasks, the first of which involved entering data from printed sheets into a spreadsheet.
My main issue arose with the first column. Whenever I entered numbers like 51526-10, they would automatically convert to a date format, changing it to March 3, 2025. This happened repeatedly. I tried highlighting the area and changing the format to ‘number,’ but that didn’t help. I also went to the Home tab and used the clear button, yet it still didn’t work. When I right-clicked the cell, I couldn’t find any formulas displayed.
In the end, I had to use an apostrophe (‘) before each number to get it to work, but this made data entry take a lot longer than expected. I kept forgetting to add the apostrophe, and unfortunately, I couldn’t finish the rest of the test due to the time lost.
Was the formatting issue meant to be part of the challenge? I can’t help but feel frustrated. Does anyone have quick tips on how I could have resolved this problem? Since I don’t have access to Excel to practice, any advice would be greatly appreciated!
One response
It sounds like you faced a tough challenge during your interview test, but it’s great that you’re seeking to learn from the experience! The issue you encountered with Excel auto-formatting dates can be frustrating, especially under pressure. Here are a few tips that could have helped:
Pre-format Cells: Before entering any data, you could select the entire column (or the range of cells) where you would be entering data and set the format to “Text.” This way, any entry would be treated as text from the get-go, preventing Excel from interpreting the numbers as a date.
Use Text Import Wizard: If you had a lot of data to enter, using the “Text Import Wizard” might have helped. If you’re copying data from another source, you could paste it into a text file first and then import it into Excel, specifying that the data should be treated as text.
Use Double Quotes: Instead of an apostrophe, using double quotes around the number can also prevent formatting issues. However, this approach might not work perfectly in every context.
Check Regional Settings: Sometimes, issues can stem from regional settings that define how dates are formatted. If you’re working with a specific format, being aware of this might help mitigate confusion.
Keyboard Shortcuts: Familiarizing yourself with common Excel keyboard shortcuts can speed up your workflow significantly. For example, using Ctrl + 1 opens the Format Cells dialog – you could quickly set your formatting this way.
Practice: While you mentioned you don’t have Excel to practice with, using free online tools similar to Excel (like Google Sheets) could help you get more comfortable with basic functions and formatting without needing an Excel license.
It’s understandable to feel frustrated, but remember that interviews are often as much about showcasing your problem-solving skills as they are about the specific tasks. Highlighting your ability to adapt and learn will also be valued by potential employers. Good luck with your future interviews!